Citric Acid

TK_KW · Jan 4, 2020

So, I use it to clean pumps etc. But the question is,

Can I run citric acid in my salt water reservoir to clean in? Say a mix ran for some hours, then dumped and flushed.

Will this have any adverse affect on my next batch of pre mixed salt water?

happysalt · Jan 4, 2020

I like citric acid and have used it in my reservoir before to clean it out. I just used it at a lower Concentration and rinsed it out twice before reusing.

TK_KW said:
So, I use it to clean pumps etc. But the question is,

Can I run citric acid in my salt water reservoir to clean in? Say a mix ran for some hours, then dumped and flushed.

Will this have any adverse affect on my next batch of pre mixed salt water?

ZoWhat · Jan 4, 2020

I use food grade 5% vinegar

mfinn · Jan 5, 2020

If you rinse it, it should be fine.

After all the publicity over the vinegar eating certain types of plastic over time, I decided ( decades long vinegar user) to give citric acid a try and it does clean very well.
I also found it easier to store and it is cheaper in my area.

Jseimo · Jan 5, 2020

the biggest draw back I can think of is if there is any residual it could cause your ph to drop a touch

mfinn · Jan 5, 2020

Jseimo said:
the biggest draw back I can think of is if there is any residual it could cause your ph to drop a touch

edit:
I should have said, it's important to rinse everything well with any type of cleaner.

Admann · Jan 5, 2020

I have used citric acid exclusively for some time now. You should always triple rinse. Good example, I have XF230s that have been in continuous service since Dec. 2018, no failures, never disassembled. To clean, just turn off, drop in bucket (use the magnet), run 15 minutes, run in freshwater bucket 5 minutes, refreshing the water twice. Turn off, back in tank.

In you case, I would make the citric acid solution, wipe it down, and rinse it out. Easy Peasy

redfishbluefish · Jan 5, 2020

CItric acid, vinegar, muriatic acid......one or two rinses and you'll be fine. Even if there is slight residual remaining, the dilution factor is so great, it won't matter.

chadg · Mar 2, 2020

I'm looking to clean out my 65 gal salt mix tank also. It has a good amount of brown 'crud' buildup on the sides. What do you use for citric acid? I had purchased a small thing of the Tunze for pumps, but that was really $$$. Is that any different than the food grade I see on Amazon that is much cheaper? Let's say the Amazon food grade is good. How much would be enough to fill the 65 gal and let it soak for a bit?

TK_KW · Mar 2, 2020

chadg said:
I'm looking to clean out my 65 gal salt mix tank also. It has a good amount of brown 'crud' buildup on the sides. What do you use for citric acid? I had purchased a small thing of the Tunze for pumps, but that was really $$$. Is that any different than the food grade I see on Amazon that is much cheaper? Let's say the Amazon food grade is good. How much would be enough to fill the 65 gal and let it soak for a bit?

I personally just add 50g of fresh water.to my salt mix. Add about 3-4 cups of citric acid. Run for 24 hours. Then dump, rinse, fill with fresh water again. Dump again. And good to go. Come out super clean everytime

blackstallion · Nov 23, 2020

TK_KW said:
I personally just add 50g of fresh water.to my salt mix. Add about 3-4 cups of citric acid. Run for 24 hours. Then dump, rinse, fill with fresh water again. Dump again. And good to go. Come out super clean everytime

Sorry for resurrecting this old thread. Do you use 50g of RO/DI or just tap water mixed with Citric Acid? I'm planning on cleaning out my 60g mixing station container but I'm deciding whether RO/DI or tap water would work.

TK_KW · Nov 23, 2020

blackstallion said:
Sorry for resurrecting this old thread. Do you use 50g of RO/DI or just tap water mixed with Citric Acid? I'm planning on cleaning out my 60g mixing station container but I'm deciding whether RO/DI or tap water would work.

Just tap water

biecacka · Jan 5, 2025

Think I can use it to clean my sump. With saltwater already in it?
Obviously, it can’t get to my main tank. But if I shut off all flow to main tank, can I just dump some citric acid in my sump and pump it around. Kill algae, calcium precipitate soils get broken up, clean my skimmer etc. Then drain the sump. Rinse it and refill?
Have never heard of anyone using it with saltwater instead of non saltwater.

Corey

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 6, 2025

biecacka said:
Think I can use it to clean my sump. With saltwater already in it?
Obviously, it can’t get to my main tank. But if I shut off all flow to main tank, can I just dump some citric acid in my sump and pump it around. Kill algae, calcium precipitate soils get broken up, clean my skimmer etc. Then drain the sump. Rinse it and refill?
Have never heard of anyone using it with saltwater instead of non saltwater.

Corey

It will be less effective when added to seawater. Meaning you will have to add enough to offset all the alkalinity in the seawater and then add the amount needed to lower the pH. The calcium and magnesium will also reduce the effectiveness a bit, but I’m not certain how big of an effect that is with citric acid.

GARRIGA · Jan 6, 2025

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
It will be less effective when added to seawater. Meaning you will have to add enough to offset all the alkalinity in the seawater and then add the amount needed to lower the pH. The calcium and magnesium will also reduce the effectiveness a bit, but I’m not certain how big of an effect that is with citric acid.

Is there a measure needed to ensure enough was added such as pH?

I'm assuming more can be dissolved in SW because of the points you made. Is that correct?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 6, 2025

GARRIGA said:
Is there a measure needed to ensure enough was added such as pH?

I'm assuming more can be dissolved in SW because of the points you made. Is that correct?

You can add a huge amount and it will dissolve, and to some extent, the more you add the faster it will go.

Ignoring the calcium and magnesium effects which I cannot quantify, we can calculate the amount to offset the alk.

At 8 dKH, we need to neutralize 8 dKH = 2.9 meq/L of base.

We will get about 2 moles of acid per citric acid molecule to get to pH 4 and neutralize all the alk, so that means 2.9/2 = 1.45 mmoles of citric acid/L.

1 mmole of citric acid weighs 192 mg = 0.2 g, so if you add an extra 0.2 g/liter (an extra 76 g/100 gallons) plus whatever one would have used in fresh water.

GARRIGA · Jan 6, 2025

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
You can add a huge amount and it will dissolve, and to some extent, the more you add the faster it will go.

Ignoring the calcium and magnesium effects which I cannot quantify, we can calculate the amount to offset the alk.

At 8 dKH, we need to neutralize 8 dKH = 2.9 meq/L of base.

We will get about 2 moles of acid per citric acid molecule to get to pH 4 and neutralize all the alk, so that means 2.9/2 = 1.45 mmoles of citric acid/L.

1 mmole of citric acid weighs 192 mg = 0.2 g, so if you add an extra 0.2 g/liter (an extra 76 g/100 gallons) plus whatever one would have used in fresh water.

Therefore confirmation comes if pH reads 4.0?