Calling all Vinegar Lovers.

[Reefahholic]

Is Vinegar really safe for cleaning your pumps? Let me know your thoughts.

@redfishbluefish

Beware of Vinegar - The Pump Killer

I have posted bits and piece of my vinegar story over the past three years, and I thought it would be beneficial if one post contained all that I've learn. You'll be surprised! This story will contain three parts; my history with vinegar, the cause and simplified chemistry what's happening...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[BigRick]

I use mutatic acid and bleach for cleaning.

 

[Cody]

I use mutatic acid and bleach for cleaning.

DO NOT USE THEM TOGETHER. MIXING MURIATIC ACID AND BLEACH CREATES CHLORINE GAS, WHICH WAS USED IN WW1 TO DESTROY THE LUNGS OF SOLDIERS!!!

 

[Cody]

Chlorine gas was used along side mustard gas by the Germans and is considered chemical warfare.

 

[kris4647]

Chlorine gas was used along side mustard gas by the Germans and is considered chemical warfare.

Mustard gas is used to make many types of coatings and plastics right here in Baytown.


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[Cody]

Mustard gas is used to make many types of coatings and plastics right here in Baytown.


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At my previous job, I had Baytown and Pasadena as my territory. I’d have to go there fairly regularly, and sometimes the air was fine, the other times it gave me a headache and smelled like lighting a match would cause the whole town to explode.

 

[kris4647]

At my previous job, I had Baytown and Pasadena as my territory. I’d have to go there fairly regularly, and sometimes the air was fine, the other times it gave me a headache and smelled like lighting a match would cause the whole town to explode.

I worked at an old refinery in Pasadena for a few years and i have some stories....


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[BigRick]

DO NOT USE THEM TOGETHER. MIXING MURIATIC ACID AND BLEACH CREATES CHLORINE GAS, WHICH WAS USED IN WW1 TO DESTROY THE LUNGS OF SOLDIERS!!!

Two different types of clean.

 

[Reefahholic]

I filled up a 220/G one time in my one bedroom (700 sq foot) apartment with bleach and Muriatic acid. Probably one of the smartest things I’ve ever done.

It was very similar to boiling jalapeño peppers 🌶. It was choking me up. I finally figured out that it was not good to mix those two together and drained the tank.

 

[BigRick]

I filled up a 220/G one time in my one bedroom (700 sq foot) apartment with bleach and Muriatic acid. Probably one of the smartest things I’ve ever done.

It was very similar to boiling jalapeño peppers 🌶. It was choking me up. I finally figured out that it was not good to mix those two together and drained the tank.

Neighbors probably thinking you were cooking up meth lol...

 

[Cody]

Neighbors probably thinking you were cooking up meth lol...

Oh he was. He just happened to be cleaning his tank as well haha

 

[Reefahholic]

Oh he was. He just happened to be cleaning his tank as well haha

I only cook rock. Dry Rock. Lol

 

[Cody]

I only cook rock. Dry Rock. Lol

I saw some neighborhoods down near @gregg place and they seemed like they liked rock too.

 

[Tenny]

I used to be a Vinegar guy, but I switched to Citric Acid. My understanding is it was better for the pumps and everything. It's worked great so far.

For any LR (or Dead LR) I also bleach it, then multiple soaks, then let it bake in the sun, then forget about it for 3 months then I put it in.

 

[gregg]

yall buy this Citric Acid in a powder form?

 

[kris4647]

yall buy this Citric Acid in a powder form?

Yea Amazon has a few.


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[Reefahholic]

yall buy this Citric Acid in a powder form?

Greg, look for this one. A lot of reefers using it. BRS also sells their own of course. Monohydrate or Anhydrous form are both ok to use per Randy Farley.

 

[Erin]

yall buy this Citric Acid in a powder form?

I just bought a 5 pound bag... let me know if you want some to try out.

 

[OceansX]

I use diluted vinegar & don't soak for more than 15 minutes.

I've had magnets that were cleaned this way swell and I've had magnets that were never cleaned this way also swell. (Maybe I cleaned them with vinegar at some point?)

If it's really crusty that the vinegar won't work or will take too long, then yeah I'll use muriatic acid. Make sure you know how to properly handle these stronger acids.

 

[mitchell77546]

I filled up a 220/G one time in my one bedroom (700 sq foot) apartment with bleach and Muriatic acid. Probably one of the smartest things I’ve ever done.

It was very similar to boiling jalapeño peppers . It was choking me up. I finally figured out that it was not good to mix those two together and drained the tank.

Your lucky to be alive that gas is poisonous..


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