water storage

[new2saltwater]

hi everone.
i have a line on some 55 gallon barrels. they said they were used once to ship water based food products. they also said they were cleaned out with dawn dish soap. i know soap is bad but is there anything the barrel can be washed with or should i just pass on them?

 

[Chichas01]

should be ok. make sure you pressure wash it out and maybe a good scrub with vinegar and hot water and it's probably good to go.

 

[returnofsid]

Rinse Rinse Rinse. After that, you should be fine, however, I'd use it for a month or so, and then test for phosphates, to make sure it isn't leaching any into your water. Fill it with RO/DI water, test immediately, and let it sit in there, circulating, for a few days, then re test.

 

[critercrit]

Rinse good and a good scrubbing should do the job

 

[Nana Chloropsis]

I have a couple of 55 gallon white-clear drums that I purchased from Eds Surplus in Lynnwood for under 20 bucks each. They were used to store soda-pop syrup. Wow, did they ever smell like it! I cleaned them out in the summer sunshine in the backyard, first with hose water, letting the sun bake them for a week. Then I used a strong bleach solution, same deal. Then I used Muriatic acic, diluted. Then, water again, still the pop smell! Then, I soaked them in a strong white vinegar solution and hot water and finally the smell finally went away. I have been using one for RODI water storage and auto topoff and the other to make up saltwater for water changes, both stored in the garage next to the sump, works great! Test for them phosphates to be safe!

 

[Electrokate]

Switched from the plastic barrel to a spare 30 gallon glass tank. Fits up against the wall better than the barrel, no leaching, easy to wipe down if I need to and i can easily see if the salt is gathering on the bottom while adding it or crusting up the sides or not dissolving at all... been experimenting with different salt brands and some are pretty weird looking and take days to dissolve. Only problem with this idea is I know some day I could look at it and think quarantine tank and then I have pretty soon just got another aquarium going Old scratched up acrylic 50 is probably going to end up in the closet performing this function so that I don't get any such ideas.

Main reason I switched was due to a rumor that soft plastic leaches hormone like chemicals that are endocrine disruptors affecting the ability of fish and invertebrates to develop their reproductive potential. Whether or not this is true I don't know, but being able to see while mixing saltwater is a real bonus. I do know that since I started using that barrel a few years ago my shrimp and fish don't breed with much success anymore. Fresh or salt. They make eggs but the eggs fail to develop.