How Do You Clean Yours?

[Vidster]

I've noticed a slight build up of 'scuz' forming in the tubes to and from my Tetratec 600. At some point i am going to have to clean them but i have no idea how i am going to do this.
The only option i can think of is to buy a hosepipe and blast them out every few months.

 

[Skins]

Hello,
There are cleaning brushes on the market which look like bottle brushes, I know Marina manafacture a set of cleaning brushes.

Skins.

 

[fluffycabbage]

I've noticed a slight build up of 'scuz' forming in the tubes to and from my Tetratec 600. At some point i am going to have to clean them but i have no idea how i am going to do this.
The only option i can think of is to buy a hosepipe and blast them out every few months.

remove them and soak for 5 mins in a warm bleach solution 1 part bleach to 25 parts water. then use a pipe cleaning tool (you buy them in your lfs) and it'll magically take it all off Then you need to run fresh water through the pipes A LOT to remove any bleach - even a tiny amount could be detrimental to the fish. Thats it

 

[Tolak]

Get a piece of sturdy twine a couple feet longer than the hose you wish to clean. Tie a nail or other weight to one end, a small scrap of rag to the other. Feed the nail end through, grab the string & pull the rag through.

 

[kevinjames]

buy some more hose, its quite cheap. id rather do that then use bleach on anything that goes near my beloved fishes!!!!

 

[onebto]

Get a piece of sturdy twine a couple feet longer than the hose you wish to clean. Tie a nail or other weight to one end, a small scrap of rag to the other. Feed the nail end through, grab the string & pull the rag through.

This is how I do it Just like cleaning a gun barrel minus the oil works fine for me but a job I do not do all that often

Regards onebto

 

[waterdrop]

Cleaning your filter tubes periodically is an important maintenance function. If you don't your filter flow will diminish over time, and its not insignificant. All of the above suggestions have merit.

I've used both Tolak's and Skin's methods: pulling a rag through with a string and using long bottle brushes (I had been using the string when I happened upon some nice long brushes that were cheap at my LFS (a wonderful moment, the LFS actually providing something I really needed ) The brushes are easier and were completely effective on my tubes.

The super-mild bleach tip that fluffycabbage gives should be fine, its a standard type of cleaning for many tank things provided they are well rinsed with water following, which is obvious. Submerging filter tubes in hot water is also a good tip because it softens them up and makes them much easier to work with, especially prior to re-setting them on the filter and tank.

Finally, I also agree with kevinjames and do this myself: hose is cheap and its much better to just replace it after a few cleanings based on when it begins to feel stiff near the edges. Its much better not to ever let it get so stiff that it ends up falling off of a connection and causing a water disaster. Hoses to last a long time though (years) and the stiff ends can be snipped to get to softer stuff as another minor life extender.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Vidster]

Great replies peeps. Thanks

I doubt i could get brushes 5 feet long though. Now i think about it. The best opting might be to just replace the tubes every 6 months or so.

My next question is where to buy the tubing i would need?

 

[waterdrop]

An awful lot of it comes in two standard sizes and can be had from big rolls of it in the older style shops that are getting harder to find. You can also get it from the big web places (its light and cheap to ship.) Fluval are about the only ones who have something weird in this department, they have accordian type tubes that need special endings I think.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Vidster]

I have just returne from a tiny shop and they stock the tubing i need. It is costs a little more than standerd 1/2" tubing but not much more. I will deffo be replacing rather than trying to wash these when the time comes.

 

[fishy16]

Hi I just "searched" this and found a great supply of answers. Thanks for all the imput and a great site! Im going to source the price of the tubing against the time and effort of a manual clean and see which comes out the most attractive!

 

[Aqua Tom]

The realy easy way is to get a hosepipe with one of those adgustable spray nozzels on it. Then just blast the spray down the pipe & the gunk out onto your garden.


Tom