Howoften do you guys clean your powerheads??

[ReeferItIs2]

I routinely toothbrush the outside before every water change but I've had my tank a year now and until today never took them apart to clean them...i highly recommend doing that if you dont...i was really surprised at what I found in them

 

[FishN00b83]

i do the same as you, I just toothbrush the outside. my tank has also been up for a year this month

 

[ReeferItIs2]

You might want to take them apart and see what you have in there...you will be surprised

 

[rocsec1]

I clean mine once a month. Anymore then that and they slow down and make whining noises

 

[ReeferItIs2]

I'll do every couple months...this was my first time cleaning the insides and I can tell a difference in flow

 

[Dragonvale]

Never. Just being honest. Or until something's affecting its performance.

 

[FishN00b83]

You might want to take them apart and see what you have in there...you will be surprised

yeah next week I'll take em out and see what's in there...hopefully nothing!

 

[reepher315]

I rinse em off with water if I see anything sucked to the backside. Guess Ill have to check inside next time.

 

[woodnaquanut]

I don't really have a schedule. I have MP 40s and have noticed they get noisy just before they REALLY need a cleaning. On my better days I do the cleaning then. If I wait too long they pop off the dry side and then I'm really motivated to get out the vinegar and clean them up!

 

[Reef Bass]

I have MP 40s ... If I wait too long they pop off the dry side

Interesting. Mine typically start failing with red / green alternating lights on the controller. Then I clean them up and am amazed by how much more flow there is.

 

[swk]

My mp40 doesn't seem to require much maintenance.

My wp25 really loses a lot of flow if I don't clean it. Usually once every couple months I'll take it apart and give it a good cleaning. The resulting increase in flow is pretty amazing.

 

[ReeferItIs2]

Yea when I cleaned my powerheads i saw a big difference in flow

 

[Reef Bass]

All this talk about cleaning made me yank my MP40 wet sides and give them a going over. I think I reduced the net tonnage of phosphorus in my tank with all the turf algae I scraped off their covers. My unintended turf scrubber! They're pushing more water now too.

 

[ffmedic]

I need to do mine now lol

 

[Dapg8gt]

I have 6 ecotech pumps and I clean them all monthly.. I believe that's the key to keeping them things healthy so to speak..

I always read about people having to replace wetsides and issues with them and myself have my original mp10 wetside from 2010 still going strong all stock.. That's just my personal feelings though no science at all =).. I usually will do a vinegar bath and rotate thru my heads by having a spare 10 and 40 wetside to swap in..

 

[FishN00b83]

I had so much calcium build up on one of my pumps that it was not running at full power, it actually started locking up. I scraped it all off and it's running great now. the clicking is back when it turns on, but it's been getting quieter as the days to by.

 

[hobbzz]

Way too often. Probably once a month or two. I'm still working up to my maintenance dosage for vodka and vinegar, so the bacteria colonize the powerheads and my return. Makes a big difference in flow for the powerheads.

 

[Hzuiel]

So.....I just poped open my koralia and it was jammed full of little tube worms.

 

[coralfarmer]

Check this out works great to clean pumps
Zap Cal
http://www.crystalclearaquatics.com

 

[Reef Bass]

Nice. "Lime Away" for reefing.

Great to hear from you James. Hope all is well, and that you will post some pics of some outrageous corals soon.