Pump cleaning

[Mark Bradley]

So I set the tank up 7 months ago so assume I should be thinking of giving my pumps a clean? How often do people take these things apart?

If I take out the skimmer to give it, and the pump, a clean when I put it back will it behave as a ‘new’ item and be all over the place for a while as it was when I first set up?

 

[MichaelReefer]

I clean my skimmer and Return pump every six months or so. Take em apart, run em in a vinegar bath for a few hours.

 

[mmw64]

So I set the tank up 7 months ago so assume I should be thinking of giving my pumps a clean? How often do people take these things apart?

If I take out the skimmer to give it, and the pump, a clean when I put it back will it behave as a ‘new’ item and be all over the place for a while as it was when I first set up?

Do you have any good fish stores in Sacramento? I live in Modesto and it's slim pickens here.

 

[Snoopy 67]

Vinegar bath BUT no more than 10 minutes. Vinegar has been shown to degrade the epoxy that makes the pumps submersible. Citric acid solution is a great alternative.

 

[ROB2005]

Citric acid works better for me.

 

[MichaelReefer]

Do you have any good fish stores in Sacramento? I live in Modesto and it's slim pickens here.

Aquarium Depot in Citrus heights, just north of Sacramento is my go to.

 

[mmw64]

Aquarium Depot in Citrus heights, just north of Sacramento is my go to.

Thank you. I will give them a try.

 

[Mark Bradley]

Citric acid works better for me.

Great thanks - what ratio water:citric acid please?

 

[ROB2005]

Great thanks - what ratio water:citric acid please?

I usually have my skimmer sitting inside a 5 gallon bucket when cleaning, so I use one cup per 5 gallons

 

[Mark Bradley]

Cleaned skimmer/pump, hoovered sump, cleaned reactor - feels like a good morning and everything has gone back in with no issues. I was worried the skimmer would go mad!