Calcium crud on the used skimmer I just bought

I bought a big used custom Euroreef skimmer. It's 2 years old and is a 12"
diameter X 33" high model and uses two Sedra 9000 pumps, this thing should
skim the heck out of the new 240 Gallon reef I'm setting up. Only problem
is the bottom and insides of the skimmer body as well as the entire outside
(and possibly the insides) of both pumps are completely encrusted with small
calcium bodies that I assume are from tiny feather duster worms. The inside
bottom of the skimmer is also completely covered in them and even has some
of the large feather duster shells stuck to it. These things are stuck on
there like mortar. I can probably scrape some of it off (with great
difficulty) but I can't really get to the bottom of the skimmer, (arm too
big, won't reach) and I'm also worried about the internal parts of the
pumps. Does anyone know something I can soak the pumps and the skimmer in
that will dissolve/break up the calcium deposits without damaging the
skimmer or pumps and that can be rinsed away and not leave any residue that
might be able to get into the system and poison/contaminate it when I start
setting it up in a couple of weeks? Thanks in advance for all your replies!

"bacala" wrote in message
news:y4DAe.74592$oK.1620@okepread02...
I bought a big used custom Euroreef skimmer. It's 2 years old and is a 12"
diameter X 33" high model and uses two Sedra 9000 pumps, this thing should
skim the heck out of the new 240 Gallon reef I'm setting up. Only problem
is the bottom and insides of the skimmer body as well as the entire outside
(and possibly the insides) of both pumps are completely encrusted with
small calcium bodies that I assume are from tiny feather duster worms. The
inside bottom of the skimmer is also completely covered in them and even
has some of the large feather duster shells stuck to it. These things are
stuck on there like mortar. I can probably scrape some of it off (with
great difficulty) but I can't really get to the bottom of the skimmer, (arm
too big, won't reach) and I'm also worried about the internal parts of the
pumps. Does anyone know something I can soak the pumps and the skimmer in
that will dissolve/break up the calcium deposits without damaging the
skimmer or pumps and that can be rinsed away and not leave any residue that
might be able to get into the system and poison/contaminate it when I start
setting it up in a couple of weeks? Thanks in advance for all your replies!
Soak it in a mix of white vinegar and water and it will help remove the
calcium deposits. If you can stick it in a container that's large enough and
run the pumps over night it this mix it will help clean some of the
internals a little better. This will help remove the calcium deposits but
not sure of all the tube remnants from the small dusters....

"FordStyle" wrote in message
. com...
Soak it in a mix of white vinegar and water and it will help
remove the calcium deposits. If you can stick it in a container
that's large enough and run the pumps over night it this mix it
will help clean some of the internals a little better. This will
help remove the calcium deposits but not sure of all the tube
remnants from the small dusters....

Second that. Various brushes can be of use, I purchaced a couple
toilet brushes (marked and stored away from the bathroom for obvious
reasons) that are handy as hell.

billy

"Billy" wrote in message
...

"FordStyle" wrote in message
. com...
Soak it in a mix of white vinegar and water and it will help remove the
calcium deposits. If you can stick it in a container that's large enough
and run the pumps over night it this mix it will help clean some of the
internals a little better. This will help remove the calcium deposits but
not sure of all the tube remnants from the small dusters....

Second that. Various brushes can be of use, I purchaced a couple toilet
brushes (marked and stored away from the bathroom for obvious reasons)
that are handy as hell.

billy

What ratio of water to vinegar do you recommend? 1 to 1?

Also what do you think about using a mild strength hydrochloric acid or
other type of acid?

I would use 100 % food grade vinegar.
It is already a diluted acid and given enough time, will dissolve all the
calcium away.

To get rid of biological deposits that vinegar will not get, I use 1:1
solution of household bleach.
Soak the equipment in it long enough to dissolve the bad stuff, then rinse
MANY times and soak with a dechlorinator like amquel+. My CPR overflow and
BakPak had become clogged with little sponge like critters to the point both
devices were choking and had do this to dissolve them away.

CW
"bacala" wrote in message
news:YUGAe.74603$oK.20755@okepread02...

"Billy" wrote in message
...

"FordStyle" wrote in message
. com...
Soak it in a mix of white vinegar and water and it will help remove the
calcium deposits. If you can stick it in a container that's large enough
and run the pumps over night it this mix it will help clean some of the
internals a little better. This will help remove the calcium deposits
but not sure of all the tube remnants from the small dusters....

Second that. Various brushes can be of use, I purchaced a couple toilet
brushes (marked and stored away from the bathroom for obvious reasons)
that are handy as hell.

billy

What ratio of water to vinegar do you recommend? 1 to 1?

Also what do you think about using a mild strength hydrochloric acid or
other type of acid?

You can run it in a container filled with white vinegar and hot water
for many hours to clean it out. Then disassemble and focus on what is
left now that it has softened up.

If you use muriatic acid, mix it with water. 1g to 10g water, mixed
very well before adding to the container and skimmer. It will eat away
at any calcium deposits, and it may affect the rubber seals in your
pumps so don't leave it running overnight with that stuff.

Wherever you dump that mixture out, it will burn it. I ruined my
kitchen sink. Oops.

