scrubbing inside a pvc manifold

[avant gardener]

so the title says it all.

i've got a manifold for my aero system that's made of 3/4" pvc.
looks like this:

there's also a number of spray lines, also made of 3/4" schedule 40, about 7' long each.

i'm between runs right now (which explains why shit is so dirty in here) and want to give everything a thorough scrubbing. i've already run 20% bleach then physan 20 and finally 10% h2o2 through the system. i'm reasonably certain that the 6 day chemical regimen has killed anything that could have grown in there. i've given everything that i could reach a good old fashioned scrubbing. as you can see from the picture below though, there's still some physical gunk in the lines.

i need to get that stuff out of there. it's probably not alive, but it'll make a damn tasty meal for something that wants to live in my rez next time around. how would you folks go about cleaning the inside of this damn thing?

my best ideas were to:
a. put a piece of chore boy or other scouring pad on the end of a snake and go through the thing, and
b. remove the spray nozzles and run baking soda (or some other abrasive that is insoluble in water) through the system.

i know you stoners have something better though. bring it.

 

[avant gardener]

damn fellas.
got nothing?

 

[Treetroit City]

PVC is dirt cheap. Can't see your pics so I have no idea how much you have but if you want piece of mind, buy new PVC?

 

[aerokrafter]

Can't see your pix, but I deal with the manifold and spray line problem by soaking everything in a light bleach solution for a couple days -then power spray it out. I use an underbed storage unit(casa DePot) with 3-4" of bleach solution. Lines can get brittle after several runs - lite bleach helps them last longer.

-AK

 

[MaynardG_Krebs]

so the title says it all.

i've got a manifold for my aero system that's made of 3/4" pvc.
looks like this:
View Image

there's also a number of spray lines, also made of 3/4" schedule 40, about 7' long each.

i'm between runs right now (which explains why shit is so dirty in here) and want to give everything a thorough scrubbing. i've already run 20% bleach then physan 20 and finally 10% h2o2 through the system. i'm reasonably certain that the 6 day chemical regimen has killed anything that could have grown in there. i've given everything that i could reach a good old fashioned scrubbing. as you can see from the picture below though, there's still some physical gunk in the lines.
View Image

i need to get that stuff out of there. it's probably not alive, but it'll make a damn tasty meal for something that wants to live in my rez next time around. how would you folks go about cleaning the inside of this damn thing?

my best ideas were to:
a. put a piece of chore boy or other scouring pad on the end of a snake and go through the thing, and
b. remove the spray nozzles and run baking soda (or some other abrasive that is insoluble in water) through the system.

i know you stoners have something better though. bring it.

Try Oxyclean! I'm a brewer and use oxyclean for cleaning a lot of my equipment. I used to spend a lot of money on 'brewery specific' cleaners then tried Oxyclean while waiting for my new supply of the other.. I was amazed.. 1/10th the price and cleaning power out the yingyang. It works great for cleaning glass pipes!

mgk

 

[avant gardener]

Can't see your pix, but I deal with the manifold and spray line problem by soaking everything in a light bleach solution for a couple days -then power spray it out. I use an underbed storage unit(casa DePot) with 3-4" of bleach solution. Lines can get brittle after several runs - lite bleach helps them last longer.

-AK

did you read my post doggie? i already ran strong bleach through there. and physan and h2o2. or does weak bleach have some fantastic cleaning properties i'm not aware of that strong bleach does not? i suppose stranger stuff has happened.

PVC is dirt cheap. Can't see your pics so I have no idea how much you have but if you want piece of mind, buy new PVC?

weird that you can't see my pics. anyway yeah, the cost is considerable (12 ball valves, 2 unions, a dozen sticks of pipe and about another 60 fittings altogether). it's probably in the neighborhood of $150. i could live with that, but it's the labor that's the killer. just laying out and cutting for the manifold took a full day and a half. then there's more than another hundred holes that need to be drilled and threaded in the spray lines. all told i'm looking at least a week of doing nothing but this. again, i could stomach that once, but i don't have that kind of time to spare every couple months. this shit has already made a recluse of me. only way i'm getting that done is if i stop sleeping too.

Try Oxyclean! I'm a brewer and use oxyclean for cleaning a lot of my equipment. I used to spend a lot of money on 'brewery specific' cleaners then tried Oxyclean while waiting for my new supply of the other.. I was amazed.. 1/10th the price and cleaning power out the yingyang. It works great for cleaning glass pipes!

mgk

DEFINITELY gonna try this. thanks mang!

 

[MaynardG_Krebs]

DEFINITELY gonna try this. thanks mang!

Lemme know how it works...

mgk

 

[St3ve]

I can't see the pics either.. because I was going to suggest the same as Third coast and just get some new pvc.

But with that much shit.. I gotta see wtf you have there so pls get the pictures fixed.

