Does anyone use bleach to clean their powerheads?

[mfinn]

I bleach my powerheads every 1-2 months. I find it makes removing the brown gunk that accumulates much easier. The powerheads come out brand new, except for the coralline, which turns completely white and flakes off in the tank after a few days.

Does anyone else use bleach to clean their powerheads?


PSA: Please neutralize the chlorine before adding the powerheads back into the tank.

I have one one tank that I can never seem to control hair algae in. It always grows on my 2 powerheads. I just do a 3-4 hour 50/50 bleach soak on them. I do this about every 5-6 months.
I rinse and then do a short freshwater soak with a a dechlorinator solution.

 

[Midrats]

I've been cleaning pumps in vinegar since Tunze equipment was brown. One time I left an Eheim return pump in a 50/50 solution for several days. That pump got damaged, but that's the only time I've ever had a problem with vinegar.

 

[PeterErc]

another approach for algae on a power head is to remove it and hit it with H2O2, let sit a few , rinse , reinstall and then a few days a later it’s cleanish.

 

[Miami Reef]

Holy moly.

The muriatic removed all the vermitid/calcium deposit that was wedged in the powerhead grate. I’ve done bleach baths monthly, but it genuinely feels like I bought 4 new powerheads today.

It’s never looked this good!

 

[jason2459]

Acids will do that.

 

[Dan_P]

I bleach my powerheads every 1-2 months. I find it makes removing the brown gunk that accumulates much easier. The powerheads come out brand new, except for the coralline, which turns completely white and flakes off in the tank after a few days.

Does anyone else use bleach to clean their powerheads?


PSA: Please neutralize the chlorine before adding the powerheads back into the tank.

Every 2-3 weeks, I clean the rotor and shafts with a paper towel and inspect the openings to ensure inflow and outflow are not restricted. Otherwise, all life is welcome on pump surfaces. They are pink and very prickly.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I always used muriatic acid diluted with water.

 

[old salt reefer]

I soak mine in bleach water, as well as my filter socks.

 

[Miami Reef]

 

[Fish Styx]

I soak mine in citric acid. Dissolves everything except the equipment

 

[Evil1]

All my equipment is soaked in diluted bleach scrubbed clean then soaked in buckets with fresh water and proper dose of Prime to ensure all traces of chlorine are gone.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I have one one tank that I can never seem to control hair algae in. It always grows on my 2 powerheads. I just do a 3-4 hour 50/50 bleach soak on them. I do this about every 5-6 months.
I rinse and then do a short freshwater soak with a a dechlorinator solution.

Chlorine doesn't penetrate plastic... Just rinse off in tap water and put it back into the tank. At most, dry off some of the tap water first.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Holy moly.

The muriatic removed all the vermitid/calcium deposit that was wedged in the powerhead grate. I’ve done bleach baths monthly, but it genuinely feels like I bought 4 new powerheads today.

It’s never looked this good!

Citric will do that too depending on the strength

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

You have know idea how funny this to a Citrix admin...

Sorry! I will correct my post. I was wondering why it auto capitalized "citric"

 

[mfinn]

Chlorine doesn't penetrate plastic... Just rinse off in tap water and put it back into the tank. At most, dry off some of the tap water first.

Just something I've been doing for my own peace of mind.
I do know that chlorine will even dissipate on it's own, but I still use a dechlorinator.

 

[vlangel]

I bleach my powerheads every 1-2 months. I find it makes removing the brown gunk that accumulates much easier. The powerheads come out brand new, except for the coralline, which turns completely white and flakes off in the tank after a few days.

Does anyone else use bleach to clean their powerheads?


PSA: Please neutralize the chlorine before adding the powerheads back into the tank.

I worked at a lfs and we used bleach solutions for cleaning everything.

 

[Mickey]

I hate cleaning powerheads and as a result I don't do it often enough. But when I do I use muriatic acid solution. I've tried citric acid and it too works, just not as fast but there are no fumes so it's better if I'm cleaning right by the tank in my family room.

 

[FUNGI]

Chlorine doesn't penetrate plastic... Just rinse off in tap water and put it back into the tank. At most, dry off some of the tap water first.

Chlorine is not good for some plastic, and in fact, is corrosive to some plastic.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Chlorine is not good for some plastic, and in fact, is corrosive to some plastic.

(We really need a better eye roll emoji)

That's not the point of the comment you replied to. I never said chlorine was good for plastic, just that you don't need to soak a powerhead in dechlorinator after bleaching it.

 

[KrisReef]

(We really need a better eye roll emoji)

That's not the point of the comment you replied to. I never said chlorine was good for plastic, just that you don't need to soak a powerhead in dechlorinator after bleaching it.

Lots of GIF's if emo isn't cutting it.