Tips for cleaning your Wave Pumps

Marine aquariums are one of the harshest environments for submersible pumps. Not only are they submerged in salt water 24/7, they're constantly exposed to fish food, algae, and other debris in the tank.

In coral reef aquariums with live corals, aquarists often dose with calcium and other chemicals to increase alkalinity levels, which can precipitate and cover the pump and/or its components. As calcium precipitates build up and cover the components, especially the magnetic impeller, the restriction causes the pump to work harder, decrease in overall flow rate, and can eventually lock up. Algae, especially calcareous/coralline algae, can also cover the outside of the pump and tremendously lower the flow rate.

For routine maintenance cleaning:

1. Unplug the 24VDC power supply to your wave pump, unplug the pump from the wave pump HUB and remove it from your aquarium.

2. Dis-assemble the pump(s) and place components in a 5-gallon bucket. 

3. Add 1 gallon of fresh water, then carefully add 3/4-1 cup of citric acid or muratic acid*.  Allow components to soak for 15-20 minutes.

4. Scrub off any remaining dirt or algae deposits left on the outside of the pump using a small brush.

5. Rinse pumps in freshwater and re-install back into your aquarium.

*Note: We do not recommend using vinegar as it can penetrate plastics and can cause swelling around components such as the magnet assembly.

Keeping your eFlux wave pump clean off and precipitates should be a task on every aquarists maintenance list. We recommend cleaning them once every 4-6 months. A clean and maintained wave pump should provide strong water flow and keep your fish and corals healthy and happy for many years.

The video below provides instructions for dis-assembling the eFlux wave pump for cleaning and re-assembly for installation.