I'll put some oil onto your OCD fire now.......Have you stood on a stool and seen the dust that collects on the top of the lights?That’s what I thought! Phew, and saved me from keeping a new tank as a spare!
I'll put some oil onto your OCD fire now.......Have you stood on a stool and seen the dust that collects on the top of the lights?That’s what I thought! Phew, and saved me from keeping a new tank as a spare!
No I don’t stand on stools their dangerous. And you might see things that you don’t want to!I'll put some oil onto your OCD fire now.......Have you stood on a stool and seen the dust that collects on the top of the lights?
All of this is very true!You start one job, and then it escalates.
A couple of days ago I noticed a small Apstasia growing, so yesterday I decided it needed to be nuked with Red Sea Aps X. I switched off the Return Pump and the Circulation Pumps, waited ten minutes for the circulation to die down, and then buried the little bugger in the white juicy stuff. "Die you horrible vermin, die!". I gleefully shouted.
Forty minutes later it was time to re-start everything, and up it all came. Except for one Circulation Pump. So, I took it out, cleaned it, and it worked again so I re-installed it, but by doing so I knocked one of the 'Vent' thingys, which fell off into the back chamber. Oh well, it needed a clean anyway, but I can't just clean one, so all four had to be taken out and cleaned. Not only that, but on the re-start of the main Return Pump I noticed that it struggled to actually fill up the tank. The flow from the Return Pump seems to be restricted or degraded, so now I realise that it also needs a damn good clean as well. What started off as a simple Apstasia death mission has turned into a full-scale cleaning mission.
Top Tip for cleaning the pumps:- I found one extra method for giving the pumps (especially the circulation pumps) a really good clean is to put about eight to ten inches of white vinegar/water mix into an old 10 litre salt bucket, and then just power the pump so it runs in the mixture for about five/ten minutes. It means the cleaning solution really does get to the parts inside the pump that maybe we miss.
I think I need a little visit to an LFS to calm myself down.
Not this time but they did before so might get a few more - I don't have many aips anyway. But there are loads on the inside of the rear overflow. Amazing how nature adapts.I've tried the Peps in my previous smaller tank, but it only works if you starve the tank so the only thing they have to eat is the Aips, and I don't like neglecting the fish! Did they clear your Aips?
Ah, the inside of the rear chamber. Now you're talking ! I've got loads of those little hard white worm things in there. Fasands of 'em! It was hurting my Mild Cream Fairy Liquid hands when I delved into the chamber. Well, at least I did have them. With my messing around with the pumps and stuff I decided to tidy the chamber up, so I gave it a bit of a scrapping. It does look tidier now, and it's easier on my hands.Not this time but they did before so might get a few more - I don't have many aips anyway. But there are loads on the inside of the rear overflow. Amazing how nature adapts.
Did you not read and take note of point 2 of my article on palytoxins ! lolAh, the inside of the rear chamber. Now you're talking ! I've got loads of those little hard white worm things in there. Fasands of 'em! It was hurting my Mild Cream Fairy Liquid hands when I delved into the chamber. Well, at least I did have them. With my messing around with the pumps and stuff I decided to tidy the chamber up, so I gave it a bit of a scrapping. It does look tidier now, and it's easier on my hands.
You start one job, and then it escalates.
A couple of days ago I noticed a small Apstasia growing, so yesterday I decided it needed to be nuked with Red Sea Aps X. I switched off the Return Pump and the Circulation Pumps, waited ten minutes for the circulation to die down, and then buried the little bugger in the white juicy stuff. "Die you horrible vermin, die!". I gleefully shouted.
Forty minutes later it was time to re-start everything, and up it all came. Except for one Circulation Pump. So, I took it out, cleaned it, and it worked again so I re-installed it, but by doing so I knocked one of the 'Vent' thingys, which fell off into the back chamber. Oh well, it needed a clean anyway, but I can't just clean one, so all four had to be taken out and cleaned. Not only that, but on the re-start of the main Return Pump I noticed that it struggled to actually fill up the tank. The flow from the Return Pump seems to be restricted or degraded, so now I realise that it also needs a damn good clean as well. What started off as a simple Apstasia death mission has turned into a full-scale cleaning mission.
Top Tip for cleaning the pumps:- I found one extra method for giving the pumps (especially the circulation pumps) a really good clean is to put about eight to ten inches of white vinegar/water mix into an old 10 litre salt bucket, and then just power the pump so it runs in the mixture for about five/ten minutes. It means the cleaning solution really does get to the parts inside the pump that maybe we miss.
I think I need a little visit to an LFS to calm myself down.
Is this the first time you have cleaned it !?So yesterday I removed the main Return Pump for a good Dohbi. First I just washed it under the tap, then I ran it in my vinegar mixing tub for an hour. Next, I removed the front panel, but it was already sparkling clean inside. I re-installed it, and on power-up it was obvious that the flow was much better. The job was far easier than I expected and really wasn't any problem.
Yep. It's been running for fourteen months.Is this the first time you have cleaned it !?
Feel free to use copy and paste from mine which is clearly much better and more detailed ! lol
Well that probably explains why your never ever going to clean the downpipe valve !lolYep. It's been running for fourteen months.
‘It’s the 21st century’ you know, I use Apex Fusion for all recording of results and maintenance reminders. Admittedly a little more expensive than £9.99 but...I've been thinking of upgrading/replacing the return pump for a while, and having a spare is always a good idea. However, I did notice that while it was switched off, and also the skimmer was switched off, there was still a lot of noise being produced by the rear circulation pumps, and now I know that this is where the most noise is coming from. Sometimes the pumps can be slightly in the wrong position, so they touch the sides, and this can cause the vibration/humming sound, so I do tend to play around with them to reduce this, but I still feel that things could be better with these pumps.
Have you had a look at the Aquarimate App yet?