Cleaning Powerheads with Muriatic Acid?
- Thread starter gveng
- Start date
toothybugs
New member
I've done it. Dilute it quite a bit, 20:1 isn't too dilute by any means. I used 3% and it did the job plenty well. Considering that HCl is many, many times more reactive than vinegar (on a molecular level) just 3% has plenty of rip for our purposes. Don't do long soaks - give it 3-5 minutes, brush off whatever is loose to expose fresh surfaces, and repeat. Dip your cleaned parts in a saturated Arm n Hammer bath or at least rinse it really well. HCl will jack your pH something terrible.
I much prefer using muriatic for cleaning vs vinegar because it's faster and nominally cheaper, but it's also hazardous. If you don't know what you are doing with strong acids, don't use it.
I much prefer using muriatic for cleaning vs vinegar because it's faster and nominally cheaper, but it's also hazardous. If you don't know what you are doing with strong acids, don't use it.
homer1475
New member
Bought a couple used PH for my mixing needs. They were totally encrusted with thick corraline. Just ran them in staright vinegar for about 10 minutes and it all brushed off with a toothbrush.
Acid is most certainly faster, but in the wrong concentration you can also ruin the PH's. Vinegar even full strength will not harm a PH at all.
Acid is most certainly faster, but in the wrong concentration you can also ruin the PH's. Vinegar even full strength will not harm a PH at all.
Ron Reefman
Active member
I switched for vinegar to muriatic acid a while back. It's cheaper, faster, reasonably safe and I've seen absolutely no signs of damage done to any part of any pump. I mix it 10:1 and find it to be stronger than straight vinegar, but still weak enough to grab parts out bare handed. It stings like heck in cuts and scrapes, but then so does vinegar... just not quite as much!
jmm
New member
If there is any metal in the powerheads acid is risky. There are other alternatives to vinegar that are safer and friendlier than muriatic acid.
Next step above vinegar is CLR. It is available at grocery or hardware stores or online.
Even stronger is "nickel-safe ice machine cleaner." It is concentrated, usually citric acid based, and safe around food and food equipment. If you dilute it to the level used to de-scale ice machines and it doesn't work fast enough for you, then use it stronger. It rinses clean, has no fumes and won't hurt metal or plastic. It's available at appliance repair stores but not usually at Home Depots or Lowes. That's because different ice machines use different formulations and they don't want to be responsible for voiding warranties. Diluted enough, you could drink this stuff.
Next step above vinegar is CLR. It is available at grocery or hardware stores or online.
Even stronger is "nickel-safe ice machine cleaner." It is concentrated, usually citric acid based, and safe around food and food equipment. If you dilute it to the level used to de-scale ice machines and it doesn't work fast enough for you, then use it stronger. It rinses clean, has no fumes and won't hurt metal or plastic. It's available at appliance repair stores but not usually at Home Depots or Lowes. That's because different ice machines use different formulations and they don't want to be responsible for voiding warranties. Diluted enough, you could drink this stuff.
Kevin Guthrie
Member
I just use white vinegar, about $2 a gallon at CostMo. If you want fast, put a gallon in a plastic waste basket, put in the ph and plug it in. When its done (15 minutes) get a funnel at pour it back in the gallon container for next time. Next time it will take 16 minutes.
FamilyTank
New member
I used a hot tap water vinegar blend. Insert powerhead run for 10 mins and done...don't remember the ratio,sorry.
