Questions about the use of muriatic acid (HCL)
 

I plan to use diluted muriatic acid for cleaning some pumps and a skimmer. Also I have a FW plant tank with a glass top that has opaque white lime deposits blocking the light, resistant to all other cleaners, so I want to so a diluted muriatic acid bath for it too.

Some questions about this stuff as it is obviously hazardous.

1. I have read 10:1 dilution 1 part acid added to 10 parts water, is that about right, will a weaker dilution work as well if I give it more time? I'd prefer to use as little of this stuff as possible.

2. Will the muriatic acid eat plastic parts on my pump or eat magnetic pump impellers or metal parts on the pump?

3. I have read to use the muriatic acid outdoors because of the fumes, is this a legitimate concern? I am assuming it gives off chlorine gas which obviously you want to avoid breathing in.

5. After using the diluted muriatic acid is it OK to pour it down the drain and flush with lots of water, or will it eat my plumbing pipes?

Obviously I will suit up with eye protection and rubber gloves. Any other tips on handling this stuff?

Using it 10:1 is fine. It may corode metal parts if left way too long, probably not a concern. Well ventilated area is smart. To dispose of the water/acid mix, pour a box of baking soda into it to neutralize.

Don't spill it on concrete, it will etch it. Wear glasses and gloves. Keep away from small children. Always add acid to water, not the other way around.

Why not use vinegar?

2nd that vote for vinegar
 

Works surprisingly well. I soak my pumps in vinegar on a regular basis to get rid of the calcium buildup.

HCl is non reactive with placstic but it will takeany protectice coating on metalls off. It should not hurt the metal at a 10:1 dilution unless you left it in the acid for many hours or even days. Care when making your dilutions that you add in the correct order( water to acid ) and not vis versa as the wrong order causes a highly vigorous reaction that can pop and spray. For sur use Eye protection and gloves when working with it.

Muratic Acid = Hydrochloric Acid
 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrochloric_acid

When you say 10:1 dilution ration it really is not descriptive if you do not know the original strength of the HCl. Industrial HCl would rot your sinus and lungs just by pouring from the bottle. This stuff is really bad for you and the environment.

Take the advice of others here, use vinegar and lots of elbow grease.

Ian, you mean acid to water, not water to acid.

Muriatic is my favorite reef tool... Especially for cleaning pumps of coraline and that scum they build up over time - plunk em in (yeah about 10:1) in an ice cream pail - running; Next day they're clean as a whistle...

One thing I've never had explained is why it seems to rejuvenate those small rubber parts (ie o-rings and those adapter bits); they seem to go in brittle, and come out soft n pliable again...

Where can you get the stuff? When I went to paint my fish room floor I noted the instructions said "first etch the concrete with muriatic acid." So to Home Depot I went, and they said "Are you crazy? That stuff is far too dangerous. We don't sell it." I ended up using this other product called "Concrete Etch" (don't know what it was but it wasn't muriatic acid). It was just one other example in a long series that make me wonder what it is that Home Depot actually sells - the stores seem pretty big, and they seem to be pretty full of "stuff" - and yet, anytime I need a (insert hardware thingy here), I seem to walk away from HD empty-handed. What's up with that anyhow?!

But I've heard of people using muriatic acid to clean all sorts of reef gear - for example it's supposed to be great for reaching parts of skimmers you can't reach and so on. ... Does Rona sell it? Or do you have to go to a more out-of-the-way sort of hardware store?

Let's hope that's what he meant, or we're gonna get some heat out of this!! :)