Vinegar Bath Questions

Trolldoll · 12/02/2009, 08:54 AM

I want to give my new equipment a soak before new setup.

Do I dilute with ro/di?
How long should it soak?
Should I run skimmer pump and power heads in bath?
Do I rinse with ro/di after soak?
Is there anything I should soak?

der_wille_zur_macht · 12/02/2009, 08:57 AM

With new equipment it's not really critical to get the process "just right" since it'll be pretty clean out of the box. If you want to soak it in a dilute vinegar solution, go ahead. I wouldn't see any benefit from more than a few minutes, and running the new pumps wouldn't hurt. Rinsing afterwards in RO/DI would be fine, though tap water would likely be fine too, with a final rinse in RO/DI if you're really nervous about your tap.

And don't bother trying to get any sort of foam out of the skimmer pump in freshwater, the surface tension is all wrong for that.

spleify · 12/02/2009, 09:08 AM

Agreed, new epuipment won't require a long soak, but certianly won't hurt anything and helps to "break them in". I have had pumps that had a bunch of oil on them for some reason, so the vinegar will help break that down. I usually just rinse with tap water, and dry it out reall well before putting back in service.

HTH

Good luck

Trolldoll · 12/02/2009, 09:18 AM

Thanks for the quick replies.

spleify · 12/02/2009, 10:29 AM

Your very welcome!!

Good luck and have fun!

12/02/2009, 08:54 AM	#1
Trolldoll Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Hampton, VA. Posts: 124	Vinegar Bath Questions I want to give my new equipment a soak before new setup. Do I dilute with ro/di? How long should it soak? Should I run skimmer pump and power heads in bath? Do I rinse with ro/di after soak? Is there anything I should soak?

12/02/2009, 08:57 AM	#2
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	With new equipment it's not really critical to get the process "just right" since it'll be pretty clean out of the box. If you want to soak it in a dilute vinegar solution, go ahead. I wouldn't see any benefit from more than a few minutes, and running the new pumps wouldn't hurt. Rinsing afterwards in RO/DI would be fine, though tap water would likely be fine too, with a final rinse in RO/DI if you're really nervous about your tap. And don't bother trying to get any sort of foam out of the skimmer pump in freshwater, the surface tension is all wrong for that. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

12/02/2009, 09:08 AM	#3
spleify Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 9,579	Agreed, new epuipment won't require a long soak, but certianly won't hurt anything and helps to "break them in". I have had pumps that had a bunch of oil on them for some reason, so the vinegar will help break that down. I usually just rinse with tap water, and dry it out reall well before putting back in service. HTH Good luck __________________ Make it a Great Day!!!! Current Tank Info: 60 gal SPS cube, with 25 gal refugium, 400W MH, DIY Lumenarc III, DIY skimmer, DIY stand and canopy. 40 breeder LPS with 40 gallon sump, DIY stand, 250W MH

12/02/2009, 10:29 AM	#5
spleify Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 9,579	Your very welcome!! Good luck and have fun! __________________ Make it a Great Day!!!! Current Tank Info: 60 gal SPS cube, with 25 gal refugium, 400W MH, DIY Lumenarc III, DIY skimmer, DIY stand and canopy. 40 breeder LPS with 40 gallon sump, DIY stand, 250W MH

12/02/2009, 09:18 AM	#4
Trolldoll Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Hampton, VA. Posts: 124	Thanks for the quick replies.