How often do you clean your powerheads?

[trido]

Lately I've been looking at my Tunze 6105's and have been wondering why they are so much weaker that the newer Jebao wp-40's that aren't rated much stronger in the GPH category. Today I dipped the Tunze's in a Muriatic bath and was surprised to see that they housings were about 70% plugged. Now my 210 has massive flow. Probably too much and I'll be shocked if I dont lose some polyp extension if I dont turn it down. I haven't cleaned them since setting my tank back up just under a year ago.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Usually they soak em in vinegar. Suprised the acid didn't mess up the housing.

 

[trido]

I use three gallons of water to 1 cup of muriatic acid. Its much less expensive than vinegar in the long run.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Right on.

 

[alan.reef]

clean my power head every 2-3 month, so it work efficiently.

 

[mfinn]

I clean mine at about the 6 month time frame. Sometimes sooner.
I use vinegar. It's just easier to deal with inside the house.
I have used muratic acid before and it works much faster than vinegar.

 

[trido]

This morning I turned all my powerheads down 30%. Even with this reduction I have more flow that before the cleaning. My tunze's are rocking once again. Dead silent compared to the Jebao's. I guess I'll have to soak all of my pumps every six months now.

 

[Genesis Corals]

This morning I turned all my powerheads down 30%. Even with this reduction I have more flow that before the cleaning. My tunze's are rocking once again. Dead silent compared to the Jebao's. I guess I'll have to soak all of my pumps every six months now.

I will have to try this, I do have quite a bit of coralline building on them.

 

[reefwatcher]

About every 6 months or before if needed.

 

[chefb_5]

I clean mine every 1-2 months or when I see there clogged what ever comes first.

 

[PaulKreider]

Every couple to three months, theres a big difference in performance, frequent cleaning helps a lot.

 

[Djannel]

How long do you guys leave the powerheads in vinegar?

 

[Railcar79]

i do it only when I have to. I try to keep my hands out of the tank

 

[trido]

How long do you guys leave the powerheads in vinegar?

If you soak them in a pure vinegar bath and keep one powerhead on low speed they should clean up within six hours. I always get impatient and scrape and scrub them after a couple hours. I have a few friends that only remove one at a time and soak it overnight.

 

[mfinn]

How long do you guys leave the powerheads in vinegar?

If I have backups to put in the tank, I will leave them soaking overnight.
If I'm in a hurry, I will leave then in for 2-3 hours and then use a little elbow grease.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Every 2 months or as needed

 

[clsanford]

Monthly there is alot of build up if left alone to long. I've had the same power head for 3 year's.

 

[NanaReefer]

If you want it done fast with no scrubbing? Bring your vinegar to a boil then add it full strength. Watch the coralline dissolve! :)

 

[Sea_Monkey]

I only clean it when I noticed them being clogged or not running as efficient.

 

[mfinn]

If you want it done fast with no scrubbing? Bring your vinegar to a boil then add it full strength. Watch the coralline dissolve! :)

I've never heard of heating up the vinegar.
Hmm.....