Cleaning Equipment

[Steven91]

Question for everyone:

Im a little overdue on cleaning my pumps, and I read a few different ideas and for how long, I am going to use Vinegar and water but what ratio do I need it to be? (1:1, 2:1, etc) Also, for how long? (I do not have a spare return pump I can put on so I cant just let it sit all night)

 

[Ocelaris]

If you're short on time, just do full strength. But honestly I just clean the housing and impeller and put it back. Unless you have visible calcium deposits, just soak it for 15 minutes in full strength vinegar and put it back.

The acid can be tough on o rings, other than that it's not not big deal to soak all the rest for an extended period.

 

[EriksOasis]

I always do a 50/50 mix in a spray bottle let soak for about 20 mins then light scrub everything just falls off. Or another option is they sell a soft vinager cleaning spray that’s all natural I have used that with the same process.

 

[Steven91]

Awesome, thank you both for the information

 

[EriksOasis]

You are very welcome. Like Iceland is said just a quick scrub in pure vinager won’t hurt anything but if you are going to soak anything either take the o rings out or do a dilute solution. Or both won’t hurt.

 

[miPapareef]

I just cleaned all my pumps for the first time and did it right next to the tank using a 5 gallon bucket with 50/50 vinegar and RODI. That way I didn’t even need to pull out all the wiring. Let each pump run in the bucket for 10 minutes followed by a strip down and brushing. Then reasssembled and ran for a minute in second bucket of RODI. Less than 20 minutes total for each pump and they came out clean. All the coralline algae and any other buildup gone.

 

[Ocelaris]

I just cleaned all my pumps for the first time and did it right next to the tank using a 5 gallon bucket with 50/50 vinegar and RODI. That way I didn’t even need to pull out all the wiring. Let each pump run in the bucket for 10 minutes followed by a strip down and brushing. Then reasssembled and ran for a minute in second bucket of RODI. Less than 20 minutes total for each pump and they came out clean. All the coralline algae and any other buildup gone.

That, exactly. Run the pumps in the vinegar solution. I'm too cheap to use full strength in a 5 gallon bucket. I do keep a bucket full of water and vinegar that I reuse.