I've found the Culprit!!!!

bmooney31 · May 1, 2011

I've been battling phosphates in my tanks. Well I think I've found the culprit. It's my brute trash cans I'm using as storage for my RODI and my saltwater. I did a WC tonight and tested my fresh saltwater and it read .02 on the hanna phosphate checker. So I then tested my top off water and it read .03 I thought this was weird since I have fresh DI resin and filters were replaced a few months back. I then disconnected my line and filled the cuvets with the water straight from the unit and it read 0.00. So I believe my cans are leaching phosphate in my water. So I've been topping off and doing water changes with phosphates in the water. I'm mad but at the same time relieved. So what kind of container can I use that won't leach? I thought the brute cans were safe but they're not. I do have a 55 gallon blue barrel I got from someone on here a year ago. has anyone had any issues with those? so know I'm on a hunt.

Reed639 · May 1, 2011

Is the aqua-tainer reef safe?
I ask this because everytime I smell the water in there it smells like plastic.
I also ask this becasue ever since I started using it I have been having a red slime algae outbreak.

Thanks,
Reed

Jeepguy242 · May 1, 2011

when was the last time you washed out the brute? maybe you got some funk growing in it!!!! i try too wash mine out every 3rd water change or so, just about the same time the crusty stuff starts forming.

Dave3112 · May 1, 2011

Jeepguy242 said:
when was the last time you washed out the brute? maybe you got some funk growing in it!!!! i try too wash mine out every 3rd water change or so, just about the same time the crusty stuff starts forming.

My thoughts too. I wipe mine down with a towel after each water change.

Troylee · May 2, 2011

Yeah I find it hard to believe..... Fwiw check this out....:tongue:

After reading some of the post concerning Rubbermaid Roughneck and Brute containers, Which one is good and with one is bad, and what color to use or not, I contacted Rubbermaid to obtain information for all of us.

Rubbermaid has to divisions. One who caters to the commercial side (brute) and the residential side. (roughneck) Both are made with the exact same FDA approved resins. None are treated with microbial compounds and color makes no difference.

The reason for the different colors being “FDA Approved” is for restaurant use. The Color coding system is used due to having a half dozen 44 Gal containers that all look alike except color being used for waste and food. # Colors are “approved” for food. This allows local Sanitation inspectors to quickly identify which is to be used for food.

Mike also added, that any new plastic container, Rubbermaid or not will cause TDS to rise slightly when it is a new container, but as it ages, it will reduce.

He also added that as of now, all Rubbermaid products use FDA approved resins, but there is discussion of changing this. It cost a lot of money to use the more expensive resins, but it also cost money to inventory both. In the not so distant future, roughneck may go to a non “FDA” approved material.

Lytehouse · May 2, 2011

awesome information torylee

bige · May 2, 2011

This makes sense. Since I got my new container things have been off. Cyano and now dino. Did tons of water changes. Thus aging the container and now things have calmed down. Does anyone clean containers with vinegar? I rinse mine with fw and dry. Should I do more?

melev · May 2, 2011

Whatever barrel or container you use, twice a year you should scrub it with 10:1 (water to bleach) bleach water, rinse it well and let it air dry for 24 hours. That will get you back on track with zero readings.

Aquaph8 · May 2, 2011

melev said:
Whatever barrel or container you use, twice a year you should scrub it with 10:1 (water to bleach) bleach water, rinse it well and let it air dry for 24 hours. That will get you back on track with zero readings.

Yeah, I should probably do this. One of those things you mean to do but never get around to.