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R/O storage tank

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15 gallon 30 gallon 55 gallon 55g barrel buckets buy clean cleaner cleaning disease food gallon phosphate plants ro/di saltwater smell storage sun system tank top water water storage
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Alen

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
i picked up a 15 gallon storage tank from a friend of mine, he works at a self wash car wash and he gave it to me, there was auto detergent (car wash soap)in it. i rinsed it out until there weren't any suds, then i filled it with bleach and water. i let it sit for a week. what i want to do now is to fill it with vinegar and water and let that sit. then after that rinse it out with r/o water.

so what im trying to ask is after cleaning it would it be ok to store r/o water or premixed saltwater in it?

is it safe?

and how can i tell if its food safe?

thanks in advance
 
#2 ·
It'll be fine.. No suds, no issues. If it was food grade they wouldn't be using it as a soap container as manufacturing food grade containers are more expensive. Also, usually a container that size will indicate that it is usable for food grade storage. You don't need food grade containers for ro/di water. Buckets from home depot, Lowes, Menards or 55 Rubbermaid containers aren't food grade and they work just fine for most all water storage.
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
wow thank you so much, im actually going to get some more of the 15 gallon containers and a couple of 30 gallon containers and maybe a couple of 55 gallon containers.

Thanks again runzwithsissors!
 
#4 ·
I'd be more cautious before dancing merrily into this supposed Eden. Car wash detergents once used copious amounts of phosphate - were they exempt from the phosphate legislation, IDK. If they were your containers are compromised, I'd at least employ some lanthanum chloride in a soak. If they were not what was used to replace the phosphate? That cure may in fact be worse than the disease.

They may be fine, perhaps RWS is a chemist and knows with certainty. I'm only certain I wouldn't use them.

YMMV.
 
#5 ·
the answer is no. i picked up a 55 gal drum from a car wash earlier this summer. i washed and washed. but you'll see that if you let water sit in it for a day or so there will still be a residue on top of the water. these barrels have been filled continuously over the summer and it still happens, i instead have been using them to water plants that are way out in the back yard, so i dont have to drag the hose out there as often.so after bein filled allowed to sit over and over again the soap is still leaching.

if you want to do it right go on craigslist. there is a guy who sells 30g and 55g drums that were previously used to hold soda pop. he washes them before he sells them. when i got 3 from him i filled them up, let them sit in the sun for a day. drained them and the smell of pop went away, there was no visible leaching, and after many many months i have had no problems with my tank. also when i bought them i bought barrels for 12 other members on this site. no one has said a single negative thing about the barrels.
 
#7 ·
Why not just to Home Depot and buy a brute trash can with the caster wheels attachment for like 40 bucks?
 
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#8 ·
on the spot said:
I'd be more cautious before dancing merrily into this supposed Eden. Car wash detergents once used copious amounts of phosphate - were they exempt from the phosphate legislation, IDK. If they were your containers are compromised, I'd at least employ some lanthanum chloride in a soak. If they were not what was used to replace the phosphate? That cure may in fact be worse than the disease.

They may be fine, perhaps RWS is a chemist and knows with certainty. I'm only certain I wouldn't use them.

YMMV.
Click to expand...
Not a chemist, but have used them in the past with absolutely no problems whatsoever. What I did neglect to mention is that it has to be the "soap" containers and not the wax, tire cleaner, engine cleaner, etc, etc.
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
rws those are the exact ones i got is the detergent (soap) containers. the bleach wont help out?
i have a brute, and a 55 gallon food grade barrel, im just trying to get smaller ones, seeing how i went with a smaller tank
 
#12 ·
Alen said:
...the bleach wont help out?..
Click to expand...
I'd bet the soap to be more alkaline. An acid wash might prove more beneficial.
Then there is still the question of leaching, what is bound to the lining, can or will it react in DI water. I don't pretend to know anything about chemistry or car wash detergents, but the risk to me doesn't seem worth the limited reward.
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
so if i clean it out and use it, its going to leach?

what if i fill it with ro/di water and let it sit for a week and test it for alk, phos, and salinity with a refractometer and hanna checkers.
and they test negative there still not good?
 
#14 ·
IMO dont waste your time with it. i just said i have repeatedly filled a simular container over and over again all summer long to water plants and i still clearly see residue leaching out of a soap barrel. if you really really want to go though with it stop asking for opinions and just do it, its not my money that is invested in the tank so im not gonna warn you any more than this.
 
#15 ·
Alen said:
so if i clean it out and use it, its going to leach?

what if i fill it with ro/di water and let it sit for a week and test it for alk, phos, and salinity with a refractometer and hanna checkers.
and they test negative there still not good?
Click to expand...
I didn't see anyone stating factually that any of that would happen. The probability of something happening or an overall negative experience is greater because you are starting from a contaminated vessel, and you, me, we have absolutely no idea how those contaminants reacted with the vessel or how they will react with DI water. The things you can test for probably won't tell you anything about what is leaching, if anything at all. I wouldn't use it is all I said. I don't believe the effort and uncertainty to be worth the risk. RWS experience notwithstanding.
 
#17 ·
dputt88 said:
You're right there is no facts or first hand experience about soap leaching from barrels in this thread.....
Click to expand...
There is a misunderstanding here. We were discussing his barrels, and what might or could happen - your experience does not dictate what his will be - Your first hand experience wasn't being discounted. I was challenging the ease with which RWS made assumptions regarding the buckets suitability.

I apologize for my lack of clarity.
 
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