RO/DI Barrels - top or no top?

[PlanB]

I just bought two 55 gal barrels off craigslist for my RO/DI water, and I was wondering if it would be good to keep the top intact and use the fittings it has, or if I should cut the tops off. Thinking that it would be a lot easier to deal with if the tops were off, but maybe there is a good reason to keep them? Any advice, experience with this?

 

[cromag27]

Top! always top. airborne pollutants will foul your water.

 

[PlanB]

Top! always top. airborne pollutants will foul your water.

Right, top lid for sure, but do I cut them (creating a loose lid) or do I leave them sealed and use the two fittings they come with? Keep in mind I still need to wash them thoroughly.

 

[mcarroll]

I wouldn't do it if you have to cut the barrel.

If you want access to the top you should look for olive barrels that have a band+lid screw-on two-part lid (a lot like a Ball jar). You can still plumb the top with fitting if you'd want to, depends how you plan to use it.

 

[mcarroll]

I found those for $30/ea via craigslist....

 

[Willz]

I wouldn't do it if you have to cut the barrel.

If you want access to the top you should look for olive barrels that have a band+lid screw-on two-part lid (a lot like a Ball jar). You can still plumb the top with fitting if you'd want to, depends how you plan to use it.

Mine was a pickled peppers and man that thing was a beast to clean out and get smelling normal. But yeah, it had a screw top ring, a lid, and a gasket.

Do you have pic of the barrel?

 

[mcarroll]

I don't, but it's one of the standard types....."terra-cotta" color with a black lid. 55 gallons.

pickle barrel = olive barrel :)

Mine still have a smell of olive seasoning and they've both been triple-pressure-washed with Dawn dishwashing detergent. :D

Back in the day, I got a 7 gallon pickle bucket from Subway to use for my freshwater tanks – time was the only thing that finally got rid of that vinegar/pickle smell. Never seemed to affect anything.

 

[PlanB]

Mine was a pickled peppers and man that thing was a beast to clean out and get smelling normal. But yeah, it had a screw top ring, a lid, and a gasket.

Do you have pic of the barrel?

 

[Willz]

Yep, I pressure washed and bleached the five I bought. Still smells like the ghost of pickled peppers when I open it.

 

[PlanB]

Yep, I pressure washed and bleached the five I bought. Still smells like the ghost of pickled peppers when I open it.

Thanks. Sounds like I will keep the lids and pressure wash the crap out of them.

 

[Willz]

Hmm, yeah, I'll let someone else chime in. The one's I bought were different. That looks like there is only two ways in if the lid itself doesn't pop off. What did they have in them?

 

[PlanB]

The guy who sold them said laundry detergent. :(

 

[Willz]

The guy who sold them said laundry detergent. :(

I'd be real careful about that. I think commercial laundry detergent has phosphates in it. Not saying you can't get it out of there, but I would always wonder.... Good luck :)

 

[PlanB]

I'd be real careful about that. I think commercial laundry detergent has phosphates in it. Not saying you can't get it out of there, but I would always wonder.... Good luck :)

Roger that. They were 20$, which is pretty cheap, and tempting not to buy. I've heard that this type of plastic does not absorb/leach their contents, so we will see.

 

[harley3]

I bought 2 food grade poly drums locally from a container company. This guy is familiar with reefers so when I mentioned it, he said he had some that were used for something (I can't remember) that didn't smell or leave residue and put those aside for me. I cut the lid off of one since i just used it for mixing water. It is now a 55 gal trash can for the garage. I cut a square hole in the top of the other one so I can put a pump in it when needed and it will be covered when storing water. I also have a 44 gal Rubbermaid brute with lid I bought at Lowe's for storage of extra RODI.

They still have plenty of these if anyone wants the info to order them online. Not sure what shipping would be and that might be the killer.

 

[mcarroll]

I think that's called a "closed head" drum.....you'd look for an "open head" ideally....I think there are others too though.

For RODI storage I think those would be fine – great, even!

However, I would not want to be responsible for getting a "50 gal" size bag of salt into one of them. :confused::mad::confused::mad::confused::mad:o_O:(:mad::confused::mad::confused::( Right?

I think I'd look for another open or screw-top barrel for salt mixing.

Either sell or repurpose one of these barrels if you don't want/need 110 gallons of RODI storage.

Cleaning
For cleaning maybe throw in some sand, detergent (maybe with some baking soda or washing soda) and water, seal it up and just roll them around vigorously. Got kids? :)

 

[Willz]

For cleaning maybe throw in some sand, detergent (maybe with some baking soda or washing soda) and water, seal it up and just roll them around vigorously.

Love it. Roll it down a big hill, if it smells like detergent you're not done rolling it.

 

[PlanB]

Appreciate all the advice, guys.

 

[gtbarsi]

I think that's called a "closed head" drum.....you'd look for an "open head" ideally....I think there are others too though.

For RODI storage I think those would be fine – great, even!

However, I would not want to be responsible for getting a "50 gal" size bag of salt into one of them. :confused::mad::confused::mad::confused::mad:o_O:(:mad::confused::mad::confused::( Right?

I think I'd look for another open or screw-top barrel for salt mixing.

Either sell or repurpose one of these barrels if you don't want/need 110 gallons of RODI storage.

Cleaning
For cleaning maybe throw in some sand, detergent (maybe with some baking soda or washing soda) and water, seal it up and just roll them around vigorously. Got kids? :)

After that rinse with regular water a couple times then dump a gallon or two of vinegar in there and roll it around some more. I would keep the vinegar in there a couple of days moving it around several time a day, then dump that out rinse one more time with regular water and then let dry completely.

Rinse with RO/DI once or twice then fill with RO/DI, let sit for a month, then check the TDS of the water. If it goes up then you need to dump the water, rinse, and fill again with RO/DI, let sit again and test again. IF the water fails to keep the exact same TDS 3 times then I would trash them.

I know that is a lot of work and time but given what it held and what it is going to hold is it worth risking?

 

[PlanB]

After that rinse with regular water a couple times then dump a gallon or two of vinegar in there and roll it around some more. I would keep the vinegar in there a couple of days moving it around several time a day, then dump that out rinse one more time with regular water and then let dry completely.

Rinse with RO/DI once or twice then fill with RO/DI, let sit for a month, then check the TDS of the water. If it goes up then you need to dump the water, rinse, and fill again with RO/DI, let sit again and test again. IF the water fails to keep the exact same TDS 3 times then I would trash them.

I know that is a lot of work and time but given what it held and what it is going to hold is it worth risking?

Time is my friend on this one, since my tank is not even here yet. Tomorrow hopefully it will be, but still have to put that together, figure out what to add to it.. all that jazz. So, plenty of time to sort this barrel cleaning thing out!