For several years several of my neighbors jump through all kinds of hoops to deal with and attempt to prevent barnacle growth in their boats' air conditioner cooling water hoses, strainers, etc. (Florida salt water). My Hatteras has never had this problem. Most of these problem boats use a single water pump to distribute water to multiple A/C units. My boat was also set up this way in 1982 when I bought her. I changed to a single Marsh pump, through hull, seacock and strainer for each A/C unit for additional reliability. I was in fresh water at the time so marine growth was not an issue.
I'm wondering if higher, consistent velocity in the strainers and hoses with my single pump setup is why I don't have a growth problem and these other folks do.
What are your experiences and opinions?
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Marine Growth in Air Conditioner Water Lines/Strainers
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Re: Marine Growth in Air Conditioner Water Lines/Strainers
I ve used both a single punpnper AC and for multiple indont thinknit makes a difference. The problem are the manifolds which splits the flow. The key is to oversized the hoses and manifolds to avoid growth getting trapped in multiple fittings
In any case an annual descale makes sure everything is clean
The growing problem I ve seen in the past few years here in so do are small Mussel shape white shells growing in the AC plumbing. About 1/4" long. When you haul out for paint they die and get piled up in the manifold blocking flowPascal
Miami, FL
1970 53 MY #325 Cummins 6CTAs
2014 26' gaff rigged sloop
12' Westphal Cat boat
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Re: Marine Growth in Air Conditioner Water Lines/Strainers
Add bromine tabs and there'll be no growth to start with.
Semper Siesta
Robert Clarkson
ASLAN, 1983 55C #343
Charleston, SC
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06-29-2017 10:07 AM #4Senior Member
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06-29-2017 02:21 PM #5
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Re: Marine Growth in Air Conditioner Water Lines/Strainers
I put bromine tabs in every basket and have for two years. I fill the baskets full. Head strainers go for couple of months. Generator strainer close to same. AC strainer in summer eats them in about 3 week and about two months in winter in Charleston. Bigger tabs are a better value. Was getting them from Walmart. Now the tabs are pellets. Let me know if you find anything close to an inch in diameter.
Semper Siesta
Robert Clarkson
ASLAN, 1983 55C #343
Charleston, SC
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06-29-2017 05:15 PM #7Senior Member
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- Jul 2013
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- 1,188
Re: Marine Growth in Air Conditioner Water Lines/Strainers
Interesting on the Bromine. I've always used pool tablets, don't recall if they are Bromine or not, will have to look. Are all the pool tablets Bromine? I have a tub, they are 1" tablets. Never ran them in the genset or mains basket, will have to try that. Thanks!
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06-29-2017 05:32 PM #8
Re: Marine Growth in Air Conditioner Water Lines/Strainers
Here is the 1" or so tabs that I have found and used:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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06-29-2017 08:44 PM #10Senior Member
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