Reef Flo Orca Skimmer Venturi Cleaning

[Chuck Spyropulos]

Few questions for people who have Reef Flow Orca Skimmers out there....

How do you clean your venturi?

Do you have to drain the whole skimmer to clean out the venturi?

How long between cleanings?

 

[Liam]

sorry i can't help, but hows that skimmer working out for you Chuck?

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

Skimmer

sorry i can't help, but hows that skimmer working out for you Chuck?

Hi Liam....the skimmer is really working out well. The venturi is pretty large (~ 1/2 inch diameter) so I am not even sure I need to clean it. But I wanted to see what others have done as far as routine maintenance. Otherwise cleaning this thing is really easy. I just dump out the waste container that is connected via vinyl tubing to the extra large waste cup at the top of the skimmer. The waste cup is so large that it and the skimmer's neck can be cleaned without removing anything except the lid of course.

I empty out the waste collector daily - it is amazing how much gunk this thing puts out.:: Really stinky, dark stuff....yum yum!

 

[Liam]

sounds good,a friend of mine is considering this skimmer,thanks

 

[Calciumbuf]

If it is the first generation model it does not have a drain in the base box so yes you need to drain the skimmer to clean the venturi, Invest in a kilowatt meter and hook it up to your recirculation pump and you'll be able to tell when the venturi needs cleaning as it gets dirty it uses more wattage,Jim

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

If it is the first generation model it does not have a drain in the base box so yes you need to drain the skimmer to clean the venturi, Invest in a kilowatt meter and hook it up to your recirculation pump and you'll be able to tell when the venturi needs cleaning as it gets dirty it uses more wattage,Jim

The skimmer does have a drain. I just read on RC that you can take off the venturi without draining the skimmer! You just need to be sure that the thing does not overflow. Under normal operation (while cleaning only!) you can remove the venturi and the vinyl hose and clean the venturi then replace it. As long as the recirc pump is running air will be sucked through the small threaded hole on the collar at the intake of the pump. The vinyl hose actually acts to elevate the air intake point above the internal normal water level and can be removed (during cleaning only) as long as you insure while cleaning that the skimmer does not overflow and cause the recirc pump to stop via the electronic float switch in the waste water collector.

Now my question is do I need to ever clean the needle-wheel? Do others with needlewheel skimmers clean these? If so, how often? It has been a while since I had a needlewheel since I modded my ASM G6 with the meshwheel which had to be replaced occasionally.

 

[skatezen]

Chuck,

I've never needed to clean the needle wheel anything that hits it is immediately shredded; including fish (trust me I know). I have had to dislodge a snail or two. Its a good idea to clean the venturi, by removing the whole pump, pvc and all via the unions. I've noticed that at the bottom of the PVC where the ball valve screws in, will build up calcium and or hard minerals, some heavy scraping will remove it. I had to use a a nail punch, but I got it all cleaned out. <- That's the only thing I'd be cautious of.

Mike at Reef Specialty where I bought mine suggested pouring hot RODI water down the silicone tube to clean it once a month. I generally heat up 1 - 2 quarts of RODI in a pyrex mixing bowl in the microwave for a few minutes to get it nice and hot, then just put the silicon tubing in the bowl and it sucks up the water in no time.

I definitely second Cacliumbuf's suggestion with the kill-a-watt it helps a lot. Mine usually runs around 96-98 depending on my water height in the reaction chamber. When I hit triple digits I give it a good cleaning.

Hope that helps,

Jeff

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

Orca

Thanks for the info.

Chuck,

I've never needed to clean the needle wheel anything that hits it is immediately shredded; including fish (trust me I know). I have had to dislodge a snail or two. Its a good idea to clean the venturi, by removing the whole pump, pvc and all via the unions. I've noticed that at the bottom of the PVC where the ball valve screws in, will build up calcium and or hard minerals, some heavy scraping will remove it. I had to use a a nail punch, but I got it all cleaned out. <- That's the only thing I'd be cautious of.

Mike at Reef Specialty where I bought mine suggested pouring hot RODI water down the silicone tube to clean it once a month. I generally heat up 1 - 2 quarts of RODI in a pyrex mixing bowl in the microwave for a few minutes to get it nice and hot, then just put the silicon tubing in the bowl and it sucks up the water in no time.

I definitely second Cacliumbuf's suggestion with the kill-a-watt it helps a lot. Mine usually runs around 96-98 depending on my water height in the reaction chamber. When I hit triple digits I give it a good cleaning.

Hope that helps,

Jeff