Muriatic Acid Question

[acdraindrps]

So I just bought a used solana and before setting it up I wanted to give it a good cleaning.

I first filled the tank up with tap water and a little bleach to dissolve any organic matter like algae or anything else in it.

I then emptied the tank and filled it up with tap water and a small amount of muriatic acid to dissolve any coralline algae in the tank. I let it run for 3 days while the muriatic did its thing.

Today I wiped (with little to no effort) what was left of the dissolved coralline algae sticking to the back wall, and then siphoned the tank completely empty.

My question is - should I be ok to let the tank sit for a couple days and completely dry out, and then set the tank up? Or do I need to fill the tank up again with tap water to get any muriatic acid out of it?

Basically what I'm wondering is if the muriatic acid will dissipate in the few days the tank will be dry?

:beer:

 

[Will Haider]

I would definitely do another thing of water just to be safe

 

[josepha]

I agree with Will, Chris. I think if you just let it dry some muric acid molecules will stick to the glass and not dissipate. A final running of tap water should dissolve away any cliniging to the glass. Pretty soon you will have it filled with awesome Randy O corals you fellow addict!!! ;-)

 

[IronMan72]

How much muratic acid per gallon did you use? I just picked up a 180 and this sounds like what I need to do to clean it up.

 

[acdraindrps]

How much muratic acid per gallon did you use? I just picked up a 180 and this sounds like what I need to do to clean it up.

It was about two "glub glubs" from the gallon jug in my 34g solana.

Lol. :thumbsup:

 

[RandyO]

I usually fill the tank back up and throw some powder buffer in. It will help neutralize the acid.

 

[Capt_Cully]

Water + baking soda to neutralize any remaining acid, just to be on the safe side. So cheap and easy for a little extra piece of mind.

 

[frofan]

Muriatic Acid should evaporate completely, just like bleach. I wouldn't risk it over a 5 minute rinse with the garden hose though.

 

[NirvanaFan]

Fill with water and take a pH reading. If the tap and the water in the tank are the same (or really close), you're all good. There is no chemicals or anything to stick around, you just have to check the pH.

 

[reefman5511]

water + baking soda to neutralize any remaining acid, just to be on the safe side. So cheap and easy for a little extra piece of mind.

+1.

 

[tmz]

Muriatic acid is hydrochloric acid at about a 32% solution in water. Hydrogern chloride HCl, disassociates in water with the H+ joining up with H2O making hydronium HO3+. Nothing toxic there beyon the acidity . HCLis monoprotic, so it reacts only once. Given it's reactive nature with water it's doubtful much ifrany residue would remain. Even if it did, trace amounts would be harmless.

It is commonly used to lower alkalinity. 1/11000th of water volume will reduce alk by 1 dkh. Typically calium carbonate begins to dissolve under 7.7 dkh , So for a 180 gllon tank about 62 ml will drop dkh by 1.But the amount needed really depends how much calcium carbonate you have in the tank because as it melts it neutralizes the HCL as the carbonate binds with the extra H protons. Typically , for a tank with a good amount of coraline 1/2 gallon o f muriatic acid should do if allowed to soak in for afew hours.