Anyone ever check their pipes?

[slapshot]

So I decided to upgrade my main return pump to an DC 12000. In doing so I redid my plumbing. Since my filter is in the basement and my tank is upstairs it was quite a project.

Anyway, so I removed the old pipes which is about 12 years old. Holy &@$? imagine my surprise! Look at the inside of my pipes. I know public aquariums shoot an inflatable stopper through their pipes now I know why.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/11/24/ahyja5ug.jpg

[jimsflies]

That's rob your pump of performance that's for sure!

[slapshot]

Here is another

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t74/TSCWB/C7C6E6CA-2D26-4C98-8D97-F0863D1E3AA0-1452-000001D9841C2587_zpsc1af647c.jpg

[Tom@HaslettMI]

That's crazy. Is it calcium build up or just general gunk? Your return pump will thank you once you get that all cleared out.

Tom

[slapshot]

It was crazy Tom. I think they are worms as it is all tunnels. I replaced ally plumbing. That was a fun 10 hour project

[Tom@HaslettMI]

It was crazy Tom. I think they are worms as it is all tunnels. I replaced ally plumbing. That was a fun 10 hour project

I think we need before, during, and after pictures of the plumbing re-do. Please?

Tom

[slapshot]

Ha ha, no befores, for sure no during, other than what I showed above but after:

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t74/TSCWB/9660205F-F59B-4E2D-9071-2B71CEEE3693-592-00000064A4890914_zps982208a9.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t74/TSCWB/0FA8A5E7-3377-4425-968B-C2DEA0ECBE62-592-00000064A2641D0E_zps142f6b50.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t74/TSCWB/697801A0-0C1C-472A-9BDA-191984033973-592-000000649FDE4677_zps28986de5.jpg

[Manoj's Reef]

Thats amazing gunk. I am sure your return pumps are thanking you.

[Preuss Pets]

Does make you think about what items we should put into ideal long term mantenance. We had a client whi had a skimmer body which didnt get cleaned for over a decade in similar condition.

The worst though was a similar buildup to your pictures in some vinyl tubing which upon being squeezed became dislodged and made a real mess of plugging up the chiller...

[slapshot]

Does make you think about what items we should put into ideal long term mantenance. We had a client whi had a skimmer body which didnt get cleaned for over a decade in similar condition.
The worst though was a similar buildup to your pictures in some vinyl tubing which upon being squeezed became dislodged and made a real mess of plugging up the chiller...

Any idea what it is? It is a mass of little tubes, so is it worms of some kind? No doubt it needs to be added to the list. That was why I decided to post it, I had no idea. Either I have to figure out a way to clean the pipes or replace them more regularly. This stuff does not just dislodge that easy so to clean them might involve sealing them, pour acid into them, drain and then rinse. Remember mine run from the basement upstairs. I think I would rather just replace them every 5 years. I did put caps at the end of runs so I could open up and insert something but then the junk with just accumulate and clog up at the corners. If anyone has an idea I'm all ears.

[jimsflies]

Was the build up in both the drain and return plumbing?

[slapshot]

Just the returns.

[AZDesertRat]

I have a set of those long handle Fluval brushes that I feed through my piping about twice a year when I think about doing it. For the longer runs I feed a piece of heavy fishing line through first then tie it to the brush and run it back and forth until clean.

I discovered the same thing when I got rid of my chiller and replumbed. It was pretty disgusting. Before I sold the chiller I filled a bucket with distilled white vinegar and ran it through the skimmer for several hours then finished off by installing the largest pump I had to really scour the pipes. Worked like a charm.

[binford4000]

Any idea what it is? It is a mass of little tubes, so is it worms of some kind? No doubt it needs to be added to the list. That was why I decided to post it, I had no idea. Either I have to figure out a way to clean the pipes or replace them more regularly. This stuff does not just dislodge that easy so to clean them might involve sealing them, pour acid into them, drain and then rinse. Remember mine run from the basement upstairs. I think I would rather just replace them every 5 years. I did put caps at the end of runs so I could open up and insert something but then the junk with just accumulate and clog up at the corners. If anyone has an idea I'm all ears.

Looking at the picture it appears you have a lot of long run horizontal pipes. It is best to avoid long runs like that. It allows material to build up very easily. If their is no way around to avoid running your pipes like that it would be beneficial to instal an inline filter which will help keep you pipes clean. You can get one cheap at Home Depot and all you would need is course sediment filter. Just a thought from an old pipe fitter. The closer to the pump you put it the cleaner the pipes. You can plumb a bypass loop that would allow you to change filter without shutting the pump off also. If you get the parts I would be glad to swing by and help you out! LMK

[Tom Toro]

Long runs of horizontal pipe? This doesn't bode well for me, Chuck. That's all I have on both tanks. I have a few unions here and there, but not enough.


Looking at the picture it appears you have a lot of long run horizontal pipes. It is best to avoid long runs like that. It allows material to build up very easily. If their is no way around to avoid running your pipes like that it would be beneficial to instal an inline filter which will help keep you pipes clean. You can get one cheap at Home Depot and all you would need is course sediment filter. Just a thought from an old pipe fitter. The closer to the pump you put it the cleaner the pipes. You can plumb a bypass loop that would allow you to change filter without shutting the pump off also. If you get the parts I would be glad to swing by and help you out! LMK

[slapshot]

Looking at the picture it appears you have a lot of long run horizontal pipes. It is best to avoid long runs like that. It allows material to build up very easily. If their is no way around to avoid running your pipes like that it would be beneficial to instal an inline filter which will help keep you pipes clean. You can get one cheap at Home Depot and all you would need is course sediment filter. Just a thought from an old pipe fitter. The closer to the pump you put it the cleaner the pipes. You can plumb a bypass loop that would allow you to change filter without shutting the pump off also. If you get the parts I would be glad to swing by and help you out! LMK

Thank you for the offer, but I had very little horizontal pipes before I replumbed. The pictures are from a section that was vertical and 3 feet from the pump. I have a filter on the intake of the pump, always have.

---------- Post added at 12:52 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:49 AM ----------


Was the build up in both the drain and return plumbing?

Just the return, my drain if flex and I typically shake it, maybe that keeps it clean