Cleaning questions

[LittleLakeReef]

I just got an ATO system for my 150 gallon fish tank I’m new to the hobby about a year and a half in and I was wondering how often and what process I should be doing to clean my fresh water reservoir also have the same question for the 55 gallon reservoir I mix my new salt water in for water changes?

I suppose I have the same question for my over flow section that leads to my sump does this ever need to be cleaned?

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

I don't think I ever clean my ATO reservoir unless I see something actually growing in it or some trash floating around.

Your salt mixing reservoir might be a different story as a bunch of different salt mixes will create a type of clay-like buildup on the walls of the container that will get unsightly and start to flake off after a while. I would clean that once a year or as needed.

The downspouts on your overflow into your sump should probably be cleaned every 6 months or so depending on how much buildup you get in them. I bought a long pipe cleaning brush for mine and just ran it in and out of the pipe a few times then flushed some water down each pipe and collected the mess on the other end or siphoned it out.

If you have an overflow box on the back of your tank, clean that every so often with a brush or scraper. If you keep it dark/covered you won't get any algae growth inside but you will get little feather dusters and general detritus buildup, which a brush or plastic scraper card will take care of.

 

[LittleLakeReef]

Thank you this was very helpful

 

[exnisstech]

TBH I don't clean much of anything except the glass. I mix in a brute using IO and it mixes dirty so that's a mess. I've never cleaned an ATO container. No way I'm cleaning plumbing on 4 tanks as long as water is flowing. My overflows are like a mini eco systems as are my sumps because I never clean them. I have all kinds of interesting life growing in those places. I don't think either way matters it's more about what the reefer likes. Some like neat and clean, me not so much. I know cleaning plumbing and pumps is beneficial and I'm sure they perform better but I'm lazy. I've gone years without even cleaning my return pumps and they're still pumping fine. The return pump thing is not so much laziness as it is crawling around in the stand and having to get back up just sucks with my body failing due to age. I have spare pumps to swap out in case one does fail.

 

[EricR]

My ATO container is a black polypropylene trash bin with loose lid shoved behind my tank in house nook.
I've cleaned it twice in 4.5 years.
Each time, there was a clear, slimy sludge layer that I assume is some sort of bacterial mass (but not sure).
Never had any issues but I would clean it out a bit more often if mine was easier to access.

My Brute bin for RODI water is in my often hot garage and does get that slight ammonia smell that I read others mentioning.
Again, doesn't seem to be any issue so I clean it out with vinegar and rinse well when the mood strikes maybe once every year or two.
*that helps get rid of the smell, for a while

Mixing bin will get build-up of calcium carbonate and whatever else but not an issue so I just clean whenever it's convenient and I feel like I should be doing something but not very often.

 

[BryanM]

I haven't cleaned anything. But this topic is hitting home a bit, as I have to wrap my head around trying to clean the plumbing, especially the returns.

 

[LittleLakeReef]

TBH I don't clean much of anything except the glass. I mix in a brute using IO and it mixes dirty so that's a mess. I've never cleaned an ATO container. No way I'm cleaning plumbing on 4 tanks as long as water is flowing. My overflows are like a mini eco systems as are my sumps because I never clean them. I have all kinds of interesting life growing in those places. I don't think either way matters it's more about what the reefer likes. Some like neat and clean, me not so much. I know cleaning plumbing and pumps is beneficial and I'm sure they perform better but I'm lazy. I've gone years without even cleaning my return pumps and they're still pumping fine. The return pump thing is not so much laziness as it is crawling around in the stand and having to get back up just sucks with my body failing due to age. I have spare pumps to swap out in case one does fail.

Nothing about this hobby screams lazy I’m just so invested in both my tanks financially and emotionally the last thing I would want to do is crash a tank become of an oversight not asking the right questions or something as simple as not cleaning a specific area that may build up toxins

 

[LittleLakeReef]

TBH I don't clean much of anything except the glass. I mix in a brute using IO and it mixes dirty so that's a mess. I've never cleaned an ATO container. No way I'm cleaning plumbing on 4 tanks as long as water is flowing. My overflows are like a mini eco systems as are my sumps because I never clean them. I have all kinds of interesting life growing in those places. I don't think either way matters it's more about what the reefer likes. Some like neat and clean, me not so much. I know cleaning plumbing and pumps is beneficial and I'm sure they perform better but I'm lazy. I've gone years without even cleaning my return pumps and they're still pumping fine. The return pump thing is not so much laziness as it is crawling around in the stand and having to get back up just sucks with my body failing due to age. I have spare pumps to swap out in case one does fail.

Nothing about this hobby screams lazy I’m just so invested in both my tanks financially and emotionally the last thing I would want to do is crash a tank become of an oversight not asking the right questions or something as simple as not cleaning a specific area that may build up toxins

 

[LittleLakeReef]

I haven't cleaned anything. But this topic is hitting home a bit, as I have to wrap my head around trying to clean the plumbing, especially the returns.

The extra long pip cleaner is a great idea but how long do they make them I would almost need a plumbing snake with a pipe cleaner on the end