Can you keep Kalkwasser in plastic?

[Ernie C]

I’ve had a few plastic storage containers crack over time when using them to hold kalk. Have been using glass containers for a while but wanted something larger and was trying out an old 5 gallon water jug for kalk dosing and had it crack and leak as well. Not sure if it was just old or the kalk had something to do with it.

 

[lapin]

Depends on what that old plastic jug is made from. Some are chemically resistant and will not absorb the chemical. Others will melt depending on the chemical.
https://www.calpaclab.com/chemical-compatibility-charts/

 

[Ernie C]

Looks like the plastics I was using aren’t good for the high ph. Anyone know what I can use instead? I was reading the brute trash bins were ok to use. Anyone using these?

 

[Ernie C]

Are containers made of Polyethylene safe for kalk?

 

[George81]

You can get 5 or 6 gallon carboys that are all glass and a bung to seal it. Check your local wine or home brew shops. Up here in Canada a 6 gallon glass carboy is 33$. Probably much cheaper in the USA.
You can check northern brewer.

I’m using an old salt bucket. So far no issues. But it’s only been a month or so

 

[Ernie C]

I wonder what type of plastic those 5 gallon buckets are made of. I was also looking at carboys on amazon from northern. They are like $40 shipped. But worried about the weight and moving it around and filling etc. Hoping someone chimes in about polyethylene plastic. I’ve read a few people using dog food bins and the brute cans. Just wondering the plastic that’s safe. I know the clear polycarbonate cracks from experience.

 

[nereefpat]

My 6 gallon Oceanic Salt bucket has held up to limewater for at least a couple years.

 

[Ernie C]

My 6 gallon Oceanic Salt bucket has held up to limewater for at least a couple years.

Any idea what type of plastic its made of?

 

[nereefpat]

Any idea what type of plastic its made of?

I'll see if I can find one of those recycle triangles with a # on it when I go home for lunch.

 

[rkpetersen]

Most kalkwasser reactors are made from plastic, mostly acrylic with other components.
I've been using one for 2 years and it's fine.
So acrylic at least is ok for longterm saturated kalk storage.

I don't know for a fact that polyethylene is ok for kalk, but it is one of the most stable plastics.
It has the simplest molecular structure of all plastics, with or without cross-linking, and is highly resistant to solvents in general.

 

[Ernie C]

Depends on what that old plastic jug is made from. Some are chemically resistant and will not absorb the chemical. Others will melt depending on the chemical.
https://www.calpaclab.com/chemical-compatibility-charts/

Based on this info I went ahead with some polyethylene (HDPE) 5 gallon jugs for brewing I got on amazon. So far so good. Thanks.

 

[nereefpat]

Based on this info I went ahead with some polyethylene (HDPE) 5 gallon jugs for brewing I got on amazon. So far so good. Thanks.

Bah! Sorry, I forgot to look. My bucket is #5 plastic (polypropylene). I don't remember exactly when I started kalk, but I'm thinking about 2-3 years ago.

 

[Ross Petersen]

Reviving an old thread here... I'm using a vittles food grade storage container to dose kalkwasser via an ATO. Is anyone else doing this? According to the Vittles website, the container is made of food grade HDPE which the table included on this thread suggests is safe with bases like kalkwasser/Ca(OH)2.

Would like to confirm with the smart folks out there though!

 

[Ernie C]

Reviving an old thread here... I'm using a vittles food grade storage container to dose kalkwasser via an ATO. Is anyone else doing this? According to the Vittles website, the container is made of food grade HDPE which the table included on this thread suggests is safe with bases like kalkwasser/Ca(OH)2.

Would like to confirm with the smart folks out there though!

I've been using HDPE 5 gallon jugs i got from amazon for kalk for over a year with no issues.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Polyethylene and polypropylene of any type are fine.

Polycarbonate is the main one to avoid.

 

[Ross Petersen]

Polyethylene and polypropylene of any type are fine.

Polycarbonate is the main one to avoid.

Thanks Randy :)

 

[mikst]

Depends on what that old plastic jug is made from. Some are chemically resistant and will not absorb the chemical. Others will melt depending on the chemical.
https://www.calpaclab.com/chemical-compatibility-charts/

Thanks! That site is very helpful. I was looking at a brightroom food storage container from target made of polypropylene. The website shows it as excellent up to 120F for calcium hydroxide.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks! That site is very helpful. I was looking at a brightroom food storage container from target made of polypropylene. The website shows it as excellent up to 120F for calcium hydroxide.

Polypropylene is good for nearly any chemical used in reef tanks, as long as it does not get hot since it softens at temps near boiling.

 

[mikst]

Polypropylene is good for nearly any chemical used in reef tanks, as long as it does not get hot since it softens at temps near boiling.

Perfect, thanks for confirming. Yeah that website had some foot notes that pointed out what happens when it heats up.

This is my choice of container to fit behind the aio tank.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I stored mine in Rubbermaid brutes,which are polyethylene and of similar chemical resistance to polypropylene.