Help on return pump.

[Dez Ching]

Im curious too abt the vinegar wash.

I just wash under the tap.

Maybe someone can enlighten us altogether about how a vinegar wash can be done, and how effective it is to upkeep our equipments for longer efficient life. I have always, and still think, that a vinegar/ bleach wash may afterwards affect our water conditions when we place them back into our tank. But having so many successful professionals here doing so, I think newbie like me either just follow, or better ask to learn more on this hobby along way. Can someone guide on vinegar wash/ bleach washing of rocks or equipments?

[SubzeroLT]

Bleach is alkaline & a disinfectant. Great for removing algae. I normally use 20-50% concentration just to save on bleach.

Vinegar is acidic - great for removing calcium like buildup. I normally just use it "concentrated". For example, the artificial vinegar from most local supermarkets, the vinegar is actually diluted 3.5% acetic acid.

Both of the above will make things very clean, including ridding lubricants. For areas/seals that needs to be lubricated, i normally dab a bit of Vaseline (petroleum jelly).

[Dez Ching]

Bleach is alkaline & a disinfectant. Great for removing algae. I normally use 20-50% concentration just to save on bleach.

Vinegar is acidic - great for removing calcium like buildup. I normally just use it "concentrated". For example, the artificial vinegar from most local supermarkets, the vinegar is actually diluted 3.5% acetic acid.

Both of the above will make things very clean, including ridding lubricants. For areas/seals that needs to be lubricated, i normally dab a bit of Vaseline (petroleum jelly).

Hi Bro, thanks for the advise. Which means we have to do both bleach and Vinegar wash on a same equipment? 2 times?

Coz since one is alkaline and the other is acidic, they both have different properties to wash off impurities stuck on the rocks/ equipment.

I see, so we can also add Vaseline? Ie to the impellor of the pump head? No possible chemical reaction with our saltwater in the tank?

[SubzeroLT]

For general cleaning, i just use vinegar for a soak. Then light scrub with a brush & rinse off.

I use bleach if things have a lot of stubborn algae that won't go away. Eg glass lily pipes in freshwater planted tank, rocks.

Or when attempting to disinfect things (tank, pump/hang on filter, tubes) for a hospital tank.

Use vinegar & bleach separately. Quick rinse in between.

And if you use bleach, do remember to use anti-chlorine during the rinse.

Vaseline = petroleum jelly. Commonly used for for softening silicon in aquarium use.

Some folks use petroleum jelly (on spindle tips of the impeller). No issues.

[Dez Ching]

That's good information for me. I will do just that.
Dipped the impellor into vinegar and washed the area around it then apply Vaseline to lubricate it.
Hope it can upkeep equipments

[Dez Ching]

OMG! I did a check on my pump. It's a Eheim 1260, which only has a flow rate of 2400L/H.
My tank is a 4 feet tank, which only adds up to about 400+ litres, not including the sump yet!!
After checking, I think only a 1264 Eheim pump is sufficient for my tank with a flow rate of 4500L/H.
Need to find one from Pasar Malam, hope someone has one for sale soon, so that I can have it replaced.

[SubzeroLT]

A pump which has a box specification of 2400L/hr => 0 head loss (i.e. reduced flow due to pipes, gadgets, height difference of tank & pump).

After factoring in the system setup, it may drop to a much lower number.

You'll need to factor in some of these losses. The major slow down are 90deg bends in pipes, flowing through chiller & head height (height in which the pump needs to push the water upwards).

The final turnover rate should be 5x-10x.

[Dez Ching]

A pump which has a box specification of 2400L/hr => 0 head loss (i.e. reduced flow due to pipes, gadgets, height difference of tank & pump).

After factoring in the system setup, it may drop to a much lower number.

You'll need to factor in some of these losses. The major slow down are 90deg bends in pipes, flowing through chiller & head height (height in which the pump needs to push the water upwards).

The final turnover rate should be 5x-10x.

Yah lor. Now headache, as need to make changes. The professional who sold me the Eheim pump told me it was a 4500L/H pump and it will circulate 10x my flow which is correct. I was really trusting to him. But end up after I started to be more involved in the whole system, I realize it was only a 2400L/H pump.. That is why in the beginning of the conversation I told everyone my pump is Eheim 1260 with 4500L/H flow rate, and someone challenge me that my pump should be Eheim 1264 if 4500L/H. Guess, a newbie still has to learn his lesson through some hard ways...