How to clean pipes? (1 Viewer)

[RSnodgrass]

How would you propose I clean my pipes?

I've apparently got a ravenous amount of vermatids living in my drain pipes and it's actually starting to affect flow.

 

[nox.rupaw]

- would turning off the return pump for 1/2 a day or something dry and kills off the snails?
- you could always replace the main drain pipe if you have it on unions
- or you could run one of those drain snake's with an electric drill

 

[vikingr8der]

Something like this maybe?

Server Busy

Haven't used it personally though.

 

[mrbill]

I assume that you are trying to clean them in place?

 

[clownnut]

find something 15% smaller than the smallest opening in your pipe and push that through with your pump.

 

[Rendgrish]

Something like this maybe?

Server Busy

I have those- they're great for cleaning bacteria colonies out of a pipe, but I don't think they will do anything to a vermatid snail. Maybe boiling vinegar to loosen them? That's just a guess though (and a good way to burn your hands if you don't have a good funnel or gloves)

 

[mrbill]

If your removing the pipes muriatic acid should dissolve the pesky critters.

 

[RSnodgrass]

I'll have to see how deep in the pipe they go... may be able to remove?

 

[Mordim]

Dismantle the pipes and put through a smaller pipe like was mentioned above. That's what I did when I took my down for the move. For a couple of really bad pieces, I decided it was easier just to replace those sections. I had also soaked some of the pipes in vinegar. Those ones were easier to clean out.

 

[Anchor]

I am thinking that if you cant snap them off at the very base, you wont kill them.. basically any shell left leaves the snail intact as they withdraw when disturbed.. To me if you want to eliminate them, you will need to replace the pipe.. But if they are still in other places in your system and you dont change feeding habits, they will just come back.. If you are willing and able to dismantle the pipes for a day, that Vinegar soak does work.. with using that smaller pipe to ram home your dislike of them.. Maybe they will move out sooner rather than later.. Like have relatives who just dont get it..