How do you clean YOUR skimmer?

[javajaws]

Simple enough question:

How do you clean the neck and cup of YOUR skimmer?

1) With your hand
2) With a rag
3) With a pad
4) With a brush
5) With your wife's toothbrush

[kwaters]

I won't pick up the dog poop in the back yard. I leave that disgusting job to my wonderful husband. I will however, scrape skimate (that lovely brown, poop smelling stuff) out of my collection cup with bare fingers....yum.

Go figure.

Kris

[McCrary]

I have a dish type brush that I use, its soft and doesn't make any marks on the acrylic.

[Puffdragon]

I use a toilet brush ( one special bought for the job)

[pikachusalad]

I bought a dish washing brush specifically for this use. Soft bristles on the front, and a small set of stiff ones on the back which I use to scrub the ... slide-lock things that hold the top on - if I don't do this every time, the top gets stuck on.

[BreefMe]

I have been doing the cleaning with my hand, but since it is concentrated fish doo, I will invest in a brush very, very soon.

[eckrynock]

Works like a charm!

[bhdmc]

I use a cheap algae brush. Does anyone take their skimmer apart to clean it? I have a ETSS skimmer and once every two week, I take apart the top section of the skimmer to the basement sink and use the brush on it.

[Runfrumu]

I acutally do use my girlfriends old toothbrush.

[zyglow]

I use paper towels

[Deuce67]

I use a baby bottle brush

[pledosophy]

I use acid, pour in, pour out. Clean.

[melev]

Real reefers use their hands.

[jdieck]

I clean the top section and the waste collector of my ETSS 1500 once a week using a brush to remove most of the goo under the running tap spray hose in a large sink next to the fish room, then a sponge and finally wipe it dry with a towel, re-lubricate the O rings and replace the carbon in the collector's vent if needed and reassemble.

[JR719]

I use paper towels for the collection cup, then a baby bottle brush for the main body.

[Zucker26]

Am I the only person who just carries the cup outside and uses a strong blast from the garden hose?!?! The skimmate makes for some pretty darn sweet fertilizer for any houseplants too.

[LobsterOfJustice]

I dont move the skimmer, its plumbed in and that would be a pain. I just take the top off, wipe it out with some paper towels, and put the top back on. I clean the injector out as needed every few weeks when it gets clogged.

[pikachusalad]

Originally posted by melev
Real reefers use their hands.

Gross. Would you suggest scooping the cat boxes and picking up the dog poop with my hands too? :P

[filmoholic]

I just throw mine on the floor for my dogs.After about 20min i put it back on.....JK i dont even have a dog.Brush!

[brimil]

clean by hand in the basement sink basin

[flameangel88]

old toothbrush

[javajaws]

Originally posted by pikachusalad
Gross. Would you suggest scooping the cat boxes and picking up the dog poop with my hands too? :P

Somehow it is psychologically different when you can see the stuff being deposited directly. When cleaning the skimmer your inner self says "It just came from a bunch of bubbles!" and that in itself somehow makes it OK!

Now I typically don't go and eat finger food immediately after...

[scarter]

bare hand all the way..... gotta keep a connection with my reef

[Julio]

i usually run some muriatric acid on it and it gets cleaned in a few short minutes

[Gdevine]

Originally posted by LobsterOfJustice
I dont move the skimmer, its plumbed in and that would be a pain. I just take the top off, wipe it out with some paper towels, and put the top back on. I clean the injector out as needed every few weeks when it gets clogged.

Interesting...My skimmer is plumbed outside but in a tough spot to take out to clean the body of the skimmer (the cup and neck are easy to do).

How do you get down and into the body to get it all clean? Thought skimmers should be completely cleaned once a year or so...?