Clean Your Pumps People

[Scrubber_steve]

Some reefers may not realise just how negatively affected pump performance is by the build-up of gunk, calcium carbonate, & its cousin – coralline algae. Dead snail shells are not alien in return pump propeller housings either, having just removed one from mine, along with the scum. I've even had pumps stop working only to be good again after cleaning.

In the case of my return pump, a six speed DC model, after cleaning it I got the same performance on speed 2 as I had previously at speed 3. This not only reduced the power consumption but is less stress on the pump.

But the really significant difference came after cleaning my wave pump, a Jebao SW 8 – 8 speed DC model. I hadn’t cleaned this pump for a while (the coralline algae covering all over it looked pretty), & I was running it, at times, at speed 8 on variable flow. The difference cleaning made resulted in not being able to run it higher than speed 1, & then on pulse, as the flow was now so great my Goniopora most likely would end up leaving home otherwise (polyp export).

Soaked in bleach solution for an hour, & then in a vinegar solution for another hour to dissolve the calcium deposits, tooth brush to polish it up, rinse in fresh water, & good to go.

 

[Idoc]

I put my powerheads in a bucket of vinegar and water and turn it on to run for about 30 min. Then take out, disassemble the PH and clean with a brush. I do this every couple months... mainly because I'm getting gha growth on them that bothers me by appearance.

 

[Crabs McJones]

I like to clean my pump monthly and deep clean every six months for longevity performance

 

[Scrubber_steve]

The other item I like to clean is my chiller after a summer season. A good flushing with the bleach & vinegar also.

 

[Forsaken77]

Some pumps can't go in vinegar because the epoxy can come loose and ruin the pump. I guess you have to know how the pump is made. Another member just had this issue.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

Some pumps can't go in vinegar because the epoxy can come loose and ruin the pump. I guess you have to know how the pump is made. Another member just had this issue.

Interesting point. I've never had that problem & i can't understand how vinegar could break the bond between the epoxy & the plastic.
What tyoe of pump was this?

 

[mcarroll]

Some pumps can't go in vinegar because the epoxy can come loose and ruin the pump. I guess you have to know how the pump is made. Another member just had this issue.

Link?

 

[redfishbluefish]

Actually it's vinegar (acetic acid) and plastic that's the problem....more specifically, a plastic coated magnet. The small uncharged acid penetrates the plastic causing the magnet to rust and swell. Happened to three MP40's when I use to vinegar dip the entire thing. Now the magnet never sees vinegar.

 

[themcfreak]

Actually it's vinegar (acetic acid) and plastic that's the problem....more specifically, a plastic coated magnet. The small uncharged acid penetrates the plastic causing the magnet to rust and swell. Happened to three MP40's when I use to vinegar dip the entire thing. Now the magnet never sees vinegar.

I knew there was a reason I never dip my MP40 magnet. I read it a long time ago somewhere, so didn't dip it, but then recently I was cleaning and questioned why I didn't just dip the whole thing... now I remember haha Thanks!

 

[redfishbluefish]

Now here's my pump cleaning experience.

When I ran a MAG 9.5 as a return pump, that rarely got cleaned....it just ran and ran and ran. I switched to a Waveline DC6000 and now that has to be cleaned frequently. If I don't clean it, it just stops running around 8 - 9 months. I don't know if there's a torque difference, or if that monster impeller is the cause, or if for some reason the DC pump attracts pump snot faster, but it just gunks up pretty fast with that pump snot and stops running. I have it on a 6 month cleaning schedule. Is this a DC issue with other DC pumps? I only have experience with Waveline.

 

[Neo Jeo]

SO I can take out the magnet and then use vinegar? I need to clean my Reef Octopus and Jabo power head.

 

[redfishbluefish]

SO I can take out the magnet and then use vinegar? I need to clean my Reef Octopus and Jabo power head.

That's my recommendation....and that's what I do now. Everything except the magnet is vinegar dipped.

 

[Forsaken77]

Link?

