Reeflo ... how to clean

ostrow · 06/21/2008, 08:01 AM

I have had problems with both of my Reeflo Hammerheads ... my main and my backup. ON the phone with them, the tech person said that you should not use vinegar or diluted muriatic acid to clean the impeller, cover, seal area, anything.

I have tended to clean them every 6mos, swapping the one that has been sitting for the other. After 6 months, there are some fairly solid deposits all around the wet end.

If not vinegar or acid, how then to clean???????

jdieck · 06/21/2008, 03:02 PM

If the pump is not built to withstand vinegar it will not withstand salt water either.
I can understand their concerns of using acid that may create corrosion but if the metal on the shaft, screws or seal can be corroded by vinegar then it is not SS316 which makes it prone to corrosion in salt water. There is absolutely no reason why the volute should contain any metal. Most are PVC, similar plastic or glass filled nylon.

By the way, if your problem is seal leaking, IMO it is more likely a problem of bad seal design or excessive vibration and given their history of poor seal life I tend to belive those pumps were never originally intended for salt water but poor conversions.

If you are looking for something really designed for corrosives, Iwaki is the one I know of.

das75 · 06/21/2008, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jdieck
.

By the way, if your problem is seal leaking, IMO it is more likely a problem of bad seal design or excessive vibration and given their history of poor seal life I tend to belive those pumps were never originally intended for salt water but poor conversions.

If you are looking for something really designed for corrosives, Iwaki is the one I know of.

Believe they can be shipped with either a FW or SW seal (says the guy who yesterday took out his MD70RLT for a Barracuda)

tkeracer619 · 06/21/2008, 05:14 PM

I have seen two different seals inside hammerheads. I wouldnt worry about using vinager personally... if the seal goes bad its an easy replace.

ostrow · 06/21/2008, 05:15 PM

No vibration at all. One pump motor died, the other wouldn't start. When it did, spat water out the shaft. That seems to be a seal problem.

I agree on the vinegar issue. Makes no sense to me.

ostrow · 06/23/2008, 11:11 AM

The Iwakis I've seen/heard are noisier by a lot. Not even close. And don't move as much water. We'll see how it goes. I have basically a new one now, and when they send the repair of the other I'll have two basically new. But beyond a couple years this may not be practical. But I love their service and support.

ostrow · 07/08/2008, 12:37 PM

Just an update -- many thanks to Reeflo for replacing my pumps. Apparently water got into the motor, I'm not at all sure how. But they have taken care of me, and I'm sure grateful for that!

As for the cleaning, they now recommend a diluted acid solution rather than vinegar. Have to make sure to flush the pump with running fresh water too.

JRaquatics · 07/08/2008, 12:45 PM

Great to hear they stand behind their product. Thank's for the update. Did they ever state why not to use vinegar to clean the pumps?

ostrow · 07/08/2008, 12:56 PM

They said that Vinegar will destroy the saltwater seal. At first Chris told me that they were developing a solution that will clean calcium deposits safely. Today he said a mild acid solution will work (I am assuming one to ten, my standard for muriatic acid use).

JRaquatics · 07/08/2008, 12:58 PM

Good to know. Thanks.

ostrow · 08/17/2008, 10:01 AM

Another thread today gave me the idea to re-check this thread and I feel a need to update. To wit:

Reeflo has been a bit contradictory, to say the least, on what to use and how to clean these pumps. While in the end I give them credit for replacing the 2 failed pumps I had, it was far from being a pleasant experience.

Before doing any cleaning with any material, I would call them, or better yet email them and hang onto their written response in case something goes wrong while following their recommendations.

06/21/2008, 08:01 AM	#1
ostrow It's Dr. Goodluck Himself Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Oak Park, IL Posts: 11,654	Reeflo ... how to clean I have had problems with both of my Reeflo Hammerheads ... my main and my backup. ON the phone with them, the tech person said that you should not use vinegar or diluted muriatic acid to clean the impeller, cover, seal area, anything. I have tended to clean them every 6mos, swapping the one that has been sitting for the other. After 6 months, there are some fairly solid deposits all around the wet end. If not vinegar or acid, how then to clean??????? __________________ It's the return of Dr. Goodluck Himself. fml! Current Tank Info: 156G "brick", 150 sump and 75 fuge replaces Fire, Destruction, Sad :(

