How often do you soak pumps in citrus acid?

MrWellington

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I'm hitting my 9 month mark as a newbie and it occurred to me (while flushing my hot water heater) that I haven't yet deep cleaned/soaked any return pumps, skimmer pump, gyre/powerheads yet. What would be a good preventative schedule? Monthly, bi-monthly, 6 month, 1 yr, wait until it breaks....
 

gbroadbridge

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I'm hitting my 9 month mark as a newbie and it occurred to me (while flushing my hot water heater) that I haven't yet deep cleaned/soaked any return pumps, skimmer pump, gyre/powerheads yet. What would be a good preventative schedule? Monthly, bi-monthly, 6 month, 1 yr, wait until it breaks....
I clean mine every 4-6 weeks.

If I don't, I start to see flow reduction due to dirt build up in the pump.

As environmental consistency is the key to a successful mixed reef, I try to keep the water flow consistent too.

Leave it 3 months and there will be a sudden increase in flow after cleaning.
 

Freenow54

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I'm hitting my 9 month mark as a newbie and it occurred to me (while flushing my hot water heater) that I haven't yet deep cleaned/soaked any return pumps, skimmer pump, gyre/powerheads yet. What would be a good preventative schedule? Monthly, bi-monthly, 6 month, 1 yr, wait until it breaks....
I wait for obvious build up on power heads> I think I may start a schedule for my skimmer hob as I now am trying to get it working after wait until it breaks. I am trying to establish a replacement part inventory now as I believe if something runs constantly there is an inevitable breaking point. IE impellers / motor assemblies for expensive stuff , and replacement units for power heads, and heaters ect
 

dochoot

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I recently cleaned mine; one over 10 years since. I was shocked at improved flow. Who knew?! Gonna do better.
 

lmfbs

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When they look obviously gunked up (I'm currently carbon dosing, so there's a bit of bacterial slime) or when the coralline gets too much that it stops flow. So ~6 months. Skimmer is usually about the same, return...it's been a year and I have no plans.
Does anyone have a particular citric acid powder to water ratio that seems to work well?
I've never ever measured - a handful or 2 in 1/2 a sink of water?
 

Hallowhead

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I would say I do the return pump 6 months to 6+
I do my power heads maybe every 3 months
Skimmer is 6 months
 

Waters

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I do my powerheads every two weeks for about 30 minutes (then clean afterwards). I don't really have a ratio though....just half a cup of citric acid and throw some water in a small bucket. The rest of my stuff is cleaned about every 6 months.
 

tuscani

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What is the exact process for cleaning?
 

Cell

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I just do it whenever they look like they need it.
 

Hallowhead

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What is the exact process for cleaning?
I soak in white vinegar over night plugged in to get the vinegar moving thru the equipment.

I then disassemble and scrub with a toothbrush and rinse thoroughly to get vinegar off before putting back into use
 

Cell

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Everytime I clean a powerhead it seems like something different grows back.
 

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