Cleaning equipment
- Thread starter Jay6363
- Start date
- Tagged users None
4yrs using straight up heated up distilled vinegar. All is clean with minor scrubbing within 30 minutes.
Undiluted distilled white vinegar. When you dilute it you alter the pH and it is not as effective so take longer to work.
When you use it straight you can strain the big stuff out and put it back in the jug to use oev rand over until it loses its strength. I but it by the gallon for about $1.80 but Costco and places like that have a 2.5 or 3 gallon jug really cheap.
When you use it straight you can strain the big stuff out and put it back in the jug to use oev rand over until it loses its strength. I but it by the gallon for about $1.80 but Costco and places like that have a 2.5 or 3 gallon jug really cheap.
TJ's Reef
Valuable Member
+1 for me with white vinegar as well. 1 gallon vinegar with a couple gallons FW in 5g bucket, rotate all PH's through 15-30 minutes brush off with toothbrush then quick rinse and back into DT. After done with this will sometimes place skimmer in same bucket and give a short run as well.
Cheers, Todd
Cheers, Todd
redfishbluefish
Stay Positive, Stay Productive
Staff member
Super Moderator
Reef Squad
Partner Member 2024
Excellence Award
Article Contributor
NJRC Member
Hospitality Award
Agree with the Rat....straight vinegar....and if I can, i go overnight with the soaking. Gets all the coraline off.
If you can, take the rubber stuff off before soaking.
If you can, take the rubber stuff off before soaking.
Palting
Active Member
Careful with straight vinegar. Vinegar is the strongest of the "weak" acids, and it can eat through some plastic and some sealants. I used to soak powerheads overnight in straight vinegar, and it ate though the seams used to cover the impeller. Salt got into the impeller from the partly melted seams and eventually made it bulge and get stuck inside the housing. You can soak in straight white vinegar if it's only a few minutes and rinse well immediately after cleaning. If you want to soak it overnight for some reason, dilute it 50/50.
Last edited:
redfishbluefish
Stay Positive, Stay Productive
Staff member
Super Moderator
Reef Squad
Partner Member 2024
Excellence Award
Article Contributor
NJRC Member
Hospitality Award
What!!! Vinegar is a 5% solution of acetic acid. It is a weak acid and tastes good on french fries and salads. It will NOT touch plastics. No impact on plastic parts. However,it eventually will have an effect on rubber, and that is why I remove any rubber stuff before soaking. I also coat my rubber with plumbers grease (or similar) to extend it's life.
And did I mention it typically comes in plastic containers!
Last edited:
In 30 years I have never had a problem with undiluted vinegar on plastics or epoxy potted electrical parts, even with days of soaking. It will harden rubber parts if kept in the solution more than 6 or 8 hours but the biggest advantage undiluted is it only needs to soak an hour or two at most even when really caked up.
Dtech07
SPS LOVER!!!
I use for pumps and skimmers 2gallon of water from my tank after a water change (the pumps and skimmers work better than with rodi water) and two cups of vinegare in a 5gallon bucket. I run pumps separate from skins and run all for 2hrs. Then take one bucket at a time and clean that device with a tooth brush while wearing gloves and safety glasses. Rinse well with rodi water then put back into service. While in the bucket cleaning.
Afterward (I cleaned both my skimmers)
Afterward (I cleaned both my skimmers)
Thereeferboss
Active Member
Will it be safe to soak my mp40s wet side with vinegar over night?
As long as it's diluted yes.
Thereeferboss
Active Member
Ok like 50/50
Dtech07
SPS LOVER!!!
I use 2 1/2 cups of white vinegar in a 5 gallon bucket with 2 1/2gallons of water from my rank right after a water change (why use new water the vinegar does the work but the old saltwater is needed for most saltwater equipment to work at their best).
