How often do you clean your powerheads?

[salttanklife]

Is the vinegar diluted or used at full strength

 

[ethridge78]

If you want it done fast with no scrubbing? Bring your vinegar to a boil then add it full strength. Watch the coralline dissolve!

Might have to try that sometime.

 

[trido]

Is the vinegar diluted or used at full strength

Full strength works faster.

 

[NanaReefer]

I've never heard of heating up the vinegar.
Hmm.....

CalmSeaQuest told me about it. He was so right! I like getting things done right away. Couple minutes to maybe 10 and I'm done. Usually do it while tanks filling back up from a WC

 

[ethridge78]

Sounds like a very good idea

 

[Jonsie]

muriatic acid ??? Geez ~~ I use that to clean my concrete truck! :squigglemouth:

 

[trido]

muriatic acid ??? Geez ~~ I use that to clean my concrete truck! :squigglemouth:

Yep, the pickling lime(Kalkwasser) is pretty much the same stuff used in brick mortar. Coraline algea is as strong as concrete in some cases. At least when your trying to clean it off of equipment.

 

[TheSaint216]

Cleaned mine today with Cleaning Vinegar. Poured it in tupperware, dropped in the Wetside and let it sit for four hours. Took it out and whiped it with a toothbrush, good to go. After reading about a guy who boiled some live rock that had palys on it and almost killed himself and his wife and kid upstairs I dont do anything involving hot water or hot anything.

 

[gacolt]

i clean them when they look dirty.so around every 1-3 months.

 

[mfinn]

If you want it done fast with no scrubbing? Bring your vinegar to a boil then add it full strength. Watch the coralline dissolve!

Tired this when cleaning out the inside of my 240.
Seemed to really cut through the coralline on the back and side walls of my tank, but I have to say the fumes were pretty bad.

 

[NanaReefer]

Wimp!! Lol Not supposed to be sniffing it!

 

[Chrome84]

Usually between 3 and 6 months they get a good scrub and run in vinegar water for 2 hours.

 

[vlangel]

Wow, I am feeling like a pig! I have never cleaned my power head but then it doesn't have coraline on it.

 

[mfinn]

Wimp!! Lol Not supposed to be sniffing it!

Kind of hard not to.
I had to climb inside the tank to get to the bottom part of the back glass.

 

[NanaReefer]

Wow, I am feeling like a pig! I have never cleaned my power head but then it doesn't have coraline on it.

Cleaning isn't just to remove Coralline They get all slimy inside, which can cause slippage. Little snails get inside of them too, causing grooves in the mags.

 

[vlangel]

Cleaning isn't just to remove Coralline They get all slimy inside, which can cause slippage. Little snails get inside of them too, causing grooves in the mags.

Yes, I am sure I would get more life from it if I'd clean it occasionally! If its any consolation I do take apart and clean my mag 9.5 return pump once a year!

 

[Mr. Microscope]

Geeze, I just take out my mp wet side once every two weeks or so and brush it off. I takes like 2 minutes and always looks nice.

 

[TwistedTiger]

I use mp's so you can tell when they are getting dirty. I end up cleaning them about every 3 months.