Cleaning Ca Buildup in Pumps, Dosers, etc...

[Briankook]

I need to clean the calcium build up inside my return pump & my drip doser. What is the best product to use to remove it? I've heard that hydrochloric acid works well as well as muriatic (spelling?) acid also works. What works best & where can I buy it?

[Fishman1113]

I have used miriatic acid, and I have also soaked pumps in buckets of RO water with a few good sized scoops of Seachems Acid Buffer.

[zachfishman]

Or you could run 2L of coke through it (pH of 3). Buy a cheap 99¢ local supermarket style.

[Fishman1113]

Have you tried that? I have never heard of that? I guess it would work well.

[zachfishman]

I haven't tried it, but the chemist in me thinks its a cheap solution. Besides, there'd be no ill effects and if it works it's super easy to acquire. BTW an iron nail will be dissolved away in a 20oz coke after a couple days!

[DrBDC]

Originally posted by zachfishman
I haven't tried it, but the chemist in me thinks its a cheap solution. Besides, there'd be no ill effects and if it works it's super easy to acquire. BTW an iron nail will be dissolved away in a 20oz coke after a couple days!

That's not true. Urban legend type thing. I had to try it.

[bachtor]

I soak all my stuff in a small bucket of vinager I get in the big jugs from walmart or costco. Cleans all the calcium in a few hours or overnight if it is a large job. I then pour it back to reuse in the future.

[edsreef]

I second the vinegar recommendation.

[polcat_4u]

Muratic acid diluted 50%, squeaky clean in minutes. Buy it at pool supply $2 a gallon. Be careful!! Dilute by adding the acid into the water not the other way around.

[grim]

Vinegar is something like 75c a gallon locally. It's cheap, it's readily available, it works great, *IS SAFE*, and you can use the extra on your salads.

jb

[j0tca]

Muriatic Acid is Hydrchloric Acid , I can't remeber the specific molarity, it will be fine to use. It will be stronger and much quicker than vinegar, though both will work fine. I would rinse it heavily though, it will turn alkalinity into CO2 if there is any residue on the pump.

Will

[eidillitih]

I've used Muratic acid to clean pumps for years not one problem, works really well, and doesn't take long.

[bachtor]

how it is used, dilluted? I think it is obtainable from Home Depot, right?

[DrBDC]

vinegar works in minutes, let it soak a few minutes and everything rubs right off. I keep a saltbucket full of it and set my pumps in it to run or toss in test tubes to clean. Use a bucket type with the rubber o ring or you'll smell it. You can also wet a rag in it to clean the outside of your tank w/o worrying about chemicals getting into it. Obviously don't go sticking the rag in the water even if it is just vinegar or you may have to throw in some baking soda to offset it.

[polcat_4u]

Muratic acid = swimming pool acid. Dilute to 50% by adding it INTO water.

[j0tca]

Oh, and Hydrochloric acid will eat through jeans though it's not so bad on the skin. Wash your clothes quickley if you spill it on yourself.

Will

[ddenham]

Does anyone remove o-rings or rubber bushings before acid cleaning? I've heard that after repeated exposures to acids the o-rings will harden and may break. Is this true, or am I paranoid?

[Scuba Dog]

I can get all the HCL I want for free or any other acid do to my work, but I use glatical acetic acid (vingar) much safer to work with for home use...

[Briankook]

I decided to use vinegar....it seems safe & effective...thanks to everyone!

-Brian