Dirty Skimmer

[Dave Stewart]

I bought a used skimmer that has a white scale up the throat of the collection cup & the inner ring on the lid. I'm guessing calcium/lime buildup. I've let it soak in vinegar for a day & tried blasting with kaboom! Scrubbing with a toothbrush has not phased it. Any ideas? Thanks.

 

[camaro5026spd]

a guy i bought an acrylic sump off of while back said he uses some kind of acid you can buy at home depot for cleaning his skimmers and overflow boxes and doesn't hurt the plastic. of course you have to take them out of your tank and that. i wish i can remember what the name of it was or find his number again. ill look around for his number and try getting a hold of him because i could use a good cleaning on my skimmer and overflow that i just bought ill let you know what i find or someone else might know what it is in the meantime

 

[oldreefer76]

Muriatic Acid

 

[itZme]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14499064#post14499064 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by oldreefer76
Muriatic Acid

YEP... just be careful to follow the safety precautions on the bottle. They aren't kidding when they say to wear gloves and protect your skin. That stuff will burn you easily. It is basically the same idea as you using vinegar but about 10 times stronger.

 

[Dave Stewart]

Thanks guys. I'll look for it.

 

[camaro5026spd]

yeah thats it. thanks guys for helping me remember it.

 

[Notathumpa]

Don't spill any on your garage floor!

 

[ReefWidowed]

Call your local Home Depot before heading out there. Once upon a time, I worked at a Home Depot, and we stopped carrying it at our store because the city changed the laws on how it could be stored (I was at Rocky River). Just don't want you to waste an afternoon tracking it down

 

[fishog]

You can get it at a swimming pool supply joint .

 

[rbd0331]

I believe that Litehouse carries it. You could give em a call to check.

 

[Dave Stewart]

My local Home Depot has it. Thanks. I'll be careful! Sounds like I'm gonna have plenty if anybody needs some.

 

[vietcu]

Hey Dave I might need a couple of ounces to clean the back of my tank. I have a spot of white that won't go away with vinegar when I bought it. Let me know if it work in your case first, thanks Vu.

 

[Dave Stewart]

Muriatic acid didn't work. Added about a cup acid for two gal. of water. Had it soaking for over an hour & stuff didn't budge. Any ideas? Got plenty of acid if anyone needs.

 

[BrunstuckyJoe]

Did you try buying a gallon of white vinegar and soak it in there full strength....see what happens...

 

[saltydog1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14510886#post14510886 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dave Stewart
Muriatic acid didn't work. Added about a cup acid for two gal. of water. Had it soaking for over an hour & stuff didn't budge. Any ideas? Got plenty of acid if anyone needs.

You may have weakened it too much. I used it before and I think I used it pretty much full strength and it fizzed it right off. Try dipping a Q-tip in the acid (full strength) and putting a little on the deposited area and see if it cuts it. Just be careful with the stuff, and also wear eye protection just in case. If that works, all you have to do is just pour it slowly over the deposits instead of trying to soak it, using very little acid. Try to do this in a plastic container, bucket, etc.

 

[jefft321]

What works well for me is to take a 5 gallon bucket put in around a gallon of vinegar along with a gallon or 2 of steaming hot water. I let it sit for several days, and any calcium build up that is left easily wipes off.

 

[jefft321]

One or 2 days of soaking isn't enough. I would let it sit for closer to a week. I have had no problems doing this.

 

[sailoracu2]

I used muriatic acid to clean dried concrete off my cement mixer, works great. Us at 100% strength and rinse with water, it will soften/melt the plastic if left on to long.