How often do you clean your return pump?

[BubbleAlgaeFarmer]

Lately it seems like i have to keep turning up my return pump to compensate for it slowing down. Once i clean it, i can always lower back down to my initial settings. I feel like i’m having to clean it a lot lately. So i ask, how often does everyone else have to clean theirs? I’m most interested because I find it to be a pain in the butt.

 

[Gtinnel]

Mine has been running non stop for about 6 years. I keep saying im going to clean it but I never do.
So I guess my answer is never.

 

[DIYreefer]

I clean my return pumps every so never. :)

 

[shawtygotbass]

I haven’t yet in 9 months. I’ll probably get to it in the next 9 years.

 

[musselman]

The intake on mine gets clogged up enough to make it noisy every three weeks - so about that often.

 

[painter1982]

Mine has been running non stop for about 6 years. I keep saying im going to clean it but I never do.
So I guess my answer is never.

What kind of pump?

 

[dvgyfresh]

dr tims waste away , and black lined return pump means never (hopefully lol)

 

[mmorrison55]

Every 6 mos or so.

 

[DexterKarin]

I did after a year and it runs so much better. Could turn it way down. Think I'll try to do it every 4 to 6 months now.

 

[19Mateo83]

I clean my return pump and skimmer every 6 months give or take. I know it’s time when I have to start dialing up the flow.

 

[NanoSteam]

The one and only time I've cleaned a return pump was when it failed to power back on due to buildup after a water change... I think that counts as never because it wasn't voluntarily

 

[dedragon]

Mine has been running non stop for about 6 years. I keep saying im going to clean it but I never do.
So I guess my answer is never.

im with this guy, never.
idk about him, but i use an extremely oversized dc return pump turned way down

 

[exnisstech]

Another never here. I run all jebao DC pumps. 6 years on one when I took the tank down. Currently have one at 2+ years another 3+ years and one less than a year.

 

[Gtinnel]

What kind of pump?

Its a cheap Jebao DCP10000.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I clean it once or maybe twice a year. As others mentioned above, I use an oversized pump and use at 35% only

 

[Waters]

I clean them when they won't restart after shutting down for tank maintenance.....so roughly never lol.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Probably not as often as I should, haha

 

[mfinn]

My intention is to clean them every 6 months, but seems like it can stretch out to once a year, sometimes 2.

 

[drmofjeannie]

I have a Sicce pump that let's me know when the pump needs maintenance. My tank is 11 months old and I have cleaned it twice.

 

[Blitheran]

Not gonna lie, these comments were gold.

“About every so… never”