Cleaning Tank with Vinegar

Cashda · 09/11/2013, 02:02 PM

I am in the process of cleaning out a used Red Sea Max 250, can I run my system for 24 hours with a heavy dose of vinegar and water in it or will it damage the pumps?

Should I use a cap full of bleach for every 10 gallons instead?

Thanks!

thegrun · 09/11/2013, 02:13 PM

Use vinegar. Yes you can run it through your pumps, in fact that's how you clean them.

Cashda · 09/11/2013, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrun

Use vinegar. Yes you can run it through your pumps, in fact that's how you clean them.

Just making sure, thanks!

chicagoreefer20 · 09/11/2013, 03:15 PM

I would suggest you first use some rags soaked in vinegar applied to any areas with extensive corraline algae. You can also perhaps rotate the tank and fill an inch of vinegar and water. And then at the end fill tank with water and some vinegar, and you really dont need much vinegar, run the tank for 24 hours. You can also at that point soak any powerheads, heaters, etc.

Good luck!

Kschrobi · 09/11/2013, 06:45 PM

Just did the vinegar rinse on my 90 gallon this weeks. I used white vinegar and it worked great on everything it touched.

chicagoreefer20 · 09/11/2013, 09:11 PM

Costco sells a very large jug of distilled white vinegar - I didn't even use the entire bottle to clean a very used 40 gallon tank.

JDMR2 · 09/12/2013, 01:25 AM

I used bleach to clean my tank before setting it up. But I let it air dry outside for a couple days to make sure it dissipates.

Fizz71 · 09/12/2013, 06:34 AM

I supposed you can run it with vinegar but I've always had best results with a 50/50 mix on the real stubborn stuff. I don't think you want to buy 30 gallons of vinegar so I'd spot treat like chicagoreefer20 said up top...unless it's just a light haze all over then go for it.

Imjustgud · 09/12/2013, 06:41 AM

Vinegar is amazing for cleaning the coraline algae off your tanks and equipment. I underestimated how good this would really work. I soaked my Wavemaker pumps and could not believe how simple it made the cleaning process. After soaking for a few hours, all I did was wipe it off and rinse. My pumps looked and worked like they were brand new.

Cashda · 09/12/2013, 07:14 AM

15 gallons of vinegar...worked great!!!

Fizz71 · 09/12/2013, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cashda

15 gallons of vinegar...worked great!!!

Ok then!

09/11/2013, 02:02 PM	#1
Cashda Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 163	Cleaning Tank with Vinegar I am in the process of cleaning out a used Red Sea Max 250, can I run my system for 24 hours with a heavy dose of vinegar and water in it or will it damage the pumps? Should I use a cap full of bleach for every 10 gallons instead? Thanks! __________________ "Don't confront me with my failures, I have not forgotten them." - Fountains of Wayne Current Tank Info: Red Sea Max 250

09/12/2013, 06:34 AM	#8
Fizz71 FragSwapper Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Lawn, PA Posts: 5,800	I supposed you can run it with vinegar but I've always had best results with a 50/50 mix on the real stubborn stuff. I don't think you want to buy 30 gallons of vinegar so I'd spot treat like chicagoreefer20 said up top...unless it's just a light haze all over then go for it. __________________ --Fizz Current Tank Info: Current system is 8x2x2 240g peninsula setup with a single "chamber" 100g sump in the basement with an RDSB. All corals are 100% home grown from frags of fellow reefers (low natural reef impact).

09/12/2013, 06:41 AM	#9
Imjustgud Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 59	Vinegar is amazing for cleaning the coraline algae off your tanks and equipment. I underestimated how good this would really work. I soaked my Wavemaker pumps and could not believe how simple it made the cleaning process. After soaking for a few hours, all I did was wipe it off and rinse. My pumps looked and worked like they were brand new. __________________ 75 gal Mixed Reef using Algae Scrubber Current Tank Info: 75 gallon mixed reef

09/12/2013, 07:14 AM	#10
Cashda Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 163	15 gallons of vinegar...worked great!!! __________________ "Don't confront me with my failures, I have not forgotten them." - Fountains of Wayne Current Tank Info: Red Sea Max 250

09/11/2013, 02:13 PM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Use vinegar. Yes you can run it through your pumps, in fact that's how you clean them.

09/11/2013, 03:15 PM	#4
chicagoreefer20 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 199	I would suggest you first use some rags soaked in vinegar applied to any areas with extensive corraline algae. You can also perhaps rotate the tank and fill an inch of vinegar and water. And then at the end fill tank with water and some vinegar, and you really dont need much vinegar, run the tank for 24 hours. You can also at that point soak any powerheads, heaters, etc. Good luck!

09/11/2013, 06:45 PM	#5
Kschrobi Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 5	Just did the vinegar rinse on my 90 gallon this weeks. I used white vinegar and it worked great on everything it touched.

09/11/2013, 09:11 PM	#6
chicagoreefer20 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 199	Costco sells a very large jug of distilled white vinegar - I didn't even use the entire bottle to clean a very used 40 gallon tank.

09/12/2013, 01:25 AM	#7
JDMR2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 51	I used bleach to clean my tank before setting it up. But I let it air dry outside for a couple days to make sure it dissipates.