Help me with Brute Selection

[reefgeezer]

Ok, my paralysis by analysis continues. I discovered that my green Brute trash can that I've been using for years is POSSIBLY leaching a tiny bit of phosphate into my top-off water. I initially started to just go buy a grey Brute like everyone else... but I had to go and do some reading. Now I'm just confused. I really want to get it right this time and I'm concerned that there might be two different grey Brutes, one good & one not.

It seems that all Brute Cans are made from Low Density Polyethylene. Rubbermaid says the white, grey, and yellow ones are certified for meat & poultry use, NSF2, and the rest, including grey, just for trash, NSF21. I looked at Lowes... all colors I looked at, green, red, & grey, have a "4" in the arrow triangle indicating they are made of the same material.

So ***? I know everyone will say just shut up and buy the grey one, but I'm really curious if anyone actually knows if there is a difference.

Signed: Confused & Paralyzed!

 

[homer1475]

I bought regular grey ones from lowes, and I've checked for anything leeching. Never an issue.

The number in the triangle just represents the plastic its made from.

• #1 – PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) ...
• #2 – HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) ...
• #3 – PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) ...
• #4 – LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene) ...
• #5 – PP (Polypropylene) ...
• #6 – PS (Polystyrene)

 

[hijinks]

Generally you want #2 so look at the plastic symbol and see if there's a 2 in the triangle. HDPE is food safe. I think another number is but I always have used HDPE

 

[reefgeezer]

Generally you want #2 so look at the plastic symbol and see if there's a 2 in the triangle. HDPE is food safe. I think another number is but I always have used HDPE

Yea, got that from my reading. So far, every Brute I've looked at, regardless of color, is #4, LDPE material.

 

[shellsea]

I just bought this 32 gallon white Food Grade Brute on Amazon for $30. I get free shipping with Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RD9EV60/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[mcgyvr]

They are all just fine to use..

I have had zero problems purchasing/using any type and all types of plastic containers over the years.. I simply wash them out then use them..
I don't care if its "food safe" or whatever..
If its plastic I will use it and I will not have any problems because of it..

People have blown this crap way out of proportion in this hobby and just go crazy over it..

 

[reefgeezer]

I just bought this 32 gallon white Food Grade Brute on Amazon for $30. I get free shipping with Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RD9EV60/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I think that's gonna be my choice too. I see those in food service all the time.

 

[Ritten]

I've got the Hunter Green 20 gallon Brute and I'm not finding the triangle with a number in it. I've had a small phosphate problem that I thought my live rock was leaching.

 

[shellsea]

For what its worth I have another post where I talk about the TDS build up in my mixing Brute (grey) after a few years of use. After cleaning it well I was still getting .33 TDS after putting in zero TDS water. Hoping the white one AND keeping my RO filters clean will prevent that from reoccurring.

 

[reefgeezer]

They are all just fine to use..

I have had zero problems purchasing/using any type and all types of plastic containers over the years.. I simply wash them out then use them..
I don't care if its "food safe" or whatever..
If its plastic I will use it and I will not have any problems because of it..

People have blown this crap way out of proportion in this hobby and just go crazy over it..

I have always made that argument too as evidenced by many years of using this green Brute. But now that I've tested it, I'm having trouble ignoring the elevated phosphate test readings coming from ASW mixed with water that has been stored for just a week in it. I only fill the container about once a month so the water stays in it quite a while. I'm more concerned about what the concentration of phosphate (or whatever is causing the phosphate reading) is right before I refill it. I think $30 is reasonable to eliminate my worry. I just wanted to see if anyone really had objective evidence of the differences between the colors or their characteristic leaching.

 

[reefgeezer]

I've got the Hunter Green 20 gallon Brute and I'm not finding the triangle with a number in it. I've had a small phosphate problem that I thought my live rock was leaching.

Look on the bottom. It probably has a #4 on it same as mine. If your phosphate problem is more than slight, the Brute may not be a big part of the problem though.

 

[homer1475]

I have an email if I can find it, from rubbermaid. It basically states that all their trash cans are "food safe" but they do not go through the extra step of getting actual trash cans NSF certified because of the extra cost(reason food safe ones cost more), and well their trash cans. They use all the same plastic in 99%(with the same triangle number) of their trash cans food safe or not.

I only emailed them because I live in very rural area and only have an ACE hardware store near me and I wanted to use their brand of trash can made by rubbermaid. I did use them for a while, but found them too flimsy for long term use and ended up getting grey brutes.


I agree with mcgyvr, most of this stuff gets blown way out of proportion in this hobby.

 

[lapin]

Continintal makes ones also. White and clear. They bought the old rubbermaid molds years ago. Some times a lot cheaper if you can find them local.
https://www.webstaurantstore.com/search/32-gallon-continental-huskey-container.html

 

[dkwatts15]

I have had the grey brutes for 4years. Very sturdy and still in great shape. I just rinse them and give them a good wipe after water changes.