Mucky Filter Pipes

[arobinson1984]

My filter pipes on my eheim external are getting a bit mucky inside, I can see brown deposits building up on the inside.

What I want to know is, I had an ammonia spike recently in a mature established tank. Would the mucky pipes be likely to cause an ammonia spike?

Also, how do I get the pipes off to clean them? they are fitted to the spray bar and I cant seem to get them off, is it simpler just to replace them?

Thanks

Andy

 

[saltynay]

Pipe cleaner

 

[Macko1968]

Just get hold of the tubing where it joins the spray bar & the heat from your hand should soften the tubing enought to remove it. If not, disconnect the pipes from the filter, carry them in to the bath room & run hot water over the join.

I honestly would not bother cleaning the pipes, I just replace mine every 3 months or so as it only costs £4.50 for 3 meters of new tubing.

 

[bagu]

how about a tick with cotton on? ^^

 

[arobinson1984]

Thanks for the advice guys, I may just replace them as they are coming up to 3 months now

Can anyone answer my other question, can the mucky pipes cause an ammonia spike?

Andy

 

[Gav935]

Or you could just buy a hose brush... they're only a few quid and it's a bit more logical than buying new hoses when the current ones get dirty.

 

[Infidel_Uk]

my pumps been in use over a year the hose on them is filthy , but the water runs clear and , and no loss of power, i know its under 20 pounds a year , but i dont see the point, other than clean looking hoses ?

 

[Tolak]

I've been running the same tubing on Eheim canisters for many years. The buildup is in no way associated with an ammonia spike. An easy way to clean them is to get a piece of strong string a couple of feet longer than the tubing, a small nail, and a scrap of rag. Tie the nail to one end, the rag to the other. Feed the nail through, pull the rag through a couple of times to clean.