06/21/2008, 03:02 PM	#2
jdieck Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Maumee, OH Posts: 15,673	If the pump is not built to withstand vinegar it will not withstand salt water either. I can understand their concerns of using acid that may create corrosion but if the metal on the shaft, screws or seal can be corroded by vinegar then it is not SS316 which makes it prone to corrosion in salt water. There is absolutely no reason why the volute should contain any metal. Most are PVC, similar plastic or glass filled nylon. By the way, if your problem is seal leaking, IMO it is more likely a problem of bad seal design or excessive vibration and given their history of poor seal life I tend to belive those pumps were never originally intended for salt water but poor conversions. If you are looking for something really designed for corrosives, Iwaki is the one I know of. __________________ Did I write what I wrote? What the heck am I talking about! Well..... Nevermind. Current Tank Info: 225 gal reef, DSB, 40 g sump w/ LRT100 return, 37 g pre-sump, 3 MH 250 W 15K, 4 96 W PC dual actinic,ETS 1500 Skim.w/LRT70, 20 lb Ca R., 40 W UV, 1/3 HP chiller, two 350 W Htrs, Neptune II Cont., 330 P LR/ 330 P LS. 55 gal Refugium

06/21/2008, 05:14 PM	#4
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	I have seen two different seals inside hammerheads. I wouldnt worry about using vinager personally... if the seal goes bad its an easy replace. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

06/21/2008, 05:15 PM	#5
ostrow It's Dr. Goodluck Himself Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Oak Park, IL Posts: 11,654	No vibration at all. One pump motor died, the other wouldn't start. When it did, spat water out the shaft. That seems to be a seal problem. I agree on the vinegar issue. Makes no sense to me. __________________ It's the return of Dr. Goodluck Himself. fml! Current Tank Info: 156G "brick", 150 sump and 75 fuge replaces Fire, Destruction, Sad :(

06/23/2008, 11:11 AM	#6
ostrow It's Dr. Goodluck Himself Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Oak Park, IL Posts: 11,654	The Iwakis I've seen/heard are noisier by a lot. Not even close. And don't move as much water. We'll see how it goes. I have basically a new one now, and when they send the repair of the other I'll have two basically new. But beyond a couple years this may not be practical. But I love their service and support. __________________ It's the return of Dr. Goodluck Himself. fml! Current Tank Info: 156G "brick", 150 sump and 75 fuge replaces Fire, Destruction, Sad :(

07/08/2008, 12:37 PM	#7
ostrow It's Dr. Goodluck Himself Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Oak Park, IL Posts: 11,654	Just an update -- many thanks to Reeflo for replacing my pumps. Apparently water got into the motor, I'm not at all sure how. But they have taken care of me, and I'm sure grateful for that! As for the cleaning, they now recommend a diluted acid solution rather than vinegar. Have to make sure to flush the pump with running fresh water too. __________________ It's the return of Dr. Goodluck Himself. fml! Current Tank Info: 156G "brick", 150 sump and 75 fuge replaces Fire, Destruction, Sad :(

07/08/2008, 12:45 PM	#8
JRaquatics Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: On RC Posts: 3,609	Great to hear they stand behind their product. Thank's for the update. Did they ever state why not to use vinegar to clean the pumps?

07/08/2008, 12:56 PM	#9
ostrow It's Dr. Goodluck Himself Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Oak Park, IL Posts: 11,654	They said that Vinegar will destroy the saltwater seal. At first Chris told me that they were developing a solution that will clean calcium deposits safely. Today he said a mild acid solution will work (I am assuming one to ten, my standard for muriatic acid use). __________________ It's the return of Dr. Goodluck Himself. fml! Current Tank Info: 156G "brick", 150 sump and 75 fuge replaces Fire, Destruction, Sad :(

07/08/2008, 12:58 PM	#10
JRaquatics Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: On RC Posts: 3,609	Good to know. Thanks.

08/17/2008, 10:01 AM	#11
ostrow It's Dr. Goodluck Himself Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Oak Park, IL Posts: 11,654	Another thread today gave me the idea to re-check this thread and I feel a need to update. To wit: Reeflo has been a bit contradictory, to say the least, on what to use and how to clean these pumps. While in the end I give them credit for replacing the 2 failed pumps I had, it was far from being a pleasant experience. Before doing any cleaning with any material, I would call them, or better yet email them and hang onto their written response in case something goes wrong while following their recommendations. __________________ It's the return of Dr. Goodluck Himself. fml! Current Tank Info: 156G "brick", 150 sump and 75 fuge replaces Fire, Destruction, Sad :(