Removing Skimmer Collection Cup

[theyangman]

So last night while cleaning my tank, I had to clean out my skimmer cup, and I always found it difficult to "break the seal" when taking the cup off, and it popped off and some of the skim mate spilt back into my sump. Gross.

Any tips on what you guys do to remove the cup easily? Mine has always been a tight fit and doesn't come off easily until its too late and can end up with it spilling (Which caused the skimmer to go nuts for about an hour)

 

[theyangman]

btw I have a super reef octopus 3000 INT.

 

[TORX]

Add a drain tube. My vertex in280 has one and it is crazy handy for just that reason.

 

[theyangman]

It has a drain spout on it. I could drain all the liquid first I suppose but then I would need another container to dump it into prior to removal.

 

[TORX]

that is what I do, i skim a little wet, drain the cup every other day or so. Extra step yes, but saves a lot of mess. I am thinking about a skimmer neck clearer, you should check them out. Avast makes a pretty cheap DIY and I am seriously thinking about it, only it is a few months away while I replenish the play fund.

 

[pulpfiction1]

try a little silicone lube on the seal,i use k-y on my seals,make things slip in and out much easier

 

[theyangman]

woah woah woah, keep the k-y outta this.

 

[theyangman]

174.99 USD on BRS. yikes

I'll pass.

 

[jeffopentax]

try a little silicone lube on the seal,i use k-y on my seals,make things slip in and out much easier

Haha yes, yes it does

 

[theyangman]

like if this thing cleans that sludge off, and it falls back into the bottom of the skimmer what good does that do? And these skimmers, you can't access the bottom very easily....

 

[TORX]

like if this thing cleans that sludge off, and it falls back into the bottom of the skimmer what good does that do? And these skimmers, you can't access the bottom very easily....

I had the same question, only you run it for 2-3 minutes 4-6 times a day, yes, a controller or timer is needed. The amount that it collects is minimal and the bubbles carry it into the cup. I have been talking to a few people in the states about them on Facebook and they apparently have great results. Probably some of the nastiest skimmate I have ever seen.

 

[TORX]

Check this out too.
Swabbie Kit
http://www.avastmarine.com/ssc/do/product/youbuilt/Swabbie-Kit
Price: $114.99

 

[curiousphil]

I've been wanting a swabbie for quite some time now... cool little devices. Having them run just a couple times a day and you will never see any buildup accumulate in the neck. So it wouldn't knock any big bits of sludge into the bottom of the skimmer.

 

[AdInfinitum]

Add a drain tube. My vertex in280 has one and it is crazy handy for just that reason.

I run a tube from my Vertex to a 2 litre plastic pitcher that hangs on the inside edge of my sump. Easy to empty and if/when the skimmer goes nuts the excess just overflows the jug back into the sump but even then it still catches the worst crap since it sinks in the jug.