Marc


bacala wrote:
I bought a big used custom Euroreef skimmer. It's 2 years old and is a 12"
diameter X 33" high model and uses two Sedra 9000 pumps, this thing should
skim the heck out of the new 240 Gallon reef I'm setting up. Only problem
is the bottom and insides of the skimmer body as well as the entire outside
(and possibly the insides) of both pumps are completely encrusted with small
calcium bodies that I assume are from tiny feather duster worms. The inside
bottom of the skimmer is also completely covered in them and even has some
of the large feather duster shells stuck to it. These things are stuck on
there like mortar. I can probably scrape some of it off (with great
difficulty) but I can't really get to the bottom of the skimmer, (arm too
big, won't reach) and I'm also worried about the internal parts of the
pumps. Does anyone know something I can soak the pumps and the skimmer in
that will dissolve/break up the calcium deposits without damaging the
skimmer or pumps and that can be rinsed away and not leave any residue that
might be able to get into the system and poison/contaminate it when I start
setting it up in a couple of weeks? Thanks in advance for all your replies!



--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

"CheezWiz" wrote in message
...
I would use 100 % food grade vinegar.
It is already a diluted acid and given enough time, will dissolve all the
calcium away.

To get rid of biological deposits that vinegar will not get, I use 1:1
solution of household bleach.
Soak the equipment in it long enough to dissolve the bad stuff, then rinse
MANY times and soak with a dechlorinator like amquel+. My CPR overflow and
BakPak had become clogged with little sponge like critters to the point
both devices were choking and had do this to dissolve them away.

CW

Is it ok to soak the pumps completely in the bleach solution? Could it
damage the motor or moving parts ( I know the motor compartment is water
tight and completely submersible, but I don't know if the pump would remain
water tight if submerged in a bleach solution) Would it be ok to
soak/submerge in the bleach solution, and if so could I run the pumps inside
the bleach bath to clean all the internal parts of crusty buildup? Or would
it be better to soak the skimmer only and apply the bleach solution to the
pumps with a cleaning brush or something?


"bacala" wrote in message
news:YUGAe.74603$oK.20755@okepread02...

"Billy" wrote in message
...

"FordStyle" wrote in message
. com...
Soak it in a mix of white vinegar and water and it will help remove
the calcium deposits. If you can stick it in a container that's large
enough and run the pumps over night it this mix it will help clean some
of the internals a little better. This will help remove the calcium
deposits but not sure of all the tube remnants from the small
dusters....

Second that. Various brushes can be of use, I purchaced a couple toilet
brushes (marked and stored away from the bathroom for obvious reasons)
that are handy as hell.

billy

What ratio of water to vinegar do you recommend? 1 to 1?

Also what do you think about using a mild strength hydrochloric acid or
other type of acid?

You don't leave it in for days.
Just long enough to dissolve organic crud.

Household bleach is already diluted and motors are sealed in epoxy. Epoxy is
tough stuff. If you are paranoid, make it a 2:1 solution.
Yes, you need to use brushes and do some scrubbing. And lots of rinsing and
soaking in fresh water with dechlorinator.

If there is no organic buildup, then skip the bleach. Do the vinegar soak
overnight and see how it is.
After a good cleaning, it is wise to treat o-rings with silicone o-ring
lubricant.

CW
"bacala" wrote in message
news:kD2Be.75942$oK.51289@okepread02...
"CheezWiz" wrote in message
...
I would use 100 % food grade vinegar.
It is already a diluted acid and given enough time, will dissolve all the
calcium away.

To get rid of biological deposits that vinegar will not get, I use 1:1
solution of household bleach.
Soak the equipment in it long enough to dissolve the bad stuff, then
rinse MANY times and soak with a dechlorinator like amquel+. My CPR
overflow and BakPak had become clogged with little sponge like critters
to the point both devices were choking and had do this to dissolve them
away.

CW

Is it ok to soak the pumps completely in the bleach solution? Could it
damage the motor or moving parts ( I know the motor compartment is water
tight and completely submersible, but I don't know if the pump would
remain water tight if submerged in a bleach solution) Would it be ok to
soak/submerge in the bleach solution, and if so could I run the pumps
inside the bleach bath to clean all the internal parts of crusty buildup?
Or would it be better to soak the skimmer only and apply the bleach
solution to the pumps with a cleaning brush or something?


"bacala" wrote in message
news:YUGAe.74603$oK.20755@okepread02...

"Billy" wrote in message
...

"FordStyle" wrote in message
. com...
Soak it in a mix of white vinegar and water and it will help remove
the calcium deposits. If you can stick it in a container that's large
enough and run the pumps over night it this mix it will help clean
some of the internals a little better. This will help remove the
calcium deposits but not sure of all the tube remnants from the small
dusters....

Second that. Various brushes can be of use, I purchaced a couple toilet
brushes (marked and stored away from the bathroom for obvious reasons)
that are handy as hell.

billy

What ratio of water to vinegar do you recommend? 1 to 1?

Also what do you think about using a mild strength hydrochloric acid or
other type of acid?

Don't dilute, use @ 100% and leave overnight. In the US Wallgreens sells a
gallon for $2.

- Barney
"bacala" wrote in message
news:YUGAe.74603$oK.20755@okepread02...

"Billy" wrote in message
...

"FordStyle" wrote in message
. com...
Soak it in a mix of white vinegar and water and it will help remove the
calcium deposits. If you can stick it in a container that's large enough
and run the pumps over night it this mix it will help clean some of the
internals a little better. This will help remove the calcium deposits
but not sure of all the tube remnants from the small dusters....

Second that. Various brushes can be of use, I purchaced a couple toilet
brushes (marked and stored away from the bathroom for obvious reasons)
that are handy as hell.

billy

What ratio of water to vinegar do you recommend? 1 to 1?

Also what do you think about using a mild strength hydrochloric acid or
other type of acid?

"Marc Levenson" wrote in message
. ..


If you use muriatic acid, mix it with water. 1g to 10g water,
mixed very well before adding to the container and skimmer. It
will eat away at any calcium deposits, and it may affect the rubber
seals in your pumps so don't leave it running overnight with that
stuff.


Marc, where do you get the muriatic acid?