Best way to clean pumps / coraline
- Thread starter rockdiver
- Start date
Doubledown
Active member
50/50 mix of vinegar and hot water (don't worry about the water staying hot, it just seems to work faster when you start with hot water).
On the tank, if its not bad or too heavy, use a sponge to soak the coraline until it breaks down. If it is heavy, fill the tank with the vinegar/water and let it soak for a few hours (or days) untill the coraline breaks down.
If the pumps are submersable, throw them in a bucket with the same vinegar/water mix to soak. Plug them in to get all the internal parts clean (I do this with maxijets and mag pumps every 6 months for maintenance anyway). If you fill the tank due to heavy coraline coverage, throw the pumps in there and turn them on - this keeps the water moving and speeds the breakdown of coraline.
Once clean, rinse everything with RODI and towel dry.
On the tank, if its not bad or too heavy, use a sponge to soak the coraline until it breaks down. If it is heavy, fill the tank with the vinegar/water and let it soak for a few hours (or days) untill the coraline breaks down.
If the pumps are submersable, throw them in a bucket with the same vinegar/water mix to soak. Plug them in to get all the internal parts clean (I do this with maxijets and mag pumps every 6 months for maintenance anyway). If you fill the tank due to heavy coraline coverage, throw the pumps in there and turn them on - this keeps the water moving and speeds the breakdown of coraline.
Once clean, rinse everything with RODI and towel dry.
ppurcell
New member
On the advise of someone with a lot of experience, I just cleaned four heavily encrusted tanks (two glass, two acrylic) using muriatic acid from Menards which you can find in the paint section for about $2.50 gallon.
You need to wear gloves, and glasses would probably be a good idea too. I diluted to about 50/50 with water. Make sure you do this in a well ventilated area (the fumes are intense and unpleasant) and it will make short work of a dirty tank.
I probably went through less than a quart of acid to finish all four tanks and I am sure I would have had to use several gallons of vinegar and spent a lot more time applying elbow grease to achieve the same results.
You need to wear gloves, and glasses would probably be a good idea too. I diluted to about 50/50 with water. Make sure you do this in a well ventilated area (the fumes are intense and unpleasant) and it will make short work of a dirty tank.
I probably went through less than a quart of acid to finish all four tanks and I am sure I would have had to use several gallons of vinegar and spent a lot more time applying elbow grease to achieve the same results.
Doubledown
Active member
ppurcell - You used muriatic acid on acrylic?
ppurcell
New member
It was my first time using it and I was told that it was ok for acrylic. The two tanks I used it on were in pretty rough shape to begin with and neither are to be used as displays. That being said, they look the same as they did before the muriatic acid only now with no coralline on them.
It might be best to test in an inconspicous place like bottom back corner, just to be sure. Or just play it safe and go the vinegar route, it'll work only it will take longer, require more effort and cost more money. But of course if you are a reefer, money is no object anyway.
The stuff is sold in a plastic jug. However, I'm not sure I personally would take the chance on an expensive display tank. If anything you could dilute it to 4:1 or more.
It might be best to test in an inconspicous place like bottom back corner, just to be sure. Or just play it safe and go the vinegar route, it'll work only it will take longer, require more effort and cost more money. But of course if you are a reefer, money is no object anyway.
The stuff is sold in a plastic jug. However, I'm not sure I personally would take the chance on an expensive display tank. If anything you could dilute it to 4:1 or more.
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anyone want a 90g 400.00 dirty?
