Power head cleaning

[JumperAlex]

What is the best way to clean the build up off my power heads? I run my fingers over them when I do my weekly water changes and that seems to help some but I can only imagine what the insides of them look like. Any experience or advice would be greatly appritiated.


90g FOWLR
Foxface lo x 1
Ocerllaris clown x2
Blue spotted Toby puffer x1
Tomini tang x1
Flame hawk x1
Red legged hermit crab x 5-10
Snails x 5
Short spine urchin (red) x 1
Conch x 1
Chocolate chip starfish x 2

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

I soak mine in a vinegar and water solution. It does wonders!!


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[Mike J.]

I soak mine in a vinegar and water solution. It does wonders!!


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Yup, same here.

 

[Downbeach]

About every three month's I'll run them in a solution of vinegar and water, take them apart and thoroughly clean them. You should see an improvement in performance.

 

[shred5]

I soak mine in a vinegar and water solution. It does wonders!!


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Yep same here.

 

[AZDesertRat]

Soak them in straight undiluted distilled white vinegar for about an hour. $2.12 a gallon at WalMart. When you dilute the vinegar you alter the pH or its acid content so it takes longer, does not work as well and cannot be placed back in the jug and reused over and over. I strain mine through a paper towel or paint strainer and use it again and again for up to a year before th pH rises enough its not effective then dump it down the drain and spend another $2.00 for the next year.

Don't dilute it and you will be much happier.

 

[Isoprene]

Soak them in straight undiluted distilled white vinegar for about an hour. $2.12 a gallon at WalMart. When you dilute the vinegar you alter the pH or its acid content so it takes longer, does not work as well and cannot be placed back in the jug and reused over and over. I strain mine through a paper towel or paint strainer and use it again and again for up to a year before th pH rises enough its not effective then dump it down the drain and spend another $2.00 for the next year.

Don't dilute it and you will be much happier.

I have to completely agree with the above, the acetic acid or vinegar you get at Wal-Mart is actually already diluted to 5% or in the most concentrated form 10%. I take my cleaning a step further which is not advisable if your someone who doesn't play with chemicals for living. I use glacial acetic acid and I dilute it to about 40 to 50% in a massive graduated cylinder I stole from work. This strength destroys all of the build up on glass and anything else. I haven't done this with power heads tho, I am afraid acid of this concentration might start to dissolve some compounds used in the power head. Just grab a huge jug of the most. Concentrated white vinegar at Wal-Mart you can find, pour it in a bucket and run the power heads in the for a while. Get the stiffness toothbrush you can and scrub out the guts and outside of the power heads then put it back together and run it again in the vinegar. Then get clean tap or ro/Di in a bucket run them in that for an hour to rinse them. Then get another bucket of rodi and run them one more time in that. Back in the tank. I usually go overkill with my cleaning tho but that's my opinion.

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[NanaReefer]

Even better if you heat the vinegar up


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[AZDesertRat]

I don't run mine in the vinegar, I disassemble them and place all the parts in the bucket. I pull the rubber parts out as soon as possible so it does not attack them, the rubber o rings, shaft bushings and gaskets become brittle if left in too long. I rarely need to even brush them off as the vinegar works so well and a quick rinse in tap or RO/DI water is all that is needed since the vinegar is completely reef safe.

 

[mfinn]

Even better if you heat the vinegar up


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I use straight vinegar as well. Usually soak them overnight.
But I've never heard of heating it.

 

[backpack]

I use an unused gun cleaning kit. The shotgun brush is awesome for tubes and the 9mm brush fits inside my powerhead. I always thought the slime coat on the magnets is what killed performance. Isnt the rest just bb and coralline algea?

 

[bucksfan1976]

I do a water and vinegar mix in a 5 gallon bucket. I put the powerheads in it soak for a hour, then take them apart and scrub them with the wife's toothbrush...LOL kidding, put them back together and then run them in the bucket for about 10 min to make sure all is clean, they i have a 2nd bucket with RO water in it I sit them in there and run them for about 15 min to make sure no vinegar or other contanimates are left and then back in the tank. I find its also a good time to clean the glass where the power heads are mounted