I thought you would've probably read it. It was just last week. The guy had pictures of the epoxy falling apart, and the manufacturer claimed it was the vinegar, but there was another member that deals with pumps professionally and confirned it.

I think it had to do with plastic more so.

 

[C-Reefer]

I've noticed in general especially the Jebaos are affected by not being cleaned. I have to clean mine at least every month or flow slows waaaayyy down. Return I clean every 1-2 months.

I take mine apart, soak them in vinegar water for an hour, scrub them off with a toothbrush and give them a good rinse and put them back in. I don't like messing with bleach, and imo vinegar does better at dissolving hard water stuff then bleach.

 

[mcarroll]

I thought you would've probably read it. It was just last week. The guy had pictures of the epoxy falling apart, and the manufacturer claimed it was the vinegar, but there was another member that deals with pumps professionally and confirned it.

I think it had to do with plastic more so.

I have not.

I don't recall where, but I've heard folks mention that vinegar was bad for pumps before. But I asked around a little when I first heard it and got "pfft, vinegar is fine" so it seemed like YAHM. (Yet Another Hobby Myth)

Still curious for any particulars if you remember where you saw it.

 

[Daniel92481]

What is the recommended ratio of white vinegar to water for cleaning return pumps and wave makers? Also, should this be RODI or tap?

 

[redfishbluefish]

......I don't recall where, but I've heard folks mention that vinegar was bad for pumps before. But I asked around a little when I first heard it and got "pfft, vinegar is fine" so it seemed like YAHM. (Yet Another Hobby Myth)

Still curious for any particulars if you remember where you saw it.

Here's what Dr. Randy says about vinegar:

I think the effect on plastic may be worse with vinegar than muriatic acid but it may depend on the plastic.

Vinegar can be in the form of acetic acid and that neutral molecule can enter plastic. Diluted muriatic acid won't have any neutral acidic molecules in it to enter plastic, so just exposes the outermost leading edge of plastic. So while the muriatic acid after dilution is a much stronger acid, i would not assume it is worse on plastics.

FWIW, I've used diluted muriatic acid for decades as have others, and I've not heard of cords being damaged, but I've also not inspected them closely.

 

[mcarroll]

I think the effect on plastic may be worse with vinegar than muriatic acid but it may depend on the plastic.

Very interesting.

Which plastic though?? ;Stinkyfeet

FWIW, I've used diluted muriatic acid for decades as have others, and I've not heard of cords being damaged, but I've also not inspected them closely.

I think vinegar holds up under the same anecdotal evidence given the huge number of folks who use it seemingly without issue.

I'm more curious which one works better, which is safer and which is more accessible to more reefers? If we can dial it in to "which plastic" then that's even better.

Vinegar seems like "it" when all things are considered, but it's interesting to try and learn new things too.;Watching

(BTW, I have no idea where folks get "muratic acid" but I know it's not on-sale in the grocery store! Perhaps due to safety concerns? "Muratic" even sounds dangerous! And why isn't it called "hydrochloric acid" instead?)

Using Cole-Parmer's Chemical Compatibility Database these are the only materials listed as other-than-excellent, without qualification. Most notable may be PVC that might be used as cord insulation.:

And here's the "Excellent" list....ABS and Epoxy are both on there, and based on the little I know are the most likely pump ingredients to be exposed:

(Sorry for the fine print....check out the website for a better view.)


Hydrochloric Acid tables next......Lowes appears to sell 31% muratic acid.

 

[mcarroll]

So the compatibility tool lists 20% and 37% hydrochloric acid....

Starting with the 20% "materials to avoid" list:

And the 20% "materials that are excellent" list:

Compare with the same lists for 37% hydrochloric/muriatic acid...
"Avoid"

"Excellent" only...

 

[KMench]

Darn. Wish I would’ve read this last week. I just cleaned all my components in a vinegar bath a week or two ago. Hopefully one vinegar bath doesn’t hurt my MP40 wet sides
Side note though, cleaned my pump for the first time in a year and I’m no longer getting bubbles in my overflow box (not a RR tank)