Sanitizing old equipment

[Gary S]

Good evening everybody!

I am now getting set up again after being put of the hobby for a while, and in my progress, I came across a question.

How would I go about sanitizing my old hardware? I had a couple bouts of nuisance algea that I would hate to see come back because of some lasting cells in my equipment.

I've already got straight RODI water going through my setup, and intend to throw it out after a few days of running to pickup any weird trace elements or chemicals that could be damaging.

I was thinkng of running a high amount of ammonia or hydrogen peroxide through the system to ensure every portion of my equipment is well sanitized.

Thoughts?

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Since it sounds like your already all set up vinegar is safe and effective. Only issue is that it can begin to eat through pump magnets (after a handful of cleanings)

 

[TheHarold]

What type of equipment are you cleaning?

General plastics and acrylics can be cleaned with 25-50% vinegar for a few hours- removes all the calcium deposits, and would also assist killing any old algae spores.

For pumps or anything that involves magnets, people have used the same vinegar solution for years. However now the general recommendation is to use Citric acid instead to prevent damage over time.

 

[Gary S]

What type of equipment are you cleaning?

General plastics and acrylics can be cleaned with 25-50% vinegar for a few hours- removes all the calcium deposits, and would also assist killing any old algae spores.

For pumps or anything that involves magnets, people have used the same vinegar solution for years. However now the general recommendation is to use Citric acid instead to prevent damage over time.

Its all plastics, excluding the metal parts in the return pump. What would the vinegar leave behind? My thoughts with using hydrogen peroxide is that it's a really strong oxidizer (good for killing organics) and quickly breaks down into oxygen and water so nothing left behind.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Vinegar is easily washed away and if any of it does get left behind it might affect ph slightly but I wouldn't worry about it

 

[TheHarold]

Its all plastics, excluding the metal parts in the return pump. What would the vinegar leave behind? My thoughts with using hydrogen peroxide is that it's a really strong oxidizer (good for killing organics) and quickly breaks down into oxygen and water so nothing left behind.

Nothing really. People used to dose vinegar into their tanks lol. Couple gallons of vinegar, drain it all, maybe refill it with water, drain again, done.

 

[Gary S]

Okay so would it be more beneficial to drop a large concentration to my system with RODI circulating through to ensure all the parts get contact (pipes and all)? Like I said I plan on draining that water out anyways.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Not sure how big your tank is but for that to work well you'll probably need alot of vinegar (mixed with rodi like you said)

 

[Gary S]

Not sure how big your tank is but for that to work well you'll probably need alot of vinegar (mixed with rodi like you said)

Its not large. Just about 30 gallons. What concentration would be effective?

 

[tehmadreefer]

Bleach it and done

 

[Gary S]

Bleach it and done

What about residual chlorine (even after rinsing)? Will it evaporate out?

 

[tehmadreefer]

What about residual chlorine (even after rinsing)? Will it evaporate out?

of course. Rinse with water and if your really thatttt paranoid, set it in the sun for a bit.

 

[phatduckk]

If it’s a 30g I’d just bleach it. Bleach dosage can be found at https://dec.vermont.gov/sites/dec/files/dwgwp/DW/chlorinedosageemergencydisinfection.pdf

I’d add the bleach, let it run a day or two, toss the water, rinse, set everything to dry for 3 days

 

[xxkenny90xx]

9:1 water to vinegar ratio is recommended but more vinegar is better imo. Bleach is fine too but you have to wash wash wash to make sure you get it all out (I would lastly use a declorinator as well)

 

[Gary S]

Okay, thanks guys! Lastly I was thinking over the last few days, is it even necessary? My hardware hasn't been near water in about a years time, so i would assume thatd be too long for anything aquatic to survive. Is there anything of concern that may have survived that dry period?