cleaning up and starting over

geekengineer · 02/10/2019, 04:45 PM

Well I don't know when or if I start again, but I needed to clean up my old tank components anyways. Then I found out my pump was like crusted with this light brown stuff really bad. It wouldn't even pump water since it was locked up. I got it cleaned up with some hot water took it apart and got it going again. I was wondering would it hurt to use some CLR on the parts do you think? Something to get the rest of that brown crud to dissolved out.

geekengineer · 02/10/2019, 04:48 PM

actually would white vinegar be better?

Vinny Kreyling · 02/10/2019, 05:16 PM

I'd go with the vinegar.

Dkuhlmann · 02/11/2019, 06:05 PM

50/50 mix water and white vinegar.

Sugar Magnolia · 02/12/2019, 08:15 AM

Yep, plain old white vinegar will work just fine. Soak in vinegar, scrub, rinse, good as new. I used to clean my pumps every couple of months to keep them clean and running smoothly.

geekengineer · 02/12/2019, 09:18 AM

Ah cool I tried that and it worked well. Thanks. Now I just got two more pumps to clean out.

02/10/2019, 04:45 PM	#1
geekengineer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: colorado Posts: 638	cleaning up and starting over Well I don't know when or if I start again, but I needed to clean up my old tank components anyways. Then I found out my pump was like crusted with this light brown stuff really bad. It wouldn't even pump water since it was locked up. I got it cleaned up with some hot water took it apart and got it going again. I was wondering would it hurt to use some CLR on the parts do you think? Something to get the rest of that brown crud to dissolved out. __________________ Come back from the dead. Not sure what I'm doing at this time.. have a 30 Gallon DT and 20 Sump sitting in mothballs. Other interests DYI, 3D printing, Current Tank Info: 30 gal saltwater and 20 gal sump

02/10/2019, 04:48 PM	#2
geekengineer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: colorado Posts: 638	actually would white vinegar be better? __________________ Come back from the dead. Not sure what I'm doing at this time.. have a 30 Gallon DT and 20 Sump sitting in mothballs. Other interests DYI, 3D printing, Current Tank Info: 30 gal saltwater and 20 gal sump

02/10/2019, 05:16 PM	#3
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	I'd go with the vinegar. __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

02/11/2019, 06:05 PM	#4
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	50/50 mix water and white vinegar. __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

02/12/2019, 08:15 AM	#5
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Yep, plain old white vinegar will work just fine. Soak in vinegar, scrub, rinse, good as new. I used to clean my pumps every couple of months to keep them clean and running smoothly. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

02/12/2019, 09:18 AM	#6
geekengineer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: colorado Posts: 638	Ah cool I tried that and it worked well. Thanks. Now I just got two more pumps to clean out. __________________ Come back from the dead. Not sure what I'm doing at this time.. have a 30 Gallon DT and 20 Sump sitting in mothballs. Other interests DYI, 3D printing, Current Tank Info: 30 gal saltwater and 20 gal sump