 

[Treetroit City]

Well yeah, with your pics not being visible I didn't realize how much you had to clean.
Maybe you have them set to private? Anyway best of luck to ya.

 

[avant gardener]

can you see these?

the manifold looks like this:

coming out of each of these ball valves is a 7 ft length of pipe with 20 sprayers in it.

there's gunk inside it:


rebuilding it would be pretty labor intensive:



i ain't saying i've got more than one of these, but then again, i ain't saying i don't either.

 

[St3ve]

that's crazy dude.. you're never going to be able to really clean all that other than running bleach through it.

I think next time you should ditch the ball valves.. and just run black hose so you can just throw it out and replace it once a year. I know thats not helpful with what you have there.. but that just looks like a massive pain. Good luck..

 

[MaynardG_Krebs]

can you see these?

the manifold looks like this:
View attachment 163093
coming out of each of these ball valves is a 7 ft length of pipe with 20 sprayers in it.

there's gunk inside it:
View attachment 163092

rebuilding it would be pretty labor intensive:
View attachment 163095
View attachment 163094

i ain't saying i've got more than one of these, but then again, i ain't saying i don't either.

I think your system looks brilliant! Do you take plants all the way in this setup or just veg then to flower in something else?

mgk

 

[avant gardener]

I think your system looks brilliant! Do you take plants all the way in this setup or just veg then to flower in something else?

mgk

just veg. the roots get too crazy otherwise.
and the t5's are no substitute for hps.

flower happens in buckets:





i built a trellis and hung it from the ceiling:


it's my first run using it. so far so good.

 

[MaynardG_Krebs]

just veg. the roots get too crazy otherwise.
and the t5's are no substitute for hps.

flower happens in buckets:

View attachment 163425

View attachment 163426

i built a trellis and hung it from the ceiling:
View attachment 163427

it's my first run using it. so far so good.
View attachment 163428

Oh.... still my heart....

Mgk

 

[TheBioMaster]

Using a enzyme type product can help keep and maintain a clean system. The enzymes will eat away all the bio sludge that can build up inside of pipes and hard to reach places.

I am working with a company to make a very specialized enzymatic formula that is specifically for this purpose. Currently we are still in the testing stages.

There are some existing formulas out there already that work pretty good but are mainly made for ponds and aquariums.

Some of the testing we have already done has shown a HUGE advantage when it comes to system cleaning time in between grow cycles. One of the test system needed nothing more than a quick fill and rinse with some H202 or bleach solution and it was like new again!

We are working on a 2 part formula. One part contains the enzymes that are isolated, and the 2nd part will contain a bacteria inoculate that will assist the enzymes in doing there jobs.

The 2 part formula together should make for one healthy root system as well!

 

[avant gardener]

Using a enzyme type product can help keep and maintain a clean system. The enzymes will eat away all the bio sludge that can build up inside of pipes and hard to reach places.

I am working with a company to make a very specialized enzymatic formula that is specifically for this purpose. Currently we are still in the testing stages.

There are some existing formulas out there already that work pretty good but are mainly made for ponds and aquariums.

Some of the testing we have already done has shown a HUGE advantage when it comes to system cleaning time in between grow cycles. One of the test system needed nothing more than a quick fill and rinse with some H202 or bleach solution and it was like new again!

We are working on a 2 part formula. One part contains the enzymes that are isolated, and the 2nd part will contain a bacteria inoculate that will assist the enzymes in doing there jobs.

The 2 part formula together should make for one healthy root system as well!

thanks but no thanks. the hygrozyme people fooled me once. that won't ever happen again. i've run a dead rez ever since. no bacteria or anything organic ever goes in my system.

 

[MaynardG_Krebs]

Hey AG... die'n to know if you tried the Oxyclean yet?..

mgk

 

[Keep goin]

Hey Maynard...

Is that just Oxyclean powdered laundry detergent? If so at what rate of dilution?

Thanks.

Always looking for ways to get squeaky clean between runs.

 

[MaynardG_Krebs]

Hey Maynard...

Is that just Oxyclean powdered laundry detergent? If so at what rate of dilution?

Thanks.

Always looking for ways to get squeaky clean between runs.

It's not a detergent perse.. it's more of a supplement to a detergent... I use it in my brewery at the rate of about 1 to 2 tablespoons per 5 gallons. It rocks in that application as well as being the best glass pipe/bong cleaner... for cleaning grungy pipes etc, I use more along the lines 1 Tbs per quart/liter. I never really measure it tho... it's not rocket science...

mgk

 

[Keep goin]

Thanks Maynard...

I have seen it in the detergent isle though...!?! Is that the stuff?

When I read the label, it seems like it IS a detergent...not sure, just want to grab the right stuff. Are there a number of products that say Oxyclean? Or am I seeing the right stuff...Sorry, I seem to be making buying it "rocket science"...haha

Thanks again