How Often Do You Clean Your Pumps

[JOHNY]

I've noticed that my flow has slowed down and that water volume is high in main tank when i top off at water mark in rear chambers.
Does this mean i have to get down and durty and start major clean up.
Tank has been running since May 21st 2009??

 

[nanoreefing4fun]

I clean mine about monthly, both the circulation pumps & the skimmer pump.

Only takes a few minutes & is very easy to do

 

[redsea reefer]

every six months for me...soak in 50/50 water and distilled white vinegar.

 

[AG1]

I've noticed that my flow has slowed down and that water volume is high in main tank when i top off at water mark in rear chambers.
Does this mean i have to get down and durty and start major clean up.
Tank has been running since May 21st 2009??

if there is any clogged media it will raise the level in the main tank when you add top off water.IMO the problem doesn't occur from the pumps , it is about the clogged media.

 

[Mavjoy]

I clean mine when it's all cover up with coralline algae and it looks like an eyesore.

 

[websurfer]

Sorry to ask but have you checked the fine fliter pad..

This could slow down flow big time..

I have not cleaned any of my pumps yet..
But when i do a water change i pull them up and down and drain some water from the back chamber

 

[StevieT]

only once in the two year life time of the tank. When it was moved.

 

[nanoreefing4fun]

Impellers too?

 

[Nowellsy SNR]

I cleaned mine for the first time yesterday tanks been running since the beginning off May and there was'nt that much gunk in there.

Was easier to do than i thought

 

[StevieT]

Impellers too?

didn't take it apart so no. It wasn't clogged up with anything, didn't really need it

 

[nanoreefing4fun]

wow - I clean mine monthly & they always slimy & have a bit of trash in them... they are working fine when I start & after... maybe I don't need to be cleaning so often, just easy to do... and I always thought of it as preventive maintenance...

 

[Reefmack]

I don't clean mine often, but when I have they weren't dirty or slimy. Different story for the outlets - mine can develop coralline and gunk on them and right at the outer edge. Same with my Hydor Flo.

 

[mbdave]

You can clean your pumps???? Wow!!

Yes I know you clean pumps and as a matter of fact cleaned my return and skimmer pump today. I see here and on other threads that some use a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water? Why not pure? I use it pure all the time with no adverse effects and a faster cleaning. JMHO

 

[Reefmack]

I use pure vinegar too - buy it by the gallon. Vinegar is only 5-18% acetic acid so it's already diluted enough IMO. Or I use DD EzeClean - it seems to work better & faster, but too expensive.

 

[mbdave]

CLR works pretty good also..