Vinegar soak too long?

[belgian_waffleman]

I had a K3 that had been soaking for a few weeks. I gave the superclean Koralia to a friend and it worked for a few minutes.

We opened up the powerhead and noticed that the material that seals in the motor was flaked off. So the motor is now shot.
I also have a K4 that soaked for week and that has a couple of loose flakes of potting material.


Is it possible that the vinegar attacked the seal material?
So,just to be safe, if you are looking to clean pumps or power heads, be sure not to soak them too long. Especially not weeks...

Waffleman

 

[reefman5511]

Vinegar is a weak acid (~5% acetic acid) which could attack other compounds over time. A short soak usually doesn't affect things.

 

[TimmyNY]

I would imagine that weeks worth of soaking in an acid would have a detrimental effect on just about anything. I once had a k2 that one of the blades cracked about 3/4 of the way off. while waiting for the new one to come in I tryed supergluing the old one back together. its been in my tank for 3 months now working like a charm Tough little buggers

Tim

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I've never heard of this but thanks for mentioning it.

 

[Bluephish13]

Hey I just opened my K3 up after a vinegar bath and had the same thing happen.

I was not sure if it was from the vinegar or was like that for a while.

 

[Jeff]

I would imagine that weeks worth of soaking in an acid would have a detrimental effect on just about anything.

Tim

Agreed. A couple hours in vinegar is all I usually need to do.

 

[Fatboy Stinger]

I've read that you do not want to soak anything for more then 24 hours. And of there is a seal that you can remove, you should remove it b4 soaking because the vinegar WILL eat away at it.

 

[johnd651]

most seals absorb solvents... and so soaking it for to long will cause it break down.

there are seals called KALREZ that will not do that, however, they are pricey, and most companys do not use them to seal something like an electrical pump

 

[tmz]

The acid will effect the seals and the plastic over time as I understand it. A 5 to 6 hour soak in a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water is about all I ever need.

 

[belgian_waffleman]

Well, I guess I learned something...I was just too lazy to get it out of the vinegar and clean it all off.
Like Reefman said, I thought it was weak acid but it's not that weak after all.

I must say, the power head looks new:lmao:

Waffleman

 

[Conesus_Kid]

I'm more of a 15 minutes in muriatic acid/water guy myself. Quick and effective!

 

[cardiffgiant]

I saw this thread and it immediately made me think that I overdid it when I had my powerheads soaking for 2 hours the other day

 

[tmz]

With muriatic acid at 10 parts water , 5 to 15 minutes should be plenty to dissolve precipitants, in my experience.

 

[faze07hd]

wow!!!... Good to know!

 

[Firefish76]

Yeah I had a Maxi-jet quit on me after a vinegar bath. Not soaking them as long anymore.

 

[anen]

Hmm... I soaked an mp10 in vinegar for a month and the felt backing started coming off... wonder what other damage I did to it lol

 

[Dave VG]

Good to know thanks for the info guys

 

[VITARTE]

Thanks for the info, guys.

As I am about to start soaking some equipment in vinegar I just wasn't so sure about the time required.

I'm glad I read this before I actually started.

Rafo

 

[lhemphill]

Vinegar Soak

Vinegar Soak

The acid will effect the seals and the plastic over time as I understand it. A 5 to 6 hour soak in a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water is about all I ever need.

50/50 is great for small applications. I am currently soaking a 187g tank with 180 of water and 2g of vinegar. This seems to be doing to trick, although it has only been soaking for about 4hrs. I have a return pump in the tank to circulate, but it should be ok for 24hr+ with this amount right? or is that overkill?

 

[tmz]

There is no need to circulate: the acetic acid is miscible( it diffuses throughout the water by molecular activity). Actually cirulating will likely weaken it more quickly as excess Co2 in the tank will blow off more quickly if the surface is agitated and raise the ph.
Vinegar is 95% water,so you are only using about 13 oz( 2 gallons = 256 oz x .o5= 12.8)of a mild acid for 185 gallons. I'd personally use two gallons of muriatic acid for a coraline encrusted tank that size and it is 37% hydrochloric acid which is a much stronger acid than acetic acid.,ie 95 oz of hydrochloric acid.
1ml of vinegar per gallon of water drops ph .03 units. 2 gallons is about 7600ml or 41ml per gallon for 185 gallons. The ph should drop .03x41=1.23, that's not a big drop. Eg from 7 to 5.77. It will go right back up though as calcium carbonate dissolves( coraline etc) and provides alkalinity to buffer it. I don't think 2gallons of vinegar is enough to dissolve the gunk in an average 185 gallopn used reef tank.
When using acids, do it outside,the fumes are harmful, wear googles and gloves and be very careful.