Plumbing newbie

[Aeb1419]

Bought a used tank that come with plumbing. I wanted to take it apart to clean them up. Any idea how to? Do theyniust twist off or no? I wanted to take a pair of pliers to it but worried about damaging it.

And anyone have any idead how to clean the salt line where water meets air on a tank? I tried using vinegar but no luck. Do i have to let it soak in vengaor for a long time?

 

[kados]

The gray ball valve unions unscrew. The red PVC and white fittings should be glued and not removable. I'd just leave it and run water through it with a hose.

For the salt line, you can scrape with a new razor blade or a stainless steel aquarium scraper assuming this is a glass tank. Don't do that on an acrylic tank.

 

[Aeb1419]

The gray ball valve unions unscrew. The red PVC and white fittings should be glued and not removable. I'd just leave it and run water through it with a hose.

For the salt line, you can scrape with a new razor blade or a stainless steel aquarium scraper assuming this is a glass tank. Don't do that on an acrylic tank.

Should I be worried about the gunk in there? I can especially see in that clear plumbing that prevents water from going reverse. I did run vinegar wayer through it for a couple of hours.

Yes it is glass. Its a reefer 250. Ill look into the stainless steep scraper. Thanks

 

[Aeb1419]

Im considering replacing all the plumbing with removable options so i have the option to clean them. Any thought?

 

[FishGeist]

Unions, use them, love them, and plumb in plenty of them. Also use DOW Molykote on their O-rings.

 

[G Santana]

If it ain't broke don't fix it. If this plumbing rig works for your needs then clean it and reuse.

I would put the entire rig in my tub and run a bleach solution and water.

It'll clean everything out and then hose it. No need to spend money if this rig works.

 

[mexi757]

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it!

 

[kados]

Should I be worried about the gunk in there? I can especially see in that clear plumbing that prevents water from going reverse. I did run vinegar wayer through it for a couple of hours.

Yes it is glass. Its a reefer 250. Ill look into the stainless steep scraper. Thanks

Once reinstalled the gunk in the pipes should come out. Might be good let the tank run at that point let any the stuff run loose and do a good water change. As for redoing the plumbing, that's always a good fun option to learn how to plumb. I agree, unions are your friend. I don't know how much you'll have to take a apart to clean again when the tank is running. Check valves should be cleaned but likely not pulling out all of the plumbing. I've never run check valves but that will.be somewhere to have unions.

 

[Aeb1419]

If it ain't broke don't fix it. If this plumbing rig works for your needs then clean it and reuse.

I would put the entire rig in my tub and run a bleach solution and water.

It'll clean everything out and then hose it. No need to spend money if this rig works.

Bleach? Really? Im way to OCD to do something like that but it would be the best way to clean it.

 

[Aeb1419]

I wonder how many people actually consider cleaning their pipes (no pun intended) on their setups on a periodic basis. Ive been to people houses and they could care less about all the gunk but I like keeping things neat and clean

 

[G Santana]

Bleach? Really? Im way to OCD to do something like that but it would be the best way to clean it.

Hobbyists bleach rocks, tanks and pvc pipes. As long as you rinse it well afterwards, you'll have no problem.