1. Welcome to Aquarium Space! We are a friendly online community for aquarium owners all over the world who love their tanks including their fish, reefs, corals, invertebrates and their aquatic livestock. If you haven't joined yet, we invite you to register and join our community!

Cleaning SW Equipment Help

Discussion in 'Saltwater Fish Forum' started by Ryanstech, Jan 30, 2009.

  1. Ryanstech

    Ryanstech Thread Starter New Member

    Messages:
    78
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    hey guys I got a great deal on some heaters and powerheads that were used in a saltwater tank that have large amounts caked on algea/calcium? (purple/white/green) not very familiar with SW so I'm hoping you have suggestions for something to easily remove this stuff
     
    Ryanstech, Jan 30, 2009
    #1
  2. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

    Messages:
    5,172
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    38
    personally, I always use 5:1 water:plain clorox soaks when I'm cleaning nasty equipment. I can testify that it will make algae fall right off, never tried it with saltwater But I'd think it should have about the same effect.
    That or maybe try getting one of those aquarium coarse pads and scrubbing while submerged in warm water?
     
    MOD_Dawn, Jan 30, 2009
    #2
  3. Ryanstech

    Ryanstech Thread Starter New Member

    Messages:
    78
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    I'm not excited about the process after trying to remove a bit with a knife. it's on there really good. I'll give it some clorox and water to test thanks dawn
     
    Ryanstech, Jan 30, 2009
    #3
  4. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

    Messages:
    5,172
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    38
    no problemo!
    Oh, I called the guy at my lfs and asked him for ya...he said to soak in vinegar and water over night and to rinse the heck out of it afterwards; stated something about vinegar breaking down calcium in the coralline
     
    MOD_Dawn, Jan 30, 2009
    #4
  5. Ryanstech

    Ryanstech Thread Starter New Member

    Messages:
    78
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    wow! thanks for the detective work dawn! I'll give that a shot tonight
     
    Ryanstech, Jan 30, 2009
    #5
  6. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

    Messages:
    5,172
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    38
    your welcome Ryan.
    Good Luck with the cleanup. Rest those arms for scrubbing..Haha!
     
    MOD_Dawn, Jan 30, 2009
    #6
  7. lostanime

    lostanime New Member

    Messages:
    124
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    +1 on the advice - vinegar (in modest amounts) wont hurt your tank if you don't completely clean it off, and it does wonders for cleaning up calc deposits. A year back I gave up scrubbing our pumps. Now I just take them apart and drop the parts in a bowl, and fill the bowl up with vinegar and let sit for an hour or two - deposits easily flake/dissolve right off !
     
    lostanime, Jan 30, 2009
    #7
  8. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

    Messages:
    5,172
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    38
    sounds like what I did when I had the spot algae on the equip with the 5:1 water:clorox. Dropped it in the mix, rinsed, dropped it in water with prime, air dryed and back in the tank it went looking like brand new!
     
    MOD_Dawn, Jan 30, 2009
    #8
  9. gangstafish

    gangstafish Member

    Messages:
    107
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Clorox Bleach right not the laundry detergent? You must specify. Clorox brand makes alot of products.
     
    gangstafish, Feb 18, 2009
    #9
  10. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

    Messages:
    5,172
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    38
    CLOROX BLEACH, sorry I made it clear in another post..I assumed people keep on top of the forum. My bad.
     
    MOD_Dawn, Feb 18, 2009
    #10