Restoring Fresh Water Tank

[Symphony]

thanks for the links to suppliers!

[WSMFP]

Any thoughts on using vinegar instead of bleach? We use vinegar for removing scale and hard water spots.

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by WSMFP

Any thoughts on using vinegar instead of bleach? We use vinegar for removing scale and hard water spots.

It's good for a lot of things, but it needs to be pretty strong I think and 40 gallons of vinegar might be expensive...?

[tkeithlu]

Vinegar is a mild acid, and will dissolve calcium carbonate. Good use for the stuff. What I'm not so sure about is the concentration you would need to kill the critters Mervyn has growing in his tank. Chlorine (AKA bleach) is the standard additive for that job, found in every municipal water system. They both have roles to play in keeping our water systems going; cruisers who don't use a vinegar flush when they notice scale starting to form later post threads about how to remove total blockages in inaccessible hoses.....

[Cheechako]

Although often touted, I have tried straight white vinegar for soaking small items in to remove white crusty deposits... assume that is some sort of calcium. I have been amazed at how poorly it works. Basically doing nothing at all. Just saying that is my experience although I hear the vinegar suggestion often.

[a64pilot]

Vinegar won't kill most bacteria, we use it as an ear flush diving because it leaves the ph so acidic bacteria wont grow, but it doesn't actually kill the bacteria, just inhibit growth, and this at full strength mixed with alcohol, the alcohol helps dry the ear.

[zboss]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Although often touted, I have tried straight white vinegar for soaking small items in to remove white crusty deposits... assume that is some sort of calcium. I have been amazed at how poorly it works. Basically doing nothing at all. Just saying that is my experience although I hear the vinegar suggestion often.

Lime away or phosphoric acid solution. We switched all our pickups away from aluminum and to PVC for this purpose.