water storage/mixing

[primo21]

Are standard rubbermaid trash cans from home depot able to be used for water storage / mixing container? If so, how do I prepare it/clean it prior to use? Is a rinse with water/vinegar solution good enough? I assume any kind of soap is out of the question.

thanks.

 

[primo21]

Also, should I look for a certain material the can is made from?

 

[Neokane]

tagging along.

Also, does mixed water need to be continuously moving? (IE have a small pump to circulate the water?)

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

Brute cans from home depot are fine. I rinse them with tap water, let them soak in tap water, rinse them again and they are good to go. Saltwater should stay mixing but I dont keep my RODI water mixing.

 

[Rxp]

same here I keep salt mix moving and my ato,I only make enough ro water to last one week so I really didn't think I needed to keep it moving

 

[jerpa]

You want to use the "Brute" line of Rubbermaid cans. They are food grade and will not leach anything into the water. I rinse mine down with vinegar before use.

Salt mixes that contain organics, such as Reef Crystals or Red Sea Coral Pro, should be kept circulating until use. Mixes that don't contain organics, like regular instant ocean and Coralife, can be stored indefinitely without circulation. RODI never needs circulation.

 

[Timber77]

This is a debatable topic :Brutes are made from recycled trash, not something i would suggest in a reef tank... to the folks that chime in its food grade so is copper and alot of other metals which are definatley not reef safe. Use glass or acrylic tanks for liquid storage and eliminate any potential leaching.

 

[tamaroo]

I use the gray (food grade) Brute cans for storing RODI. I've had no problems with them leaching phosphates, but some people report otherwise. When I got the cans I rinsed them with some RODI water and wiped them down before using. You could use some vinegar in the cleaning water if you want, just rinse the can out before filling with fresh RODI.