De-crud acrylic with muratic acid?

satcom56 · 10-02-2004, 08:29 PM

Okay I have a wet dry that was given to me and want to use it as a sump on a 20 long, but this puppy has the worst case of calcium crud and such stuck to every inch of the inside. I have been soaking it with vinegar for several days-- hahahahah --- just smells like pickles now. Was wondering if diluted muratic acid would be an option?? If so how long would it take before I could use it, I tried some on the filter plate that was inside and VIOLA its clean. I not sure about any residual 'stuff' that would be left.
thanks

Geoff · 10-04-2004, 11:23 AM

do not know, i will check with my wife and see how toxic it is. i think it is not, but i want to be sure.

i am surprised that the vinegar did not work.

G~

satcom56 · 10-04-2004, 12:01 PM

Hey Geoff

The vinegar seemed to be working but very slow , it was bubbling but this is covered with large worm tubes as well as the white remains of corraline.The (worm?) tubes have been scraped down as far as I could with one of those plastic pot scrubber thingies,but it still has a surface as rough as asphalt. I guess that given time the vinegar would get it but 5 days and it was hard to tell any change (except in the corraline remains) I was trying for something faster that wouldnt destroy the acrylic
thanks for any info you come up with!!
L8r

Kevin1000 · 10-04-2004, 02:37 PM

Soaking old acrlyic tanks with a diluted muratic acid solution has been around for along time and I would not think that soaking your acrlyic filter would pose a problem.

darthteddy · 10-05-2004, 06:14 PM

put it in the dish washer with soap then again without soap

satcom56 · 10-05-2004, 07:20 PM

While this method may leave me with a very clean sump the resulting divorce that would follow would cost far more than I could 'ever' save. I made the mistake of washing the skimmer cup out in the bathroom sink and thought I was going to have to replace the sink.(mistake was getting caught)

ps:wont fit ,1.5" too long

satcom56 · 10-09-2004, 11:17 PM

Went ahead and soaked in dilution of 1 cup muratic to 1 gal water, it was like new next morning, several fresh water rinses, soaked in strong bleach solution for several hours , several rinses, then soaked overnight with freshwater and antichlor solution. Rinsed several more times and it has no smell at all. I plan to fill with old tank water from waterchange this weekend and let that sit for a day or so as well.

ballvice · 10-30-2004, 10:22 PM

Anyone know if this will work on a Tank? I just picked up a used 150G and it needs to be clean..Scrubbing this is NOT an option.

Frank

Kevin1000 · 10-30-2004, 10:26 PM

As indicated in my original post - soaking old tanks in a diluted muratic acid solution (outdoors!!!) overnight is pretty common and I have not heard of anyone who has had a problem.

ballvice · 10-31-2004, 08:22 PM

Acid it is then...will try it when I get back from my "fun in the sun" with Uncle Sam.

Frank