Muriatic acid

[golfish]

Hello to all. It's been awhile for me

I'm going in to round 3 with this tank that has been a complete failure...

I've always used vinegar to clean up pumps and anything else that has build up. Do any of you guys use Muriatic acid in place of vinegar, if so what's the ratio?

I'm just not sure about this stuff. I've been out of the loop for so long.

Thanks
fish

 

[Member No. 1]

The newest is Citric Acid. Works better than vinegar, and won't hurt equipment.
I use it in a ratio of 1cup/gal of water. Some use less.
Amazon is the cheapest.
https://www.amazon.com/Milliard-Cit...ocphy=9002292&hvtargid=pla-378302697582&psc=1

 

[MondoBongo]

i've used muriatic acid before on rocks, it's pretty raunchy stuff.

for cleaning tanks and equipment i usually go with vinegar or citric acid like the previous poster suggested. they're easier to use, and far less safety concerns.

if you're going the muriatic acid route, just make sure you're outside, wearing proper PPE (eyes are a must, gloves and others highly suggested) and that you have the ability to neutralize it when you're done.

 

[golfish]

Thanks guys....

I have to lol, I see Bulk Reef Supply sells citric acid too..

 

[outssider]

you can get muriatic acid at home-depot/low's in their pool supply section for cheap! I use vinegar and turbo charge it with a little/splash of muriatic acid...works fast...

 

[E46er]

I've always used cleaning vinegar 10% vs the regular 5%

Muriatic acid is not something I'd use for pumps or anything.
I just used it yesterday for some rock with some problem algae. It's nasty stuff

 

[cody6766]

Muriatic acid, AKA hydrochloric acid, is useful, but it can do some damage if you don't treat it right.

I've never used it on equipment, but you could probably figure out the relative strength of vinegar or citric acid and dilute muriatic acid to be just a little stronger. You'd just need to mix in water until you got down to the correct concentration.

Remember, Always Add Acid. Never add water to acid, add the acid to the water. Doing it the wrong way can result in splashing and popping...something you never want with a strong acid.

Also, once you're done, dilution with water does not make the acid go away. You need to neutralize it with a good base. Dumping in baking soda will neutralize the acid and make the solution safe to dump down the drain. It takes a bunch, so buy the big bulk bags and get ready for a crazy foamy volcano.

I used it to strip rock once and it took A LOT of water and A LOT of baking soda to finish the job. A 5lb bag of baking soda will do the trick, but expect a mess. Also, wear cloths you don't mind disentegrating and do it in a place without anything you love or can't replace. Strong acids are no joke, so you need to understand what you're messing with. Muriatic acid is pretty dilute, but it'll still ruin things and can hurt you.

 

[MondoBongo]

I used it to strip rock once and it took A LOT of water and A LOT of baking soda to finish the job. A 5lb bag of baking soda will do the trick, but expect a mess.

let me tell you how pleased my wife was with me when i made a muriatic acid volcano in our back yard and nuked a whole patch of grass. good times. :spin1:

 

[cody6766]

That's why I did mine in the gravel. HCl is no joke, even diluted.

 

[earwicker7]

I use muriatic acid on equipment all the time. It works faster than anything else I've used.

As far as ratios, I fill a five gallon bucket with tap water and dump a couple seconds worth of the acid. I don't measure it... I just know how much has worked in the past.

Super easy to use, just make sure to use a well ventilated room, because it will make fumes. I put the bucket in my bathtub, turn on the ventilation fan, dump in the acid and leave the room.

 

[cody6766]

Fun fact: the fumes are hydrogen gas...plus a few other things. Don't do this around open flames. Hindenburg.