Vinegar and tank cleaning warning

[aclockworkorange]

So I cleaned out a used tank I bought on craigslist with a mixture of white vinegar and water, and neglected to rinse it out due to the size (125 gallon).

Well, I checked the ph today, and it is off the charts, like 10.

Luckily I didn't put anything in it, just filled it up to see if it held water, but a word to the wise, if you use vinegar, rinse that stuff out!

 

[timkersh]

Wouldn't vinegar make it more acidic?

 

[aclockworkorange]

Wouldn't vinegar make it more acidic?

Actually, you're totally right, of course, vinegar is very acidic so the ph should have dropped...

So now I'm just a bit confused as to why my ph that comes out of the tap at 7 was so high...

 

[timkersh]

LOL That's very odd indeed. Maybe someone dropped an alka selzter in the tank?! I call shenanigans!

 

[ShadowBass]

You can't get an accurate pH read directly out of the tap.

You have to let it sit a few hours to off gas and then measure, in which time the pH will probably go up (but to 10? Unlikely).

Unless there's a massive carbonate/bicarbonate source in your tank, this makes no sense.

That pH is EXTREMELY high. Because remember pH goes up logarithmically (a pH rise of 1 is a tenfold difference from the number below it). So the difference between 7 and 10 is MASSIVE. You're talking about 30 times the difference.

I actually kind of wonder if you didn't test wrong or aren't reading it wrong. What are you using to measure?

I call shenanigans!

Kinda wondering that

 

[Twixy]

7 to 10 Try more like a difference of a 1000 times. The scale goes up and down in multiples of 10

 

[ShadowBass]

7 to 10 Try more like a difference of a 1000 times. The scale goes up and down in multiples of 10

You're right.

Adding 10+10+10 rather than multiplying 10x10x10 due to not paying attention = FAIL.

 

[gomezladdams]

Thats the good thing about vinegar...it stinks!rinse till you dont smell it and youre good to go.
recheck ph.sounds like you did something wrong.

 

[L021]

On that pH scale vinegar is too high and Lemon juice too low...

 

[knifegill]

I typically stand a tank on end and spray a hose into it so it just pours out as I add water. Of course, I wouldn't do that to anything bigger 200g! Good warning thread for sure! But I've actually seen two references to people using minute quantities or vinegar in an aquarium to bring pH down! I wouldn't do that, since it would probably kill my bb at least if not the fish.