In order to better protect my fuel tanks from possible future corrosion, I decided to treat them with Alodine/Bonderite 1201 (chromate conversion coating) since using primer paint is not an option for the tanks. This process involves immersing and abrading in an acid etching solution the parts for a few minutes, rising in water, then immersion in the Alodine solution for a few minutes, rising in water again, and then letting air dry. I used 3 plastic tubs from Walmart that are normally used for under-bed storage, however their size and dimensions made good immersion tanks. Each tank was filled with about 2-3 gallons of liquid and was sufficient to cover all of these ribs.
The big concern with this process is that the Alodine solution is considered toxic and has waste disposal concerns. The acid bath isn't that great either. However, I believe I should be able to find a local metal plating shop that would be willing to take my waste solutions once I'm done, since they would have to neutralize and dispose of similar waste. I wore double-layer of gloves, and tried to exclusively handle the parts with metal tongs that were left over from parties from long ago.
The intensity of the gold color on some of the parts seems lighter than the others, particularly near the end of the session. I wonder if that was due to the reduced effectivity of the solution as it was being consumed, or perhaps just due to my process inconsistencies. However, I believe this is just a cosmetic concern and not a difference in corrosion protection.