How long do you leave the corals in the muriatic acid?

[miogpsrocks]

I am cleaning some coral skelatons rocks I found in my back yard. I am wondering how long I leave it in the muriatic acid solution?


When I put the muriatic acid on the corals, they started smoking and bubbling like in the movies so I filled the bucket up with water to distillate the solution.

Should I leave it overnight or a few hours, minutes,etc...?

Thanks.

 

[shifty51008]

How much are you diluting the acid before placeing the rock in?

 

[miogpsrocks]

How much are you diluting the acid before placeing the rock in?

I was not really measuring but lets say 10 to 1 .

 

[shifty51008]

5 to 10 min is all it should take. You only wanna take off the top layer

 

[CStrickland]

Did you pour straight acid on the coral and then add water to dilute it?
If so you got really lucky. Always make the dilution by adding acid to water so that it doesn't boil on contact and splash out of the bucket.

Having melted your nice coral skeletons into rubble would've been the least of your worries when you're in the hospital with your face burnt off. This is dangerous stuff, better research and planning is in order.

 

[miogpsrocks]

Did you pour straight acid on the coral and then add water to dilute it?
If so you got really lucky. Always make the dilution by adding acid to water so that it doesn't boil on contact and splash out of the bucket.

Having melted your nice coral skeletons into rubble would've been the least of your worries when you're in the hospital with your face burnt off. This is dangerous stuff, better research and planning is in order.

yes exactly, I poured the acid direction on the coral then added the water.

I probably should have worn gloves and safety glasses. I did not realize this stuff was that strong. I probably should of maybe worn a mask too.

Any event, I have emptied the bucks and started to rinse the corals.

So what is the next step? Do I keep filling the buckets up with water and rinsing it over and over again? Do I lay them out in the sun for a day before adding the bleach,etc...?

Thanks.

 

[e048]

rinse them with water and test the ph of the water when it stops reading as acidic it should be good

 

[Foooz]

Always remember acid to water as in A&W root beer, at least that is the way I remember it since high school.

 

[Frostyfishman]

The rule is always add the stronger to the weaker. Always acid to water. Be careful not to get it on your skin. If you feel it burning you it probably put has been burNing you for a while. You should wear the correct Kind of glove and vapor proof goggles. The vapor for this stuff is harmful. Check out the MSDS on Google. Source is I have experience working with hf acid.

 

[miogpsrocks]

The rule is always add the stronger to the weaker. Always acid to water. Be careful not to get it on your skin. If you feel it burning you it probably put has been burNing you for a while. You should wear the correct Kind of glove and vapor proof goggles. The vapor for this stuff is harmful. Check out the MSDS on Google. Source is I have experience working with hf acid.

Yeah, I think I may have breath some of it by accident. I feel ok now.

I can't wait to add the bleach and get the show on the road with setting up the saltwater aquarium.

 

[Frostyfishman]

Dude your going to make chlorine gas. I'm not sure what you are trying to accomplish but I would use mask, triple thick nitrile gloves, and a respirator.

 

[miogpsrocks]

Dude your going to make chlorine gas. I'm not sure what you are trying to accomplish but I would use mask, triple thick nitrile gloves, and a respirator.

I am following the advice on this forum.

I found some coral rocks in my backyard and I am trying to clean them and make them ok for my reef tank.

I have already emptied the acid from the bucket and rinsed them out like 10 times. I am trying to make sure they are clean and disinfected for the aquarium.

 

[CStrickland]

I am following the advice on this forum.

That's not true. No one ever told you to pour straight acid on rocks and then add water to it without any protective gear. You came up with that on your own. Posts about acids often have safety warnings on them, but you shouldn't need anyone to tell you that really. The bottle I had literally had a skull and crossbones on it.

 

[Frostyfishman]

I am following the advice on this forum.

I found some coral rocks in my backyard and I am trying to clean them and make them ok for my reef tank.

I have already emptied the acid from the bucket and rinsed them out like 10 times. I am trying to make sure they are clean and disinfected for the aquarium.

I understand now. I thought your intention was to add acid to bleach.

 

[miogpsrocks]

I understand now. I thought your intention was to add acid to bleach.

I am told that will create a toxic poison.

 

[miogpsrocks]

That's not true. No one ever told you to pour straight acid on rocks and then add water to it without any protective gear. You came up with that on your own. Posts about acids often have safety warnings on them, but you shouldn't need anyone to tell you that really. The bottle I had literally had a skull and crossbones on it.

They never told me to wear protective gear and the bottle I have does not have any crossbones on it. I am told that some people add this for their swimming pools then swim in it. I guess to adjust the PH or something.

Anyway, I am still alive and the corals did not all melt into nothing.

The acid was only over the corals for maybe 60 seconds or less before I added the water.

 

[Clownfish Chris]

They never told me to wear protective gear and the bottle I have does not have any crossbones on it. I am told that some people add this for their swimming pools then swim in it. I guess to adjust the PH or something.

Anyway, I am still alive and the corals did not all melt into nothing.

The acid was only over the corals for maybe 60 seconds or less before I added the water.

I use this stuff in a swimming pool myself. HEED THE ADVICE OF THOSE GIVING IT TO YOU :deadhorse1:. I pour a small amount(stronger into weaker), a cup, into a 30,000 gallon pool. If that little amount can make a difference to the pool chemistry, it can... and will eat your lunch if you screw it up. You got VERY lucky.

 

[RWEngineer]

They never told me to wear protective gear and the bottle I have does not have any crossbones on it. I am told that some people add this for their swimming pools then swim in it. I guess to adjust the PH or something.

Anyway, I am still alive and the corals did not all melt into nothing.

The acid was only over the corals for maybe 60 seconds or less before I added the water.

The bottle of muriatic acid solution didn't have any warning labels on it?

 

[Sk8r]

Read all labels right down to and including the fine print, and do not combine any chemicals without seeking advice. Any acid combining with any base is apt to give off fumes and froth, and breathing fumes can land you in the hospital or worse. Goggles, gloves, breathing mask, the whole mad scientist rig is called for when there is any chance of that. You should have dedicated, no-other-use measuring spoons and cups for the tank: do not contaminate anything with a spoon that has measured chemicals. Any time there is danger of a splash-up or fumes, goggles, gloves, mask. And do such things only outdoors.

Even some of the creatures we keep have hazards. Palythoa corals can give off a poison that can put you in the hospital. GLoves are indicated in the tank, and again, no cross-contamination. Gloves for in the tank should not be the same used with acids. Everything should be reserved for one purpose, and you should NEVER have unlabeled bottles sitting about. Everything in order, everything labeled, every label read to the bottom.