PSA Why you should clean your UV quartz sleeve regularly

[fishybizzness]

So I was doing my yearly UV bulb change and I pulled out the quartz sleeve to clean it as I do every 6 months or so. Boy does alot of buildup happen in 6 months! These photos show why it's important to clean the quartz sleeve regularly!

 

[JumboShrimp]

Impressive. Did you use a Citric Acid solution to clean it, or something else?

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Good reminder

 

[fishybizzness]

I have a piece of 1 1/4" pvc with an end cap a little longer than the sleeve and I fill it up with vinegar and insert the sleeve into the pipe and let it sit there for an hour. I rinse it off after the time has passed and it is crystal clear.

 

[Cory]

My lifegard pro max 90w was clean as new and I never cleaned it once after a year (bulb changout). However im pushing about 1000gph through it. Maybe your flow is too slow causing too much heat and calcium precipitation

 

[fishybizzness]

My lifegard pro max 90w was clean as new and I never cleaned it once after a year (bulb changout). However im pushing about 1000gph through it. Maybe your flow is too slow causing too much heat and calcium precipitation

Im mainly using it as protozoa protection. I run around 200 gph through it which is right in the middle of the recommended range. It's a 40 w pentair.

 

[willieboy240]

Your supposed to clean it every two months.

 

[IKD]

So I was doing my yearly UV bulb change and I pulled out the quartz sleeve to clean it as I do every 6 months or so. Boy does alot of buildup happen in 6 months! These photos show why it's important to clean the quartz sleeve regularly!

Thanks for the reminder! Just did mine this weekend and looked exactly like yours

 

[Useful_Idiot]

I replaced mine when I finally couldn't clear the white haze it had with any type of acid. I heard on a podcast Copp's recommend replacing when that happens. My water looks better now, and I like having a spare in case I drop it.

 

[fishybizzness]

I replaced mine when I finally couldn't clear the white haze it had with any type of acid. I heard on a podcast Copp's recommend replacing when that happens. My water looks better now, and I like having a spare in case I drop it.

I just ordered a second one for both my tanks so that I can just swap them out every few months

 

[Wyvern]

Just got a 55W pro-max amalgam and probably putting 400GPM through it, I hope to not touch it for a year, so we will see what it looks like in a year.

Thing kicks butt so far! Dinos are growing at 1/4 the normal rate and turned ozone off, water is clearer than it's ever been. It's in a 109Gal Bow, so it's a bit overkill.

 

[Malcontent]

I replaced mine when I finally couldn't clear the white haze it had with any type of acid. I heard on a podcast Copp's recommend replacing when that happens. My water looks better now, and I like having a spare in case I drop it.

A friend of mine said he uses a polishing compound to restore the sleeve.

I broke one when moving and almost turned the pump on without checking first. After that, I would remove and separately pack all quartz sleeves and bulbs. Also remember not to let fingerprints remain on the bulb.

 

[Wyvern]

A friend of mine said he uses a polishing compound to restore the sleeve.

I broke one when moving and almost turned the pump on without checking first. After that, I would remove and separately pack all quartz sleeves and bulbs. Also remember not to let fingerprints remain on the bulb.

I wore gloves when assembling mine.