Will Citric Acid hurt my corals?!?!?!?!?

[Phil D.]

So, went and got some citric acid to clean my return pump and due to zip tying all the cords, I disassembled the pump over my sump and used the top of my skimmer as a rest. I soaked the pump in citric acid for a bit and dried it as best I could to clean the inside without dripping any into the sump. But.. when I was cleaning the impeller I heard a SPLASH of the pump dropping into the sump!!
I have 5g of water mixed to do a WC and the sump is 12g.
Will I be ok????

 

[Sailfin11]

It sounds like just a little bit of it got into your water. It may lower your pH a little bit, but I think you should be fine.

 

[GabeM]

A few drops should be fine no worries!

 

[DeniseAndy]

Should be okay if minor amount. Just do not go throwing a bottle of lemon juice in there on a regular basis.

 

[Phil D.]

Thanks all!! I figured it would be, seeing I'm doing the 5g WC. Actually, I bought the jar of citric acid at Wally World, (Wal-mart). Was only $6.00. Enough to clean pumps many, many times.

 

[Dana Riddle]

I deliberately add Vitamin C to my coral tank. It is an anti-oxidant. Years ago, Albert Thiel promoted use of Vitamin C and award-winning hobbyist Craig Bingman agreed.