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06/24/2009, 08:53 PM | #1 |
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Vinegar to clean powerheads
I've seen some pictures and discussion on using vinegar to clean powerheads. Was wondering what ratio of vinegar to water do people use and how long it takes when running powerhead in the mixed water with the ratio of vinegar/water mix for them to essentially clean themselves?
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"If there is no wind.....row." Current Tank Info: 75gal Reef w/29gal Refugium |
06/24/2009, 09:06 PM | #2 |
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i do 50/50 if there's a lot of coraline on it. let soak for 1 hour then brush off with a tooth brush.
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Tran Current Tank Info: Waterbox 130.4 |
06/24/2009, 09:10 PM | #3 |
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I have spare powerheads so cleaning one isn't a get it done issue.
Once a powerhead is replaced I tear it down, scrub all accessible parts with a toothbrush and put it in a 100% vinegar soak. 100% may seem excessive but I recycle the vinegar for several cleanings. If you don't have a spare powerhead a little effort can get the job done in ten or fifteen minutes.
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Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks |
06/24/2009, 09:11 PM | #4 |
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Thanks
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"If there is no wind.....row." Current Tank Info: 75gal Reef w/29gal Refugium |
06/24/2009, 10:14 PM | #5 |
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I generally let it run about half an hour in 50/50 with very hot water.
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Jeremy Brown liquor never hurt anybody “Je n'ai pas besoin de cette hypothèse" Pierre-Simon Laplace I should want to cook him a simple meal, but I shouldn't want to cut into him, to tear the flesh, to wear the flesh, to be born unto new worlds where his flesh becomes my key. Current Tank Info: broken and dry |
06/24/2009, 10:25 PM | #6 |
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I've cleaned them in 100% vinegar as Agu states as well. Works faster and won't hurt a thing.
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06/24/2009, 10:40 PM | #7 |
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Some very stubborn "stuff" will still take time to take it off even if 100% vinegar is used IME. That's why I used a diluted glacial acetic acid (99+% acidity) with 50/50 ratio and with water. Works better for me so far. But I only use it with plastic and metal parts of the pump, and not the rubber parts.
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06/24/2009, 11:50 PM | #8 |
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I've read vinegar can ruin suction cups.
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06/24/2009, 11:57 PM | #9 |
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I have used 5:1 muriatic acid..... I would advise that only for the toughest stuff as it is quite hazardous to work with and can pit metal impeller shafts.
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Jeremy Brown liquor never hurt anybody “Je n'ai pas besoin de cette hypothèse" Pierre-Simon Laplace I should want to cook him a simple meal, but I shouldn't want to cut into him, to tear the flesh, to wear the flesh, to be born unto new worlds where his flesh becomes my key. Current Tank Info: broken and dry |
06/25/2009, 06:36 AM | #10 | |
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06/25/2009, 08:09 AM | #11 |
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I have always used 50/50 on all except the most stubborn to remove debris and Iwill use straight on those. This also works well to soak your heaters in to remove scale build-up. The scale build-up insulates the heater from the water making it less efficient.
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06/25/2009, 08:19 AM | #12 | |
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06/25/2009, 10:09 AM | #13 | |
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06/25/2009, 10:40 AM | #14 |
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Pictures are worth 1000 words. Thanks Tswifty
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06/25/2009, 12:52 PM | #15 | |
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06/25/2009, 12:58 PM | #16 | |
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But, like "Sugar Magnolia" said, they wear out quickly anyways, I haven't used any in years.
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Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef |
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06/25/2009, 01:53 PM | #17 |
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It was just a warning guys (that includes you Sugar ). I don't use sucky-cups either, but at $6 per magnetic clip, I assume some others still do.
All I'm saying is try not to soak the suction cups in vinegar. |
06/25/2009, 01:56 PM | #18 | |
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Not to be place too close to computer equipment. I can't image what the magnetic field must be like on that thing. |
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06/25/2009, 03:58 PM | #19 | |
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06/18/2017, 01:58 PM | #20 |
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I purchased a used reef tank and I am in the long process of cleaning it up - Question is if I fill it up with a 50/50 mixture of distilled vinegar and tap water and use my powerheads to circulate will the vinegar harm my new powerheads at all?
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06/18/2017, 02:01 PM | #21 | |
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I want to burn twice as bright and half as long. Oh, and a full tank crash is just an excuse for a new build. Current Tank Info: 125 Rimless Leemar, Apex, Trigger 30 Elite Sump, Vertex 180i Skimmer, 2 X Gen4 Radion XR30W, BM Doser, 2xMP40WES, 2xTunze 6095, Sicce Syncra 4.0. |
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06/18/2017, 02:02 PM | #22 |
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Another option that's a little stronger than Vinegar is CLR. I think CLR has some surfactants in it so you want to be certain to rinse well but I find that it works much faster than vinegar and it's not as scary as working with muriatic acid.
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I want to burn twice as bright and half as long. Oh, and a full tank crash is just an excuse for a new build. Current Tank Info: 125 Rimless Leemar, Apex, Trigger 30 Elite Sump, Vertex 180i Skimmer, 2 X Gen4 Radion XR30W, BM Doser, 2xMP40WES, 2xTunze 6095, Sicce Syncra 4.0. |
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