What is your cleaning regimen? (1 Viewer)

[Bigger Rick]

With the "Best Vinegar on the market" thread going on right now, I was just thinking it would be great for the newbies (myself included) to know what cleaning method you guys are using.

What items are you cleaning?

How often are you cleaning?

What method are you using to clean (chemicals, utensils, etc.)?

 

[DaAznGuy]

I have to agree with you on Vinegar, that is a reefers best friend for sure. I use that for my pumps (return/skimmer/ca rx) and wavemakers. If there is too much algae on the wavemaker, I will soak in bleach first to flake off the algae. Just make sure you rinse real well after, also can use a de-chlorinator to be on the safe side. (Clean wavemakers as needed) Other pumps roughly every 6 months.

Weekly or bi-monthly: Clean the dreaded Filter socks and sponges that soak up so much tank waste.

Scrape the Glass (a lot, sometimes a little, depending on laziness level)

 

[DwPolcyn]

Once every 2 months or so I use some rodi water and throw some citric acid in a bucket with a powerhead. Gets everything nice and perty.

 

[Bigger Rick]

Once every 2 months or so I use some rodi water and throw some citric acid in a bucket with a powerhead. Gets everything nice and perty.

Is there a particular citric acid that you prefer to use?
Do you have a specific acid to water ratio?

 

[DwPolcyn]

On R2R alot of people have found different ratios that work effectively. I honestly just dump in probably 1 cups worth for like a gallon and if in a few hours its not cleaning up fast enough I'll add more. From my experience you don't need to be to worried about the concentration being a little high.
I use this stuff, works great and is pretty cheap.

Amazon.com: Milliard Citric Acid 5 Pound - 100% Pure Food Grade Non-GMO Project Verified (5 Pound): Health & Personal Care

Buy Milliard Citric Acid 5 Pound - 100% Pure Food Grade Non-GMO Project Verified (5 Pound) on Amazon.com ✓ FREE SHIPPING on qualified orders

www.amazon.com

 

[Bigger Rick]

Thanks, I just ordered a bag.

 

[Bullitt519]

I just use water and scrub. I don’t have that much buildup and usually just clean my power heads every three months or so.

 

[sneezebeetle]

I used to rely on @Cody 's monthly reminder to clean my pumps, but he has been goofing off too much lately [emoji849] to remember to post it.

Seriously though, I usually clean my powerheads on an as needed basis since its a P.I.A to work the power cables out of my tangle of cables [emoji15], but I try not to go more than 16wks at a time. I remove my skimmer about once a month and do a good cleaning on it and then run it for about 2 hrs in a vinegar solution to clean out the pump. As for my rtn pump I clean it every 6-8 weeks by removing it and doing a warm water rinse out (no vinegar). Remove the cage and impellar and rinse those off as well. Then I will just do a quick check to make sure its spinning smoothly (dont feel any resistance, grinding, etc) and then Im good to go.

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[Bigger Rick]

I used to rely on @Cody 's monthly reminder to clean my pumps, but he has been goofing off too much lately [emoji849] to remember to post it.

Seriously though, I usually clean my powerheads on an as needed basis since its a P.I.A to work the power cables out of my tangle of cables [emoji15], but I try not to go more than 16wks at a time. I remove my skimmer about once a month and do a good cleaning on it and then run it for about 2 hrs in a vinegar solution to clean out the pump. As for my rtn pump I clean it every 6-8 weeks by removing it and doing a warm water rinse out (no vinegar). Remove the cage and impellar and rinse those off as well. Then I will just do a quick check to make sure its spinning smoothly (dont feel any resistance, grinding, etc) and then Im good to go.

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Thanks for the information SB. That is very helpful.

 

[Cody]

I used to rely on @Cody 's monthly reminder to clean my pumps, but he has been goofing off too much lately [emoji849] to remember to post it.

Seriously though, I usually clean my powerheads on an as needed basis since its a P.I.A to work the power cables out of my tangle of cables [emoji15], but I try not to go more than 16wks at a time. I remove my skimmer about once a month and do a good cleaning on it and then run it for about 2 hrs in a vinegar solution to clean out the pump. As for my rtn pump I clean it every 6-8 weeks by removing it and doing a warm water rinse out (no vinegar). Remove the cage and impellar and rinse those off as well. Then I will just do a quick check to make sure its spinning smoothly (dont feel any resistance, grinding, etc) and then Im good to go.

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That’s because I haven’t been cleaning my pumps! Haha

 

[sneezebeetle]

That’s because I haven’t been cleaning my pumps! Haha

[emoji1787][emoji1787][emoji1787]

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[sneezebeetle]

Thanks for the information SB. That is very helpful.

Happy to help [emoji846]

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[Reefahholic]

That’s because I haven’t been cleaning my pumps! Haha

Muratic acid. Cheap. Cleans in 30 minutes. Best stuff on the market.

 

[Bigger Rick]

Muratic acid. Cheap. Cleans in 30 minutes. Best stuff on the market.

Jared, what is the ratio you use when cleaning with acid? How long do you soak the items you are cleaning?

 

[Reefahholic]

Jared, what is the ratio you use when cleaning with acid? How long do you soak the items you are cleaning?

Add any amount of RODI to your preferred container.

Then just add 20 to 30% acid. I’d start with 20% first so you can see the effect. I do thirty percent because I’m impatient.

Basically 80/20 or 70/30 RODI/Acid

Wear 3M with Vapor filters from Lowes or Home Depot and some safety goggles.

 

[Reefahholic]

Sorry...

I soak about 20 to 45 minutes max. It’s fast!

Acid is great for Calcium Carbonate substances like coralline, Vermetid’s, small snails, barnacles, etc.

Bleach for any kind of organic matter like algae.