What Are You Doing: Equipment Cleaning/Maintenance Evolutions & Process Efficiency

[archipelago]

I don't mind pulling my equipment, cleaning, etc. BUT I do hate having to stop everything else going on because life support systems (or key components) are shut down until I clean and place back in service.

While it's not cost-effective; I keep entire spare units specifically to avoid become a slave to my tank. I keep at least one full working spare of all my tanks life support equipment: two full, working Tunze 9430's (one online, one on shelf), two Calcium Reactors, an extra S2, 2 x extra 6105's, etc.

When maintenance comes up, I pull the/a running unit, replace it immediately with the spare, and throw the dirty one in a sink with bleach (then later in muriatic acid bath, then dry, then to the shelf) so I can go about my day, and finish up on my own time.

For many reasons including cost, equipment size, and lack of transportability of many of these items - my current process doesn't scale with a large system.

What are you pros doing to ensure your equipment stays clean and current with your equipment maintenance intervals, and not giving up a ton of time with your family and the other things you enjoy doing?

 

[exnisstech]

I think its a good idea to keep backups for all life support systems like return pumps, heaters etc. I do so just because they are necessary not to make cleaning easier or faster because I don't clean any pumps as often as I should. I ran the return pump for 6 years on my reefer 170 and never cleaned it until I took the tank down.

 

[archipelago]

I think its a good idea to keep backups for all life support systems like return pumps, heaters etc.

Different mechanisms to the same end. It was this exact argument I used to justify (to myself) spending the money. I have backups AND I can be lazy!

I ran the return pump for 6 years on my reefer 170 and never cleaned it until I took the tank down.

Oof, you're brave! I do mx once quarterly on all critical equipment. With the spares, it's just too easy to not risk it.

 

[archipelago]

Hoping to get some real world feedback here (aka not at the complete mercy of the marketing literature).