How to clean RODI push fit tubing.

Fisherman Joe

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Jun 2, 2015
Messages
681
Reaction score
220
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hi all.

So I fitted my skimmer waste to an old 1L dosing pump box with a float switch. Then I fitted a float sensor and a GHL maxi pump.

When triggered it pumps for 30 seconds.

I have soft tubing on the inlet for the maxi pump then hard RODI push fit tubing on the exit which goes for about 8 feet (2 meters) through my plasterboard dry wall and down the drain.

When it’s working, the skimmer empties itself.

But it gets gunky from time to time. It’s never blocked (I think the pumping pressure keeps that risk to a minimum) but how do I clean it?

How would you clean skimmer waste gunk from an RODI water line? I can’t mechanically scrub it, would soapy water do the trick or citric acid?
 

KrisReef

10K Club member
View Badges
Joined
May 15, 2018
Messages
15,227
Reaction score
31,279
Location
ADX Florence
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Compressed air with soapy water or water with citric acid soak and repeat followed with clean water
 

gbroadbridge

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 25, 2021
Messages
4,573
Reaction score
4,843
Location
Sydney, Australia
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hi all.

So I fitted my skimmer waste to an old 1L dosing pump box with a float switch. Then I fitted a float sensor and a GHL maxi pump.

When triggered it pumps for 30 seconds.

I have soft tubing on the inlet for the maxi pump then hard RODI push fit tubing on the exit which goes for about 8 feet (2 meters) through my plasterboard dry wall and down the drain.

When it’s working, the skimmer empties itself.

But it gets gunky from time to time. It’s never blocked (I think the pumping pressure keeps that risk to a minimum) but how do I clean it?

How would you clean skimmer waste gunk from an RODI water line? I can’t mechanically scrub it, would soapy water do the trick or citric acid?
I have a similar setup.

I'd just toss it and replace it - to me it's honestly not worth the effort to do a poor job of cleaning it.
Just use the old tube to pull the new tube through.
 

DanyL

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 13, 2023
Messages
1,477
Reaction score
1,738
Location
Middle East
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
May I suggest a possibly better approach?

There is likely a certain amount of skimate that you can pass through before the line accumated the gunk and getting clogged.

What if you were filling this container every.. let's say 0.5L of skimate with clean water to flush it off?
It doesn't have to be RODI, but you could take some water from your top off to automate this.

As far as manually cleaning the tube, I agree with @gboardbridge here - it's probably doesn't worth the hassle, it's cheap enough to just replace it.
 

Klem

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 13, 2016
Messages
57
Reaction score
115
Location
Oregon, USA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hi all.

So I fitted my skimmer waste to an old 1L dosing pump box with a float switch. Then I fitted a float sensor and a GHL maxi pump.

When triggered it pumps for 30 seconds.

I have soft tubing on the inlet for the maxi pump then hard RODI push fit tubing on the exit which goes for about 8 feet (2 meters) through my plasterboard dry wall and down the drain.

When it’s working, the skimmer empties itself.

But it gets gunky from time to time. It’s never blocked (I think the pumping pressure keeps that risk to a minimum) but how do I clean it?

How would you clean skimmer waste gunk from an RODI water line? I can’t mechanically scrub it, would soapy water do the trick or citric acid?
I’d hook it up to a maxijet pump and run vinigar through the line? Or siphon vinegar through the line…
 

HAVE YOU EVER KEPT A RARE/UNCOMMON FISH, CORAL, OR INVERT? SHOW IT OFF IN THE THREAD!

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
Back
Top