It is not easy, some dyes are just solid supensions (colloidal solutions), and the small particulates just conglomerate, other dyes are funky organic/water soluble complex conjugate systems, that when exposed to UV tend to polymerize and precipitate out of solution causing the gunk.
The only real way to fix this is to take everything apart and clean them. When I have a gunked up block, I use the softest toot brush I can find, some IPA and distilled water and just rinse, scrub, rinse, scrub.
After I am finished I reassemble the loop and flush it vigorously. A trick:
- Go to a pet shop and find a 'vacuum' tank cleaner, which is nothing more than an aspirator that will connect up to any house hold faucet. They often have just the aspirator for about 10 bucks or so. The aspirator simply hooks up to any house hold faucet and will take 3/8 to 1/2 ID tubing (I just use some spare 7/16" tubing)
- Run a tube to your loop and break the loop at one point (at the reservoir) inlet and the aspirator.
- Turn on that aspirator and suck one or two gallons of distilled H2O through the loop, very nice vigorous flush.
I do not use dyes, if I want color I just get colored tubing -- Primochill offers up nice high quality UV active tubing.
EDIT: Your endeavor into photography actually looks quite good to outstanding.
Jack






Reply With Quote

Bookmarks