Powerhead Cleaning

[r212019]

my Jebao powerhead has been running for about a year now and its getting coraline algae growing all over it. what is the best method for cleaning the powerhead? how often should i be cleaning it?

[duncangweller]

Give it a vinegar bath and let it soak. Then just give it a light scrub with a toothbrush (or something like) and it'll come off easily.

[GoFish]

^ +1... Or Muriatic acid and water, much faster

[seaweed]

After useing vinegar and the vinegar screwing up the internals in my pumps after awhile,I tried this product from hydor called magi-clean.After useing it a couple of times.The stuff works amazingly and you don't have to scrub the stuff off it just disolved.I swear by this stuff it's incredible.I would go on a commercial for this stuff.Loooooooooooooove it.

[Reef-Geek]

Originally Posted by Vancity

^ +1... Or Muriatic acid and water, much faster

I watched this video and looks like Muriatic acid works pretty well
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obHZAIgLD7M

But is it too strong? I don't want the strong acid to reduce the powerhead's life span.

[GoFish]

All 3 products mentioned so far are acid based. I'm not sure of any non-acid based product that is as effective. I dilute the Muriatic acid unlike in the video, maybe 10:1 water:acid and leave for a couple hours

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Vancity

All 3 products mentioned so far are acid based. I'm not sure of any non-acid based product that is as effective. I dilute the Muriatic acid unlike in the video, maybe 10:1 water:acid and leave for a couple hours

10:1 on the acid makes it a bit weaker than vinegar. Muriatic is 33%? ish. Vinegar is 5. Unless you also dilute that

[GoFish]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

10:1 on the acid makes it a bit weaker than vinegar. Muriatic is 33%? ish. Vinegar is 5. Unless you also dilute that

Yeah I used to dilute the vinegar as well, either being cheap or less wasteful. Pick one

[The Guy]

Originally Posted by duncangweller

Give it a vinegar bath and let it soak. Then just give it a light scrub with a toothbrush (or something like) and it'll come off easily.

Vinegar has always worked well for me, it's all I ever clean with especially powerheads.

[e46er]

I got a salt bucket I throw in about a L of vinegar and a gal of water run the powerhead for an hour or 2 and it comes off no problem with a toothbrush.