cleaning powerheads???

[foresteronw]

What do you guys use to clean your powerheads? I've heard viniger, but if so how much do you use and do you mix it with water or just use it straight then rinse with RO

[drummereef]

Just use a solution of vinegar and fresh water. I use about a 50/50 solution, depending on how much I have around. Throw them in a bucket and let them run for 1/2 hr or so depending on how much buildup you have. Works great.

[Big Boy69]

ditto.

[AZDesertRat]

Straight white vinegar. It works faster and its still safe to stick your hands in. Its only about a buck a gallon at the grocery.

[roons]

all pumps and powerheads, 50/50 vinegar/water, run for 6 hours every 3 months............................your return pump will seize up eventually if its not cleaned....................

[hesaias]

watch your o-rings. Vinegar will harden them. Take them out while cleaning. Suction cups too.

[wrott]

It really depends on the PH. TUNZE need the impeller disassembled and hole in the magnet needs to be cleaned.
Look at TUNZE forum for cleaning.
MJs need the impeller washed off and the housing cleaned of coralline.

[roons]

ive never disassembled my 6060's , mj's yes

[wrott]

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=720419
Cleaning TUNZEs, I did this and it really helped increase flow and decrease noise on my 6100.

[dkh0331]

The streams won't run if they need cleaning. If you have the older style, make sure you take it all the way apart and can see thru it as Roger shows on the thread.

David

[glparr]

I completely dismantle them and soak in undiluted white vinegar. You have to remove the impeller/magnet assembly from the stainless shaft so the vinegar can dissolve all of the calcium deposits that form on the shaft and inside the magnet/impeller. Wash thoroughly in tap water after soaking to remove the vinegar.
Gary

[roons]

huh, have never done that, is it a pia with all the small parts? brake shoes etc? how does the shaft pull out?

[dkh0331]

A bit of a PIA, but it really does need to be done. Read the link, it tells you how to. From the link -

"This is also very important- their is a hole in the center of the magnet, this is critical as this is how water enters to cool the motor, if it is partially obstructed the vacuum and temp increase and the pump gets dirtier faster- (very bad picture, sorry) To clean it remove the brakes by tisting the prop in one hand and the magnet in the other, they pop out half way and you feel resistance and turn a bit more and they come out completely. Now you can clean the hole using a small pick and some vinegar- I use a set of brushes and picks sold for paintguns."

And be careful with the brakes, they are easy to loose, like I did.

HTH

David

[roons]

man id hate to take it apart and have a problem , then im down in flow .................the brakes go in and out easy? i know ive taken apart electric motors and had the brushes ping across the room , lol

[dkh0331]

The brakes are a bit tricky.

For the first year that I owned my streams, I didn't remove the brakes and the propeller. Then it would run for a couple of weeks before the alarm would go off. It is a PIA, but something that you really will need to do.