Cleaning / Maintenance Tricks

[redfishbluefish]

We all know about Mag cleaners for glass, and soaking powerheads and pumps in vinegar, but what other things do you do that help in cleaning/maintaining your tank stuff that is not typical. I'll start with two simple things I use.







The top thing is a garden support stick made of metal that is covered with a green plastic. I use this to clean the breather tubes on my Glass-Holes overflow. These tubes clog up with (my guess) carbonate and salt deposits and causes the overflow to gurgle. About every six months I run this "ram rod" up and down the tube to knock off the deposits.


The second thing is simply a very small piece of rag tied to a piece of string. This is used to clean out 3/8" to 1/2" tubing. The worst is the tubing I have running from my skimmer to the skimmate container. That gets so bad it has clogged up. I actually use the ram rod and this string thing to push and pull the little rag back and forth.


So what little things do you do to keep your tank stuff clean and maintained?

 

[jgraz]

I saw this somewhere and decided to give it a try. To scrap down corraline that mag cleaners leave behind, I use a rod from an old set of mini blinds, slightly bent with a small slit in the end to insert a razor into. For heavy cleaning I will put just a small dot of glue to hold the razor for a while. For lighter cleaning the razor holds just fine on its own.

 

[Arce]

I saw this somewhere and decided to give it a try. To scrap down corraline that mag cleaners leave behind, I use a rod from an old set of mini blinds, slightly bent with a small slit in the end to insert a razor into. For heavy cleaning I will put just a small dot of glue to hold the razor for a while. For lighter cleaning the razor holds just fine on its own.

Ive done the same, but used a plastic hanger, broke off the bottom straight piece and heated the razor and melted it into the tip.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Although I have a Reef Gadget on my MAG Float:

I like this little scrapper idea. I don't have extra mini blind parts, but I do have plastic hangers. I'm thinking of attaching the hanger part to a plastic scraper for HD. This way it's easy to replace the blade.


Thanks guys!

 

[kschweer]

I've always like using an old credit card for scraping the tougher algae. Works really well and less chance of scratches. I also really like the original magic erasers for cleaning the glass. I Keep a toothbrush around too for scrubbing frag plugs and patches of nuisance algae that may pop up on the rock work.

 

[Arce]

Paul, do you have a link to the plastic scraper from HD in the pic, or an exact name? I cant find it.

 

[Mike S]

Good tips guys. When I want to clean my sand but am not doing s water change, I run the hose into a filter sock in my sump.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Paul, do you have a link to the plastic scraper from HD in the pic, or an exact name? I cant find it.

HERE it is at HD.

 

[joe b]

I've use my NJRC member card to clean my glass.

 

[dirtycontour]

I rubberband a toothbrush to the end of a siphon hose to collect algae, cyano, etc. Most times I'll have my wife hold the other end of the hose in the sump, in a mesh filter sock.

 

[redfishbluefish]

I like that toothbrush - siphon thing. I've actually give thought on how to do something similar with a razor blade.




Here's another maintenance tip.....lubing your rubber to prolong its life. I have a pool in the backyard and have "lubed" the rubber parts for over 30 years with Leslies's Pool and Spa Lube.

You can NOT use petroleum based lubes on rubber.....such as Vasoline......it will cause it to swell and eventually fail.




I first had freshwater tanks and used this on all rubber parts. Realize I had rubber stuff that was over 30 years old and still soft and pliable. When I started saltwater in 2006/2007, I continued to use this on all rubber stuff. It is the best bang for the buck....I think it's now about $7 for a tube. Note Plumber's Grease will do the same thing but considerably more expensive.