CLEAN YOUR PUMPS

[lastlight]

Just a friendly reminder =)

Went to crank and kill flow on my gfo reactor a few times since I like to agitate the whole mixture every day. When I killed flow to the unit entirely for a second my return pump (which also feeds the reactor) ceased and would not restart.

It's a speedwave 2640 and has only been running 6 months. Seems a bit soon for that to happen but I'm reminding everyone all the same. After only 5 min in a vinegar soak it was restarting every time. I hope to have it back on the system in an hour.

[The Grizz]

Monthly routine here to clean all my pumps regardless, a little TLC goes a long way.

[sphelps]

Was it the actual pump or controller? Two of my three controllers have been replaced within the same time period.

[Wheelman76]

Monthly routine here to clean all my pumps regardless, a little TLC goes a long way.

You clean all your pumps once a month? Now thats dedication !!!

[sphelps]

Was it the actual pump or controller? Two of my three controllers have been replaced within the same time period.

never mind, read your post better to see you got it working again :redface:

[lastlight]

Yeah thankfully it just needed a cleaning. So far so good!

[sphelps]

It's surprising other pump manufacturers haven't adopted the cooling bypass idea. Such a simple idea to keep the motor block cooler preventing calcium-carbonate build up.

[lastlight]

Recently my magnesium dropped to 1200 so I'm wondering if this caused more precipitation inside the block? I was upping my 2-part dosing assuming my mag was ok.

[Coralgurl]

Speaking of cleaning equipment, how often do you do a thorough clean of your skimmer?

[kien]

yikes.. I haven't cleaned my return pump in two years :surprise:

Should probably clean my skimmer too.. :neutral:

... hey look, here's a squirrel in my back yard! BRB.

[sphelps]

yikes.. I haven't cleaned my return pump in two years :surprise:


Not quite, Jan 2012. I remember it like it was yesterday.

[kien]

Not quite, Jan 2012. I remember it like it was yesterday.

Phew!! That was a close one! Still got 6 months left then.

[kien]

And apparently the last time I cleaned it, it had been going for over two years, yikes!! Wish canreef could remind me to CLEAN MY PUMP more freque- hey the squirrel is back!! BRB!

[gregzz4]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bolk9p-I1kw/T7hTIu59jUI/AAAAAAAAELg/OhO5yXwpmmE/s400/family-guy-piece_of_candy.jpg

[Aquattro]

Speaking of cleaning equipment, how often do you do a thorough clean of your skimmer?

Gonna clean mine this month. First time cleaning any equipment since I set the tank up three years ago. lol

[The Grizz]

You clean all your pumps once a month? Now thats dedication !!!

With my work schedule I have to make sure nothing can go wrong as the wife would have no clue what to do. I also clean my skimmer at the same time, wash out the cup & clean the skimmer neck.

[gregzz4]

hey the squirrel is back!! BRB!
http://technochitlins.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Look-a-squirrel-2-20-2013-3-00-15-PM.png

[asylumdown]

Good reminder. I've only properly cleaned my skimmer once since I got it, and now the bottom of it has more life on it than some of my live rock! I'm sure that can't be good for the pump.

[gregzz4]

We have a jug of 'cleaning strength' vinegar that I use on my MP10 wet sides, and it works great. I use it @ about 20-30 %, but don't really measure it

I'm sure it's twice the cost, and only use half as much :lol:

FWIW, it doesn't work any faster

[asylumdown]

Where do you even get cleaning strength vinegar? When I do my powerheads I end up going through an insane amount of vinegar because I don't like to dilute it, but I need enough to fill a bowl high enough to cover all parts of the disassembled power heads

[gregzz4]

Where do you even get cleaning strength vinegar?
Sorry, guess it's a wife thing
She brought it home for me :wink:

[gregzz4]

My wife bought Allen's double strength cleaning vinegar for me from either Price Smart or Save-On - she doesn't recall

[Kraken]

One of the advantages of having an external overflow....I can always tell if my pump is workin or not :mrgreen: