quick question about plastic contamination (Brute water tank)
- Thread starter ghstrider
- Start date
carlosngloria
Active member
I was looking at those in walmart but i think they will leak down by the wheels
coralfragger101
Gone Postal
(borrowed words)
Generally when plastic containers are made they are put one inside the other. This is called nesting. When newly fabricated buckets are made and they are nested, there is no way any air can circulate. Thus any toxins from newly formed synthetic materials cannot escape.
To cure: Fill the container with water. Add one cup of Clorox (bleach) and 10 pounds of common salt (rock salt will do), to each 25 gallon size container.
Allow to sit for 4-5 days.
Dump out, not on your lawn! Wash with clean fresh water.
Fill with clean fresh water. Add de-chlorinator. Allow to sit for 4-5 days.
Discard this water. Allow to open air cure (leave in your back yard) for 4-5 days.
At the end of this process, smell inside the container. If there is ANY odor of plastic, resins, etc. Cure again.
Once there is NO odor of any type, you can safely use this container to mix and store salt water.
Generally when plastic containers are made they are put one inside the other. This is called nesting. When newly fabricated buckets are made and they are nested, there is no way any air can circulate. Thus any toxins from newly formed synthetic materials cannot escape.
To cure: Fill the container with water. Add one cup of Clorox (bleach) and 10 pounds of common salt (rock salt will do), to each 25 gallon size container.
Allow to sit for 4-5 days.
Dump out, not on your lawn! Wash with clean fresh water.
Fill with clean fresh water. Add de-chlorinator. Allow to sit for 4-5 days.
Discard this water. Allow to open air cure (leave in your back yard) for 4-5 days.
At the end of this process, smell inside the container. If there is ANY odor of plastic, resins, etc. Cure again.
Once there is NO odor of any type, you can safely use this container to mix and store salt water.
ghstrider
New member
coral, that seems like ALOT to do~! Do i really need to do all that if im not going to store the water but maybe half a day? Is there a faster way to do it that will work almost as good?
Now that we are on the topic are the red plastic blitz gas cans we use to transport water leecjing chemicals into our tanks or only if the water is stored there for some time (ive done that w/ top off from the LFS)?
Could this chemical leeching be a strong contributor to my algae on the sand and the bit of red slime i get here and there??
thanks,
eddy
Now that we are on the topic are the red plastic blitz gas cans we use to transport water leecjing chemicals into our tanks or only if the water is stored there for some time (ive done that w/ top off from the LFS)?
Could this chemical leeching be a strong contributor to my algae on the sand and the bit of red slime i get here and there??
thanks,
eddy
Ding2daDong
New member
I just hosed mine down and dried it out. Seems to work fine.
-Matthew
-Matthew
coralfragger101
Gone Postal
GH - As stated, those were borrowed words. Personally I do cut the time down (2-3 days on each).
Yes, plastics leach. To include the red gas cans. The longer the water is stored - the more will leach into the water (common sense).
Do I think it could be part of your algae problem? Yes - it is possible. That, along with your nitrate level (from your signature).
You don't mention your PO4 level in your sig??
Yes, plastics leach. To include the red gas cans. The longer the water is stored - the more will leach into the water (common sense).
Do I think it could be part of your algae problem? Yes - it is possible. That, along with your nitrate level (from your signature).
You don't mention your PO4 level in your sig??
invertigator
New member
Eddie,
I rinsed mine a few times and put it to work right away. No problems so far. I know several others (of Guru status) that have done the same. Maybe we just got lucky.
I rinsed mine a few times and put it to work right away. No problems so far. I know several others (of Guru status) that have done the same. Maybe we just got lucky.
ghstrider
New member
I think its a combo of my nitrates, LFS water (typical TDS of 30-80 on avg), high fish count (12 i think), and leeching from my plastic containers. My PO4 is usually between 0-.25 (hard to read the afi test kit on PO4).
Brute wise, I think Im going to just clean it with water and a capful of bleach and run the gambit. I dont plan on leaving water in the container more than 24 hours. when i rinse out the container (after using the capful of bleach) do i need to do anything special besides a long rinse?
Brute wise, I think Im going to just clean it with water and a capful of bleach and run the gambit. I dont plan on leaving water in the container more than 24 hours. when i rinse out the container (after using the capful of bleach) do i need to do anything special besides a long rinse?
coralfragger101
Gone Postal
I've given up on the standard PO4 test kits. Just ordered a Hanna meter for PO4.
If you aren't going to do the entire cure with the brute then at least "smell" for the best one when you go to purchase. One that has been out in the air and not stacked within others. Bleach it - rinse it - dry it - smell it again. You are looking for no oder.
If you aren't going to do the entire cure with the brute then at least "smell" for the best one when you go to purchase. One that has been out in the air and not stacked within others. Bleach it - rinse it - dry it - smell it again. You are looking for no oder.
Young Frankenstein
New member
I always used bleach, and that sounds very reasonable. I agree do that Eddie
Young Frankenstein
New member
I think you should atleast leat it sit with hot water after the bleach for 24 hrs, try not to rush thinks Eddie, you can always ron the RODI and store the water in another container.
Treeman
New member
I use ammonia to clean any plastic containers. Wipe with straight ammonia and rinse down with tap water. Don't breathe while you are wiping or you will be on the floor 
Bleach can be used but make sure it is unscented. Bleach is really hard to rinse out. At least use a dechlorinator after.
I use a Hanna test kit for my phosphate, not a meter. It is a great very accurate test. But expensive. Your Phos should be unreadable with any of our test kits. The only way I get anything is when I have the lab test and it is about 20 ppb.
Bleach can be used but make sure it is unscented. Bleach is really hard to rinse out. At least use a dechlorinator after.I use a Hanna test kit for my phosphate, not a meter. It is a great very accurate test. But expensive. Your Phos should be unreadable with any of our test kits. The only way I get anything is when I have the lab test and it is about 20 ppb.
