Best way to clean a skimmer with chemicals?

Cory

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My skimmer has an area that i cannot clean with a brush. Any chemicals that are good to use to dissolve the organics? The skimmer is acrylic. Would sodium hydroxide be okay? Bleach? Acid?
 

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My skimmer has an area that i cannot clean with a brush. Any chemicals that are good to use to dissolve the organics? The skimmer is acrylic. Would sodium hydroxide be okay? Bleach? Acid?

Citric acid will work nicely if you have any.

Bleach can be used just dilute it properly first.
 
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Citric acid will work nicely if you have any.

Bleach can be used just dilute it properly first.
You sure it will dissolve organics? There are bits of algae and chaeto stuck in that spot.
 

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Muriatic acid, neat,shaken not stirred ;)

Pour some, let it does its thing, rinse wit plenty of water.....good to go in 5 minutes....
 

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I've found that a magic eraser works like well... magic. My skimmer sits right next to my fuge, so it gets coraline and film algae. The magic eraser takes them both off quickly, and doesn't even cloud the acrylic. Takes a bit of elbow grease though.
 

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You sure it will dissolve organics? There are bits of algae and chaeto stuck in that spot.
It'll work, as stated citric acid, bleach, muriatic. Those are your best bets. Just ensure you properly follow all safety precautions so you don't injure yourself or others, and don't mix any of the chemicals together or with other chemicals. Muriatic will be the most aggressive, citric being the least, and bleach somewhere in the middle.
 

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My skimmer has an area that i cannot clean with a brush. Any chemicals that are good to use to dissolve the organics? The skimmer is acrylic. Would sodium hydroxide be okay? Bleach? Acid?
What are you trying to remove?
 
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What are you trying to remove?
Some pieces of macroalgae like chaeto. Stuck in the clear downdraft chamber of my bashsea skimmer.
 

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Some pieces of macroalgae like chaeto. Stuck in the clear downdraft chamber of my bashsea skimmer.
I can picture where it is but I am not familiar with the plumbing. I was thinking before you resort to chemical warfare you might try back flushing with tap water. The water pressure might dislodge it. You might have to use hot water to soften the algae if it is wedged.

On the chemical front, I usually resort to bleach for battle with organics things. You might need both approaches.
 
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I can picture where it is but I am not familiar with the plumbing. I was thinking before you resort to chemical warfare you might try back flushing with tap water. The water pressure might dislodge it. You might have to use hot water to soften the algae if it is wedged.

On the chemical front, I usually resort to bleach for battle with organics things. You might need both approaches.
I tried back flushing but it doesnt come out unfortunately.
 
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Can you just leave it?
Unfortunately not because over time it builds up so much that it blocks flow and skimming ability. Imagine a bunch of bio balls in the downdraft area, thats sort of how it builds up with chaeto bits.
 
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Heres a pic of the problem area
 

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Heres a real pic
 

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Randy Holmes-Farley

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Acids aren't an especially good way to clean up many organics, unless there's calcification also present.

It's unfortunate that you cannot disassemble that part.

Maybe kill it and hope it falls apart. Hydrogen peroxide? Citric acid? Bleach?
 

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For removing organics like chaeto fragments, bleach would be the best thing I can think of. I would set up the skimmer in a bucket with water with some bleach and turn it on and let it run. I don’t know how well it will work. It might take awhile.
 
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I know draino works wonders on hair and stuff. Would sodium hyrdoxide damage the plastic?
 
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