Pump Cleaning/How often??

[bigdscobra]

Just thought I would start a little poll to see how often you clean your pumps. Mags , Iwakias what ever.....

[GaryP]

Every 3 months. I have found the higher you push your calcium and alkalinity the more of a problem this can be. Also magnesium plays a role too. Certain things catalyze scale formation. These include changes in temp, pressure, and pH. All of these things occur when you go through a pump for the time the water is in the pump so scale will first happen in the pumps. I would imagine that pressure rated pumps would be worse then non-rated pumps.

As I mentioned in another post, I have found that its important to remove the impellor from the ceramic or stainless stell shaft. This seems to be where the worst problems occur. I have cleaned pumps and put them back in service only to find they didn't work because of this issue. In the old days I just threw them away and bought a new one. I sure wish I still had all of those old pumps. I could pump all the water at Sea World with them.

[LoneStar]

I clean my mag pumps every 2 months. Just pull them out and run them in a tub of vinegar.

For those external pump users, whats the best/easiest way to clean your pumps?

[GaryP]

Just take them apart and soak them.

[LoneStar]

Just take them apart and soak them.

Simple enough. Just a little more work than a submersible.

[GaryP]

My blueline has a removable cup that the impellor sits in. You can take it out by just removing the pump head cover. Make sure not to get any vinegar in the motor. I'm sure that would not be good for the copper windings.

[Ram_Puppy]

I have one of the much derided powersweep power heads in my little 16 gallon tub (holding all my critters until the tank is up) The powersweep had clogged up and died about a year ago.

At richards suggestion I bought a 1 gallon jug of muratic acid from lowes (5 bucks) and mixed a weak solution in a 5 gallon byucket, took the power head apart, tossed it in, (not really, don't want to get this stuff on your skin! :) ) when I pulled it out 5 minutes later the powerhead looked brand new, rinsed, put it together, threw it in the tank and it works fantastic.

dissolved coraline right off it.

I plan on pulling all powerheads I use at least every other month or every three months for a bath in this stuff.

[bigdscobra]

Cool I will be doing mine for the first time over the Xmas break its been about 9months alittle over due :innocent