Adambalding
New member
What do you use to clean your pumps? Did I see vinegar? How often do you actually do it? Thanks in advance
What with and how often do you clean your pumps?
- Thread starter Adambalding
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AllenFord_SC
New member
For Powerheads, clean them as needed in vinegar and water. My main pumps are on a strict 4 month service plan. Every four mounth I have a reminder set on my PC using this program: http://www.infinitysoft.net/ReefCon/ that tells me it's time to do so. This is just me and I am sure others will tell you they have never cleaned their pumps. By the way it is a free download.
TekCat
New member
I use vinnegar too. Sometimes I dillute it with water, and sometimes just unsing pure vinnegar.
I soak disassembled pump/powerhead in pure vinnegar for an hour or so. Then manualy clean what I can: impeller, its housing, other parts with a toothbrush. Then assemble pump, and have it run in a bucket with vinnegar for a few more hours. Then final pass with toothbrush, rinsing in tap water, dry.
I soak disassembled pump/powerhead in pure vinnegar for an hour or so. Then manualy clean what I can: impeller, its housing, other parts with a toothbrush. Then assemble pump, and have it run in a bucket with vinnegar for a few more hours. Then final pass with toothbrush, rinsing in tap water, dry.
kau_cinta_ku
New member
same here with viniger every 6 monthes or sooner if they need it
MiddletonMark
Premium Member
I cleaned mine about every year. Until this last november, when I had two impellers sieze and cause problems. One blew my return pump at 3:15am a Friday morning ... the other just needed full impeller replacement.
I'll be cleaning them now every 4-5 months. Take apart, soak impeller/etc in vinegar overnight, scrub with toothbrush/etc to fully clean.
Pwerheads I clean every 4-6 months, seem like the intakes need it more often and just an overnight soak of the impellers seems to keep them running smooth.
Used to be more slack on this, but after having to replace my return pump in a rush a few days before vacation [and less cash to take on vacation
] ... it's worth being vigilant IMO
I'll be cleaning them now every 4-5 months. Take apart, soak impeller/etc in vinegar overnight, scrub with toothbrush/etc to fully clean.
Pwerheads I clean every 4-6 months, seem like the intakes need it more often and just an overnight soak of the impellers seems to keep them running smooth.
Used to be more slack on this, but after having to replace my return pump in a rush a few days before vacation [and less cash to take on vacation
] ... it's worth being vigilant IMOroadrunner1659
New member
what is it that vinager does for the cleaning process? over just using water and scrubing?
roadrunner1659
New member
ooooooooooooooooooo ok well i guess that i will have to start doing that...do you have to let it sit over night...how long should it sit for?
Adambalding
New member
What part of MN are you from TekCat? Im originally from Marshall
MiddletonMark
Premium Member
Yup, vinegar and a toothbrush make calcium deposits [and some others] disappear. I prefer to soak overnight, then clean well.
[works great on the beaker I add my 2-part in, too]
[works great on the beaker I add my 2-part in, too]
Just be careful about running the pumps overnight or while you are not in the house. I put my mag12 in 3 gallons of vinegar and let it run. About 2 hours later the house started filling up with a very strong smell of hot vinegar. Sure enough the vinegar in the bucket was so hot you could not stick your finger in it.
No wonder it is so tough to keep a tank cool.
GARFVolunteer
Premium Member
I clean the insides of the powerheads monthly using water. When I see calcuim deposits, I will clean them by placing them in a old salt bucket with a gallon of vinegar. I top off with enough water to cover all the power heads. It usually takes less than a couple of hours to remove all calcium deposits.
Thanks,
Scott
Thanks,
Scott
