When is the wick too frayed?

[AmandaD]

I had Tribeca in a tank for a week or so (kept topping it off), and eventually it got so gunky I had to clean it out! The wicks are looking very frayed now - is it time to replace them? When are wicks too frayed - and does that affect wicking/flavor? I soaked everything in denture cleaner overnight (seems to work better than Vodka) and everything is sparkly clean

 

[BigBen2k]

The coil should outlast the wicks.

If your wicks untwist, you can twist them back (that takes a bit of patience). If the wick is partly broken (usually right at the coil), you can ignore it; it should continue to work fine.

If bits of broken wick fall in the tank, that's ok; it should wash out the next time you clean it.