Never Buy a used Chiller

[marriedtothereef]

Omg I know its inevitable to buy used equipment but Never buy a used Chiller. I literally been flushing out this used EcoPlus 1/2 HP chiller for 3 days with Vinegar and water. I even used Hydrogen Peroxide. There is poop still coming out (Not as much as the beginning) but I am still skeptical about hooking it up to my main tank. I am using a bucket with a filter sock to collect the crap that is still coming out of this thing. Pleaase any tips on how to speed this thing up? I wish I can just open it up and see whats inside the tank to scrape it out and clean it thoroughly ugh [emoji58]

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

Keep running stronger solution through it. Instead of 50/50 go more vinegar like 75/25 and slow the speed of water so vinegar has time to eat up that stuff.

 

[marriedtothereef]

Keep running stronger solution throught it. Instead of 50/50 go more vinegar like 75/25 and slow the speed of water so vinegar has time to eat up that stuff.

Thanks Dr.Reef. I’ll try more solution. I literally put a gallon of vinegar into the unit without running it. I just let it sit there. The fishy poop that comes out is still in tact also. Like stuff is just lodged in there. Even when air travels thru the tube more poop comes out.

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

There are special chemicals for it but they are not going to be Reef safe. Best option is to run strong vinegar through it and slow it down to almost a drip if you can so contact time is more. Let it run at that flow for 24 hrs. Then blast it with all the flow your pump can push.
You can fill the unit with straight vinegar and let it sit 24 hrs as well then max flow to clear it out.

 

[DCR]

Vinegar is effective against scale, but I would not expect it to work well with a biological sludge which seems to be what you are describing. Flushing with a bleach solution would probably be more effective, but you need to be careful with the materials and the strength. Titanium can stand up to bleach. Obviously needs to be flushed out well to remove the bleach after treating.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

It’s just fish poop and other detritus... plenty of that in your tank already. I wouldn’t worry about it much.

Honestly anything you put in there to try and clean it (bleach) is likely worse for the tank that the dirtyness that’s in there...

 

[ca1ore]

It’s just fish poop and other detritus... plenty of that in your tank already. I wouldn’t worry about it much.

That'd be my view also. I suppose you could use a hose brush to remove it, from the pipe parts at least; won't do much for the heat exchange chamber.

 

[marriedtothereef]

That'd be my view also. I suppose you could use a hose brush to remove it, from the pipe parts at least; won't do much for the heat exchange chamber.

Heat exchange chamber? Is that where the poop is stored?

 

[Pongo]

You live in the Bay Area, why do you need a chiller?

Ha ha, yeah, poop storage.

I would fill then flush with bleach, just follow that with some RO/DI and Ammo Lock.
See if you can break up some more of that poop storage. ;Vomit

 

[marriedtothereef]

You live in the Bay Area, why do you need a chiller?

Ha ha, yeah, poop storage.

I would fill then flush with bleach, just follow that with some RO/DI and Ammo Lock.
See if you can break up some more of that poop storage. ;Vomit

LOL yesss Its very hot in some parts of the Bay during the summer. This weekend it reached almost 91 degrees and the tank was like 82-84

Im just scared of bleach getting into my tank. I know bleach evaporates when completely dry but i cant tell if the bleach will get soaked by any detritus thats still trapped in the chiller. Im such a scary cat lol

 

[marriedtothereef]

That'd be my view also. I suppose you could use a hose brush to remove it, from the pipe parts at least; won't do much for the heat exchange chamber.

I put a filter sock on the output tube and as the water flows thru the fish poop doesnt come out as much but when I turn off the pump and turn it back on again, there is more fish poop. I think when the air travels through it give it a little shake. Not sure if that makes sense

 

[dbl]

You can always just keep a sock on the output when it goes in to use on your tank. It will eventually flush out and you will eventually be able to ditch the sock. Coming from a person that purchased a used 1/2 horsepower chiller and went through the same thing....lol.

 

[ca1ore]

That's entirely possible. Any piece of equipment will get a coating of organic slime (it's not fish poop per se) which dries out if not in use. It will take awhile for it to slough off. Fortunately it's harmless. I'd not fret over it. Think of it as home made flake food for the fish.

 

[marriedtothereef]

You can always just keep a sock on the output when it goes in to use on your tank. It will eventually flush out and you will eventually be able to ditch the sock. Coming from a person that purchased a used 1/2 horsepower chiller and went through the same thing....lol.

Hehe this is probably the best suggestion yet. I will do that

 

[marriedtothereef]

That's entirely possible. Any piece of equipment will get a coating of organic slime (it's not fish poop per se) which dries out if not in use. It will take awhile for it to slough off. Fortunately it's harmless. I'd not fret over it. Think of it as home made flake food for the fish.

LOL that actually makes me feel much better

 

[mitch91175]

It’s just fish poop and other detritus... plenty of that in your tank already. I wouldn’t worry about it much.

Honestly anything you put in there to try and clean it (bleach) is likely worse for the tank that the dirtyness that’s in there...

Yeah I have to agree. If running bleach through it and you do not get it all out and you hook it up to your tank, say goodbye to everything in it. Better to just run vinegar/water like you are doing then just hook it up to you display.

 

[vetteguy53081]

You can buy used BUT make sure it has been drained or you will get all that sediment, rust, etc

 

[TemDave]

LOL that actually makes me feel much better

Regarding using bleach... as long as it fully dries out, the bleach will be gone completely! Many mountain bikers have been using bleach to clean and sterilize their Camelback bladders (we drink out of them), for as long as they've been around (30 years for me). Bleach turns to a gas when it dries out. But in your case I wouldn't use it to strong... maybe 1/10 or 2/10 at most.

 

[marriedtothereef]

You can buy used BUT make sure it has been drained or you will get all that sediment, rust, etc

Agreed. I dont want the other person’s disaster inside my tank ahhh :/ lol