cleaning powerhead

otisforme · 07/16/2008, 08:13 PM

the rio 800 powering my hob skimmer seems to be slowing down... can i clean it and how can it done or do i just toss it?

i was thinking of a double boiler with vinegar in it...

it is covered by coraline(sp) algae...

also can i place a filter sock over the outlet of the skimmer to keep the bubbles out of the dt?

drparker · 07/16/2008, 08:28 PM

Yes you should clean it, also take it apart and clean the impellers or needle wheel and the impeller housing. Just soak it in white vinegar probably over-night, if it's really bad maybe two days. Every few hours if your around pull it out and a run a brush over it help speed things up.

Filter socks need be cleaned every three days or so, if not they build up gunk and become nitrate producers.

snorvich · 07/16/2008, 08:30 PM

Yes, vinegar works well. I take my powerheads apart, soak in vinegar, put them back together and run them IN vinegar.

Tswifty · 07/16/2008, 08:30 PM

Here's how I clean my Koralia's... you could do the same. I run it overnight in 100% white distilled vinegar. Then scrub it down real well in the vinegar with a toothbrush, rinse off, and re-install.

Looks brand new again when it's done

I cleaned 3 powerheads, you can see how dirty the vinegar gets from the amount of crud that came off them.

woodycb · 07/16/2008, 08:34 PM

I use distilled white vinegar, works great. You dont need to boil it, just let it soak.

otisforme · 07/16/2008, 08:37 PM

cool i was a little worried about boiling a plastic pump...i figured it would melt...

tmz · 07/17/2008, 12:02 AM

50/50 water and white vinegar overnight . Then rinse and brush with a toothbrush.Diassemble to clean inside parts and risne out impeller well.

Toddrtrex · 07/17/2008, 12:05 AM

Be careful if you are using the suction cups (( and the plastic air line tubes too )). IME, vinegar has pretty much ruined them.

masonicman · 07/17/2008, 04:37 AM

Does vinegar remove the coraline algea? Also were do you get the distilled vinegar in that size?

snorvich · 07/17/2008, 04:42 AM

I get generic distilled vinegar from the supermarket by the gallon.

masonicman · 07/17/2008, 04:47 AM

Ok Snorvich, what about the coraline issue. Does vinegar remove it????

Tswifty · 07/17/2008, 06:42 AM

Vinegar will eat through just about anything. I use 100% vinegar. It ate through the coraline algae, vermetid snails, all the nasty junk that had collected on my powerhead. After running it overnight in the vinegar, everything scrubbed off very easily, and it looked brand new when I added it back to the tank.

masonicman · 07/17/2008, 06:54 AM

Kool I will get some and use my small tank as you did. What's over night? 6 or 7 pm until you get to it in the morning? I can do this with my PS pump also?

07/16/2008, 08:13 PM	#1
otisforme Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: the ak rowdy, ohio Posts: 199	cleaning powerhead the rio 800 powering my hob skimmer seems to be slowing down... can i clean it and how can it done or do i just toss it? i was thinking of a double boiler with vinegar in it... it is covered by coraline(sp) algae... also can i place a filter sock over the outlet of the skimmer to keep the bubbles out of the dt?

07/16/2008, 08:30 PM	#3
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	Yes, vinegar works well. I take my powerheads apart, soak in vinegar, put them back together and run them IN vinegar. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

07/16/2008, 08:30 PM	#4
Tswifty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PA Posts: 14,022	Here's how I clean my Koralia's... you could do the same. I run it overnight in 100% white distilled vinegar. Then scrub it down real well in the vinegar with a toothbrush, rinse off, and re-install. Looks brand new again when it's done I cleaned 3 powerheads, you can see how dirty the vinegar gets from the amount of crud that came off them. __________________ "Enough light? Heck I could go barebottom and grow SPS in the stand!" - DiscoReefRover

07/16/2008, 08:34 PM	#5
woodycb Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: N.W. Ohio Posts: 785	I use distilled white vinegar, works great. You dont need to boil it, just let it soak. __________________ We have enough youth, how about a fountain of SMART Current Tank Info: 75 gallon

07/17/2008, 12:02 AM	#7
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	50/50 water and white vinegar overnight . Then rinse and brush with a toothbrush.Diassemble to clean inside parts and risne out impeller well. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.

07/16/2008, 08:28 PM	#2
drparker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Palatine, IL Posts: 2,652	Yes you should clean it, also take it apart and clean the impellers or needle wheel and the impeller housing. Just soak it in white vinegar probably over-night, if it's really bad maybe two days. Every few hours if your around pull it out and a run a brush over it help speed things up. Filter socks need be cleaned every three days or so, if not they build up gunk and become nitrate producers.

07/16/2008, 08:37 PM	#6
otisforme Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: the ak rowdy, ohio Posts: 199	cool i was a little worried about boiling a plastic pump...i figured it would melt...

07/17/2008, 12:05 AM	#8
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	Be careful if you are using the suction cups (( and the plastic air line tubes too )). IME, vinegar has pretty much ruined them. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

07/17/2008, 04:37 AM	#9
masonicman Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 1,313	Does vinegar remove the coraline algea? Also were do you get the distilled vinegar in that size? __________________ It is better to ask for forgiveness then to ask for permission.......... Current Tank Info: 75 gal mixed reef, 216w LED, Remora Pro skimmer, HOB fuge, 400w htr, ATO RO/DI, 90lbs LR and 1" SB. Last edited by masonicman; 07/17/2008 at 04:46 AM.

07/17/2008, 04:42 AM	#10
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	I get generic distilled vinegar from the supermarket by the gallon. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

07/17/2008, 04:47 AM	#11
masonicman Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 1,313	Ok Snorvich, what about the coraline issue. Does vinegar remove it???? __________________ It is better to ask for forgiveness then to ask for permission.......... Current Tank Info: 75 gal mixed reef, 216w LED, Remora Pro skimmer, HOB fuge, 400w htr, ATO RO/DI, 90lbs LR and 1" SB.

07/17/2008, 06:42 AM	#12
Tswifty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PA Posts: 14,022	Vinegar will eat through just about anything. I use 100% vinegar. It ate through the coraline algae, vermetid snails, all the nasty junk that had collected on my powerhead. After running it overnight in the vinegar, everything scrubbed off very easily, and it looked brand new when I added it back to the tank. __________________ "Enough light? Heck I could go barebottom and grow SPS in the stand!" - DiscoReefRover

07/17/2008, 06:54 AM	#13
masonicman Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 1,313	Kool I will get some and use my small tank as you did. What's over night? 6 or 7 pm until you get to it in the morning? I can do this with my PS pump also? __________________ It is better to ask for forgiveness then to ask for permission.......... Current Tank Info: 75 gal mixed reef, 216w LED, Remora Pro skimmer, HOB fuge, 400w htr, ATO RO/DI, 90lbs LR and 1" SB.