Hard to believe

[jk kudera]

A new boater in our marina has been adding Muratic Acid to his holding tank all season, both after a pumpout, and between weeks if he didn't pump before he left the prior sunday. What can he do to clean the acid out and freshen the tank to allow the Odorlos or other deodorants to work? That is if he didn't eat the bottom of the tank by using the acid!

 

[Jack W -2005 H 36]

Baking soda

If I remember my HS Chemistry, Baking Soda and water would neutralize it

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Not the worst thing he could have done...

In fact, muriatic acid is commonly used to dissolve sea water mineral buildup in hoses and is even what Raritan's instructions for cleaning a Lectra/San calls for. So it's unlikely that the tank or anything else in the system has been harmed by it. However, it's not a "deodorizer" and it doesn't do much to dissolve sludge in the bottom of a holding tank either, if that's what your new boater has been trying to accomplish.All he needs to do to flush out the tank is the same process to flush any tank chemical out: fill the tank with water via the deck pumpout fitting (NOT through the toilet)....pump it out. Put about 5-6 gallons more water into the tank via the deck pump out fitting...pump that out. Repeat till the water being pumped out is clean.You might also recommend my book to him.

 

[Ross]

I don't think that there is too much risk

of ruining the tank muratic acid is sold in plastic bottles.

 

[Steve Dion]

unless the tank is aluminum?

[nm]

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Muriatic acid won't hurt aluminum either...

 

[Ross]

Steve, Aluminum is quite resistant to acids but

very quickly attacked by bases like sodium hydroxide.

 

[Vic Willman]

Muriatic Acid

Peggie's right; not only isn't muriatic acid not a deodorizer, the smell of muriatic acid mixed together with holding tank contents is enough to gag a maggot! Be sure to refill the tank with clean water and pump that out, too. I'd do it 2 or 3 times before putting the holding tank back in use again. Then re-charge the tank with Odorlos, KO, or whatever additive he's using, and start using it again.