Cleaning Equipment with Vinegar

[Tradewinds]

Will soaking a powerhead in a cup of vinegar have the same cleansing effect of soaking the powerhead in a gallon of vinegar, if in both cases, the equipment is covered by the vinegar?

 

[reefgeezer]

Generally speaking, yes. I guess, a small amount of vinegar could be neutralized before all of the calcium carbonate is dissolved, but I think it would take quite a bit. I normally soak powerheads in just enough vinegar to cover them.

 

[SGT_York]

I use mostly water 33% vinegar works very well for routine maintenance.

 

[bertoni]

I agree that covering the equipment probably is more than enough in most cases. I actually used a dilute solution, and ran the powerheads in a small bucket or container. That seemed to clean them quickly and worked well on the interiors.

 

[CjGray]

I think it is just effect wise, a small amount will lose its effect or acidity faster

 

[Tradewinds]

Thanks for the replies. Looks like I have been using way too much vinegar in the past.

 

[jimmytacos]

Just out of curiosity how long do you soak them for in the solution of pure vinegar versus those who dilute.

 

[Wryknow]

I usually soak for 24 hours in a 25% vinegar dilution and then use an old tooth brush to clean off anything that's still stuck to the surface.

 

[bertoni]

I let the pumps sit in the container for 10-20 minutes, which was overkill, but I had the pumps running, which increases the efficiency greatly.

 

[reefgeezer]

i let the pumps sit in the container for 10-20 minutes, which was overkill, but i had the pumps running, which increases the efficiency greatly.

+1

 

[AdamNC]

I just recently soaked my wp-10 in undiluted 5% vinegar for about 3 hours in a small bowl, just enough to cover it and it looked and worked like brand new after scrubbing it with a brush. The brush broke off the nasties and the coraline like old cheap paint.

 

[woodnaquanut]

I dilute 50/50, mostly to save on vinegar and have enough liquid to cover. If you run a pump it will bring new acid into contact with the object to be cleaned. When I clean something that can't move the solution, I give it a stir/swirl several times a day.

I'm lazy so I generally leave it overnight.

 

[dkeller_nc]

If you wish, you can greatly accelerate the speed of calcium carbonate dissolution in vinegar by heating the vinegar in a microwave. Obviously, you don't want to get the vinegar so hot that it'll burn you or melt plastic components, but you'll want it to be about the same temp as the hot water coming out of your faucet. Under these conditions, even severely encrusted components will come clean with a toothbrush after soaking for 5-10 minutes.

Also, you can save vinegar that's been used to clean off pumps, heaters and other components and re-use it several times. Just make sure that you prominently label it so it doesn't get used for making coleslaw!

 

[CStrickland]

I use it full strength, so 5%.
I pour off what hasn't settled through a tea strainer and reuse. After a while it dwindles from leaving behind the crud, but I get many many cleanings out of a jug. I think I use less than if I cut it by a third and only used once, since I deff get more than three passes.

Also, when I'm lazy I don't take them all apart. I just run the power heads one at a time in a Tupperware of vin for a while while I do something else, so I need more to cover them, I think it gets in the crevices better and it warms it up to work faster. I shoot for breaking my pumps down and soaking once a month, but it's a good shortcut when life gets in the way.

Like dkeller said, label it! Nobody wants that in their raspberry vinaigrette

 

[emerald crab]

I gave up on vinegar long time ago, I use hydrochloric acid (HCl). It is much faster and you don't have to go crazy about rinsing (chloride ion is the most abundant one in salt water).

 

[Masoch]

I gave up on vinegar long time ago, I use hydrochloric acid (HCl). It is much faster and you don't have to go crazy about rinsing (chloride ion is the most abundant one in salt water).

Hydrochloric acid will pit stainless steel -- obviously not a concern if your pumps use ceramic shafts.

 

[Tradewinds]

I typically soak my equipment in vinegar for 3 or 4 hours.