Pressure Wash Acrylic?

[nickkohrn]

I have a quarantine tank that I am working on cleaning for use. There are some areas between the baffles in the rear chambers that have a lot of buildup, and it’s quite visible because the entire tank is clear, with the exception of the false wall, which is blue acrylic. Normally, I wouldn’t worry about getting the tank as clean as I intend to, but it’s in an area that has frequent traffic and it is highly visible. So, to please my wife with this temporary quarantine setup, I’d like to lean it as well as I can.

The tank holds just under fifty gallons. I have ran one gallon of vinegar and forty-five gallons of water through the tank for two days now. However, there is still some visible buildup within the baffles. As I type this, I’min the process of draining the vinegar solution, and I’m going to do the same with a bleach solution for a couple of days. If the buildup doesn’t come off on its own, is it possible to take the tank to a car wash and spray the baffles down, or will the pressure from the water destroy the acrylic? This is my first acrylic aquarium, and I don’t know how easily it is to scratch, and I don’t want to find out without asking.

 

[jda]

You can scratch the heck out of it with a pressure washer. You can scratch it with your fingernail if you REALLY try hard enough. I would not look to have particle flying at it at high velocity.

Get some muratic acid... makes using vinegar like throwing a baseball at a freight train. You can use a soft rag to remove anything after a soak in Muratic acid. There is lots of info on how to dilute it. It is not death in a bottle, but be careful handing it kinda like Kalkwasser where you do not want to breathe it nor get it on your skin or in your eyes.

 

[nickkohrn]

You can scratch the heck out of it with a pressure washer. You can scratch it with your fingernail if you REALLY try hard enough. I would not look to have particle flying at it at high velocity.

Get some muratic acid... makes using vinegar like throwing a baseball at a freight train. You can use a soft rag to remove anything after a soak in Muratic acid. There is lots of info on how to dilute it. It is not death in a bottle, but be careful handing it kinda like Kalkwasser where you do not want to breathe it nor get it on your skin or in your eyes.

I have not used muriatic acid, so I will be spending my evening reading about it and how to dilute it.

Thank you for the information.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Agree with @jda , but with caution. Muriatic acid is hydrochloric acid....a very strong acid. OK to use, but handle with great care. It will burn you and put holes in your clothes, so don't get it on you. Might actually wish to dilute to 1 to 10 to 2 to 10....it's potent. You'll see calcification bubble away. After done, rinse with loads of water.

 

[redfishbluefish]

FYI, HD sells it in gallon jugs. My guess is that you'll find it in the area they sell concrete...it's used to "clean" concrete.

 

[jda]

You NEED to dilute it. You can get it at Lowes or Home Depot on the cheap in the Home and Garden or Pool section. People use it in swimming pools, for cleaning and all other kinds of uses... so just be careful you will be fine... just like any other chemical or cleaning supply.

 

[nickkohrn]

FYI, HD sells it in gallon jugs. My guess is that you'll find it in the area they sell concrete...it's used to "clean" concrete.

You NEED to dilute it. You can get it at Lowes or Home Depot on the cheap in the Home and Garden or Pool section. People use it in swimming pools, for cleaning and all other kinds of uses... so just be careful you will be fine... just like any other chemical or cleaning supply.

Well, maybe I’ll head that way now so that I can get the tank filled and running tonight. It’s only $8 for a gallon at The Home Depot.

I really appreciate your advice and words of caution.

 

[nickkohrn]

Oh, should I limit the length of time that it’s running in the system? Since I don’t need to dissolve coralline, and I’m attempting to clean buildup within baffles, do you think that one gallon will suffice?

 

[redfishbluefish]

Run as long as needed to clean up the calcifications....It won't hurt any plastics, glass or acrylics.

 

[nickkohrn]

Run as long as needed to clean up the calcifications....It won't hurt any plastics, glass or acrylics.

Okay, this should be my last set of questions:

I live in an apartment that does not have hose hookups since washing vehicles and other activities are prohibited. So, I run a garden hose from the second-floor bathroom sink to the first-floor den, where my aquariums are. I can fill the quarantine tank with muriatic acid and water via the hose. However, when it comes time to drain it, I will need to pump the solution from the aquarium into buckets, carry them upstairs, and dispose of the solution. I don’t mind doing that, but should I find a way to let the solution run through the aquarium outside? The hose will reach the front porch, where I can fill the aquarium and let it run, but I would need to either carry buckets upstairs for disposal or pump it into the yard, which I assume will kill the grass.

I want to do this safely, so I’ll wear protection, but I want to ensure that I do it properly with regard to fumes, possible splashes, and the environment; both neighbors have dogs, so I don’t want them to be harmed.

 

[redfishbluefish]

If you're a "club" member, pick up a big bag of baking soda. At Sam's, it's like 7 bucks for a 13-14 pound bag. Use this to neutralize the acid. You know it's neutralized when it stops bubbling. Now just wash it away with water.

 

[nickkohrn]

If you're a "club" member, pick up a big bag of baking soda. At Sam's, it's like 7 bucks for a 13-14 pound bag. Use this to neutralize the acid. You know it's neutralized when it stops bubbling. Now just wash it away with water.

Thank you for the information. This has been very helpful.

 

[salivanjack13]

Acrylic can be scratched with a non-professional pressure washer. Would you consider asking an experienced professional for help?

 

[salivanjack13]

I think such a tank should be cleaned more often, especially since what you have stored in this compartment could leave a permanent mark. You would definitely need a high-pressure cleaning for that. You can't always do it yourself because you need a special piston. You can get help with that from https://sparklewash.com/york/. I try to turn to the guys when it is necessary to wash the house or pave tiles in front of the house. It is pretty high quality, but with hard-to-reach places that are hard to clean. I think it is convenient when you do not have time for such work.