Cleaning return pump- question

DracoKat · Dec 17, 2017

Hi all,

been over a year and half since I set up my tank and my return pump has yet to be cleaned. It's being a bit noisy so I think it's time. I want to soak it in white vinegar overnight (might as well do my skimmer too) and give it a good scrubbing/cleaning

I don't have a backup pump.. will the tank be OK for~24 hours with just the powerhead and gyre? I'll turn the powerhead to the surface ?

any suggestions on cleaning the pumps quicker if not a vinegar soak?

BoomCorals · Dec 17, 2017

if your ATO and heaters are in the DT you’ll be fine.

redfishbluefish · Dec 17, 2017

The internal portions of my pumps never needed a vinegar soaking. I simply scrub off the snot on the impeller and run a test tube brush in the pump hole, rinse everything up, and then slap it back together.

Now the outside of the pump will have calcified creatures one it....that I half heartedly scrub/scrap off. Not overly concerned about the outside....purely cosmetic.

DracoKat · Dec 17, 2017

The heater is in the sump- I can move it to the dt. Thanks!

Mikedawg · Dec 17, 2017

May not take that long; I use an old toothbrush for scrubbing and find that an hour is long enough for the vinegar to work. Guess length of time necessary depends on what has found a home on your equipment though.

DracoKat · Dec 17, 2017

redfishbluefish said:
The internal portions of my pumps never needed a vinegar soaking. I simply scrub off the snot on the impeller and run a test tube brush in the pump hole, rinse everything up, and then slap it back together.

Now the outside of the pump will have calcified creatures one it....that I half heartedly scrub/scrap off. Not overly concerned about the outside....purely cosmetic.

I like that idea better- quicker too

miPapareef · Dec 17, 2017

I did this maintenance for the first time at about 9 months. Two 5 gallon buckets and about 30 minutes is all you need. You can do the maintenance right beside the tank so no need to even undo all the wiring.

One bucket with 1 gallon vinegar and 1 gallon RODI, and the other with just 2 gallons RODI. Took about 15 minutes running the pump in the first bucket and then 10 minutes to disassemble, brush clean and reassemble. Then 5 minutes of running in the RODI bucket to rinse and check function.