What are the best practices for cleaning algae off second hand equipment?

[dleute]

I purchased a 93 gallon cube tank today secondhand. I decided to buy most of the equipment so I have a "complete" setup for relatively little money.

I am now home starting the cleaning process. I have setup the sump and protein skimmer to self-cycle in a tap water and vinegar bath. A utility pump is moving water from the return chamber to the entry chamber. I have a powerhead running in each chamber to increase flow. I'm taking a toothbrush to most of the equipment. Most of it has been pretty simple to clean like new. In fact, in some cases I just put the stuff in the sump and 20 minutes later it looks clean.

Every piece of equipment is spending time in the sump doing this. I'm also getting almost everything off the sump itself and the inside of the protein skimmer.

However, a maxspect gyre that came with the system is relatively clogged with green algae (possibly hair). I've taken it apart and toothbrush cleaned everything that is easy for me to clean. However nothing is getting to the inside of the center pieces. I ran it in the sump for a while. Now all the pieces are in a vinegar/water bath for the night. There is no significant visible algae remaining.

I don't want to introduce an algae mess into this tank, so is there some other things I should do to make sure it is all dead and gone?

Will some part of cycling the tank help? Are there some steps I'm missing?

Thanks!

 

[AZBigJohn]

If it is just algae you are dealing with, a scrub small scrub brush (I use a nylon "grout brush" that is the perfect size - basically an over-sized toothbrush with a bend at the end) will help snag the hair algae and make it easier to remove.

If you have any scale or calcium buildup, a good soak in 10-20% vinegar/water solution helps loosen / dissolve the build up. Also makes the algae a little easier to pull, too.

If the tank has build-up you can use it there, too.

As for the tank, if it is glass, a razor blade or metal scrapper works well. If it is acrylic, they make non-abrasive scrubbers that will get the algae off.

Good luck! Second hand is the best way to start out!

 

[dleute]

Thanks for the response!

I have some cleaning brushes on order. So I can use something other than a toothbrush.

The tank appears fine. Just coralline (mostly on the overflow). I'm not sure if I should remove it before starting fresh. I would think it would be difficult to get the vinegar concentration high enough in the entire 93 gallon cube. The sump is basically already clean.

I'm just getting nervous now that the process is actually starting. (Been researching/learning about tank stuff for over a year before I found the tank)

--Derrek

 

[Ron Reefman]

For things that you can't 'soak' in a vinegar solution, consider using straight vinegar and an old rag. Soak the rag and lay it on the spot you want to clean. If one treatment doesn't work, it can be soaked again. All it does is breakdown the Ca in the old coraline algae, it dose no harm to the plastic, glass or metal parts.