muriatic acid & iron oxide

[chris&barb]

i have 2 old skimmer bodies i use for PO4 and carbon reactors. the media always gets rock hard in them and it takes me forever to clean them out. what kinda of reaction could i expect if i poured muriatic acid in them to break up the media?

 

[coil1002]

I would think lots of foaming and a noxious gas you would not want to inhale. If I remember my Collage O-chem muriatic acid is diluted hydrochloric acid or they are one and the same either way your looking at a water based solution of hydrogen chloride Gas that will most likely be released during the reaction so do it outside.

Or better yet wait for boomer to respond

 

[DonW]

We used to use it to pickle rusty steel. We clean our shop floors with it. The area around the lathe is covered with rusty iron. The muriatic does not do much for that part of the floor. Does a great job on sumps and skimmers but thats all Ive tried it on. I would just change the media more often.

Don

 

[chris&barb]

I would think lots of foaming and a noxious gas you would not want to inhale. If I remember my Collage O-chem muriatic acid is diluted hydrochloric acid or they are one and the same either way your looking at a water based solution of hydrogen chloride Gas that will most likely be released during the reaction so do it outside.

Or better yet wait for boomer to respond

it is diluted hydrochloric acid(32% i think) im just trying to make sure its not going to blow up when i pour it in

 

[DonW]

it is diluted hydrochloric acid(32% i think) im just trying to make sure its not going to blow up when i pour it in

Na. It will just smoke a little.

Don

 

[chris&barb]

I would just change the media more often.

Don

that's the thing Don, i use about 500g of this stuff at a time and it rocks up in 3 to 4 weeks. i run about 40gph through it and it still rock up, and there's white precipitate on just about everything down line from it also

 

[chris&barb]

Na. It will just smoke a little.

Don

alrighty then

 

[DonW]

alrighty then

Just dont mix it with gas.

 

[morgan]

i work with 32% acid everyday dont forget to wear a mask when using it and it can be dangerous to ur health if inhaled

 

[ecobalance]

vinegor

I would give vinegor a try,i know it works great for pumps that get calcium deposits on them. Jus pour some in and let it sit over night

 

[Boomer]

Chris & Barb

Yup 32 % is close enough, actually 31.45% HCl. It is fine to use. You should use good ventilation due to the production of HCl and hydrogen gas. You should also be using chemical proof gloves. Be careful, do not just dump it all in at once. Use something to prevent splashing or blow back. At no time mix water with acid but acid to the water if you decide to dilute it. HCl is exothermic and will boil water rapidly if water is added to the acid and can blow up in your face. You could make up a mix with water with a pH of around 5-6. Muriatic acid, by itself, has a pH of - 1. Don't do anything stupid like mix it with Ammonia or we will find you dead on the floor

For Don

Picking of steel. I did not know this, so had to check

Fe2O3 + Fe + 6 HCl → 3 FeCl2 + 3 H2O

30 more days before I leave you in charge

 

[DonW]

Picking of steel. I did not know this, so had to check

Fe2O3 + Fe + 6 HCl → 3 FeCl2 + 3 H2O

30 more days before I leave you in charge

I'd also add if you have heavily chlorinated tap water use rodi instead. Other wise you end up with something close to Mustard gas and all the ventilation in the world will not save you.

Don

 

[chris&barb]

thanks, thats the kind of stuff i need to know.ive tried vinegar but i think i would need a 55g drum of it to break this up. when i clean my pumps i used to use vinegar and it would take 5 hours or more. it takes about 5 min with acid