cleaning old equipment to use for new tank

[liljjones]

I am looking to start up a new tank, however, I would like to use some old equipment such as a wet/dry and protein skimmer. The issue is how can I safely clean them and dissolve the old dried up calcium tube worms? I was told to use murlatic acid but I am a bit uncomfortable doing that. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[flower]

Hi,

Welcome to the site. A sump doesn't need to be super perfectly clean. Soak it in vinegar and water overnight and use a scraper to loosen anything stuck on it, the dried worms should come right off. Same with the skimmer, just soak it overnight. be sure to rinse everything real good. If you need an abrasive...Kosher salt works great.

 

[silverado61]

I cleaned my sump with vinegar and all I did was fill to the top with water and a gallon of vinegar and put four of my biggest power heads in it and let it run for 2 days. Then rinsed it out with fresh water. Same with the skimmer. Throw it in the sump at the same time. No scrubbing needed.
AlwYs learning.

 

[snakeblitz33]

I'd do what Silverado suggested. fill the sump up and plug in the skimmer and let it run overnight with a gallon of white distilled vinegar.

Any type of weak acid would work to dissolve calcium carbonate. If you know your chemistry you could dilute just about any acid to do it. BUT, most people use vinegar cause it is cheap.