best vinegar-water mix to clean skimmer?

[allenho1]

Hi, guys. I just got a used skimmer that needs cleaning to remove coralline deposits. What is the best vinegar-water ratio to use? Should I add anything else to the cleaning mix? Thanks.

 

[NanaReefer]

Don't use water at all. Just straight up vinegar. Works best & fastest if you heat the vinegar up to a boil first. Tried, used & true! Only way I clean all my pumps & skimmer, for the past 5yrs


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[snoozer]

Thanks for the info. That's good to know.

 

[spieszak]

Don't use water at all. Just straight up vinegar. Works best & fastest if you heat the vinegar up to a boil first. Tried, used & true! Only way I clean all my pumps & skimmer, for the past 5yrs


Sent from my iPhone 4s via Tapatalk.

I do the same but I don't boil anymore because I don't enjoy the smell, and boiling it fills the house. Takes a little longer, but still works. I also try to make sure I run my pumps when doing so just to allow it to reach everywhere. If you have a LOT of coraline, it might come off in chunks though, and you might want to soak and remove the larger stuff before having the pump running.
Costco carries vinegar in two packs of gallon jugs.. Worth my membership every year just for that. LOL

 

[allenho1]

I couldn't see running 3-4 gallons of vinegar, so I tried a sponge with vinegar; cleaned it right up! Thanks, everyone.

 

[tike]

Go to cash and carry and buy gallon sized white vinegar...much cheaper. The reason some people boil it , it raises the acidity level thereby making it more effective dissolving carbonate build up. It also works great killing weeds int he cracks of your sidewalks! :dance:

 

[trido]

The most cost effective vinegar to water ratio by far is none. I use muriatic acid I buy at Lowes and HD for use in swimming pools. 1/4 cup in five gallons of water goes a looooooooooooooooooooong ways. The gallon will cost about $12 but will last for several years.

 

[spieszak]

any tips for dealing with the acid? i know its not heavy duty or anything, but i've always avoided it because vinegar works, and i have no reason at all to be 'afraid' of it...

 

[trido]

Wear safety goggles and don't breathe the vapors straight from the bottle. If you spill it straight onto your skin it can or will burn you. I used it a lot doing brick work as a job and have had it on my skin on many many occasions and a water rinse right away otherwise it will leave a burning stinging sensation. I use it because I get tired of using a gallon of vinegar at a time, and then waiting for such a slow process to happen. Muriatic acid works very fast if you make a strong solution. As little as 15 minutes for heavily encrusted equipment.

It can be dangerous for your skin and respiratory system if care isn't used with it.

 

[DTECH07]

2cups of white vinegar to 2 1/2 gallons of used tank saltwater spares the rubber seals and the used saltwater really kicks the skimmer into overdrive. let run for 2-3 hrs and you'll almost be able to rinse the skimmer with RO/DI water and put back online.