Well, Spring has sprung and its getting warm outside and we are about to go running about doing everything UNDER THE SUN to have fun, and neglecting our Reef Tanks during the hot summer months. I have found this the best time to do an annual cleaning of everything in the sump to get the tank cleaned up and tuned up for the long hot summer of neglect.
In fact, I’m doing one tonight on the 75 reef/fuge system. It’s amazing how much silt and crud and precipitate can pile up in slow flow corners of the sump and filters. Pumps and hoses will be clogged up with deposits, algae, and tube worms which all reduced the flow by friction. Clear vinyl tubes are the worste since they let light in. and the build up of mud can also make anerobic areas producing sulfides in bad cases. so once a year i do a cleaning.
I start by removing the sump pump and hose line back to the tank. and protein skimmer and any pumps, i have one maxi jet and tube that feeds the remote fuge, and place them in a bucket of acid water in the bath tub, pump in the bucket and hose end in the bucket so it recircs and doesnt splash out of the bucket. being very aware to prevent splashing and protecting my eyes. and let them run an hour to disolve all the carbonate deposits in the tubing and the pumps. same with the protein skimmer. mine fills up with tube worms, and slows down the skimming. so once it stops fizzing, i drain them all and move them to a bucket of bleach water and recirc for an hour more to disolve the remaining organic material. then on to a bucket of fresh water for a rinse. and done.
Meanwhile , while all that chem cleaning is going on, i have done some scraping and syphoning out of the mud settled in the corners of the sump. and all the flakes of carbonate that peal off the walls. Wow, I got a full two cups worth of drained mud out this time. then reinstall all the pumps , skimmers and hoses back in place, and the tank is ready to run again at peak flow, for another year. and no dirty ole mud to feed algae.
so before it gets too late. I better put the pumps back and get er running again tonight.
Happy spring sump Cleaning.
your tank will appreciate it this long hot summer. when we all tend to neglect them. due to all the other fun stuff to do out in the sun.
3 questions, Mr. Clean:
“and place them in a bucket of acid water in the bath tub”–could you give a few details as to what strength/type acid should be used
“then on to a bucket of fresh water for a rinse.”-- is this RODI or straight tap?
the bleach rinse is a 10% solution?
muratic acid is good. no real formula here… 10% or so should do the trick and tap water would be fine for a rinse… just be sure to let it dry any chlorine off b4 reinstalling.
[quote=“fishguy9, post:5, topic:1716”]
ace hardware… lowes… wal mart prolly. it’s brick cleaning acid. pretty much just diluted hydrochloric.[/quote]
Usually in the paint dept or where they have additives for concrete. It is usually in a white bottle with a red label and most of the clerks wont know that they carry it.
OK, I see not everyone is as comfortable with chemistry and corrosive chemicals as me. Yes, I use Muratic acid, from lowes. it is very concentrated at about 33%. Be very careful with it!! . Wear Eye protection! never add water to acid. always add acid to water. It won’t sputter and splash that way. one less thing. or you can also use a lot of plain, old clear vinegar and water. works the same. Less concentrated. Just add more.
I start with 5 gallons of tap water in a 6 gallon IO bucket and add 2 or 3 OZ. of muratic acid . OR a quart or two of vinegar. i add it after i have the pumps and hoses recircicing in the bucket without blowing out of the bucket. then add the acidic solution. and let it run. if it stops fizzing and more carbonates remain, add a bit more acid solution. a little at a time. or you can disassemble the pumps and impellers and soak them in acid solution, and just replace the plugged up hoses. your choice/
Bleach? , I add a cup to 5 gallons and recirc till the tubes are clear. You just want to disolve the organic algae. then rince in tap water. it drips right off when you drain it. wont do no harm.
Jeeze if you are that worried about contaminating corals on the reef, you would never flush the toilet. it all goes to the ocean in the end. most sewage treatment systems dump to a river, which runs to the ocean , eventually. coral reefs are just one flush away from your thunder mug.