That's a tough one. I'd be hesitant to reuse them myself. You could always clean it like you said, then add a dozen feeder guppies or rosie reds with an airstone and see how they do. If you don't lose any in a week, you're probably ok. I'd bleach the buckets first, then the heavy concentration of Prime
Reuse of pails for aging water?
Hello, am new to the forum, but not new to the hobby. I have 2 large 20L pail which I bought for my first planted tank but had used them for cleaning / moping the floor after I gave the hobby up 7 years ago. I had not used the pails for over 2 years and they are sitting in the storeroom now.
I am back to this hobby, but am not keen to buy another 2 large pails. I was wondering if I can clean them, pour water and use a heavy concentration of Seachem Prime, let it sit for 1 week. Rinse and repeat every week for 1 month, then proceed to use it. Will it be safe then?
I am back to this hobby, but am not keen to buy another 2 large pails. I was wondering if I can clean them, pour water and use a heavy concentration of Seachem Prime, let it sit for 1 week. Rinse and repeat every week for 1 month, then proceed to use it. Will it be safe then?
1 - 20 of 24 Posts
I would be hesitant if they are plastic; I had a large plastic bottle I was trying to use to make a fish trap. I wanted to remove a label first so the paper/glue would not end up in tank. Maybe this type of plastic is more absorbent, but it ending up smelling like the bleach and natural cleaner I used on it and I still cannot get that smell out, so I figured there could be some residue on the plastic. The cleaners you used in the bucket, if strong, could have etched into the plastic and left a residue. I hate to spend money if I don't have to, but figured it would be more expensive to replace fish than the bottle! Doing a test fish sounds like a good idea!
ps - my LFS often has extra pails they will give away or sell cheap!
ps - my LFS often has extra pails they will give away or sell cheap!
Thanks guys for the reply. The thing is, even if I buy a new pail from the store, there is no telling if the pail had been used / returned or brand new.
I reckon my planted tank will be ready in Dec. Will only put fish in around Jan 2017.
I reckon my planted tank will be ready in Dec. Will only put fish in around Jan 2017.
This is one of those cases where we have to do a real estimate of the potential. Does stuff soak into the plastic? Possible but then we might also ask if there is already something in all the plastic we use that slowly leaches out. Likely!
So for me, it becomes a balance where I normally find I'm taking some risk, either way I go. So I go for easy and clean it and go.
Every new item you put in the tank comes with some risk and yard dirt is not like the worst one. Think how many times a pesticide guy may spray around the warehouse, store and dealer before the new filter gets to you?
So with used buckets, I would clean them with a rinse, let them set for a few hours with a light bleach soak. Maybe a teaspoon of bleach? Next day , I would rinse it and that gets the chlorine level down to near what the normal tap water has and I deal with the rest as normal. Chlorine reacts with organics so it takes care of almost all the things like oils, pesticides, etc. that might have soaked into the plastic.
Never a sure thing but then life was never meant to be safe, was it?
So for me, it becomes a balance where I normally find I'm taking some risk, either way I go. So I go for easy and clean it and go.
Every new item you put in the tank comes with some risk and yard dirt is not like the worst one. Think how many times a pesticide guy may spray around the warehouse, store and dealer before the new filter gets to you?
So with used buckets, I would clean them with a rinse, let them set for a few hours with a light bleach soak. Maybe a teaspoon of bleach? Next day , I would rinse it and that gets the chlorine level down to near what the normal tap water has and I deal with the rest as normal. Chlorine reacts with organics so it takes care of almost all the things like oils, pesticides, etc. that might have soaked into the plastic.
Never a sure thing but then life was never meant to be safe, was it?
Good reasoning. Thank you.This is one of those cases where we have to do a real estimate of the potential. Does stuff soak into the plastic? Possible but then we might also ask if there is already something in all the plastic we use that slowly leaches out. Likely!
So for me, it becomes a balance where I normally find I'm taking some risk, either way I go. So I go for easy and clean it and go.
Every new item you put in the tank comes with some risk and yard dirt is not like the worst one. Think how many times a pesticide guy may spray around the warehouse, store and dealer before the new filter gets to you?
So with used buckets, I would clean them with a rinse, let them set for a few hours with a light bleach soak. Maybe a teaspoon of bleach? Next day , I would rinse it and that gets the chlorine level down to near what the normal tap water has and I deal with the rest as normal. Chlorine reacts with organics so it takes care of almost all the things like oils, pesticides, etc. that might have soaked into the plastic.
Never a sure thing but then life was never meant to be safe, was it?
Five bucks for a new bucket would be my choice.
See em at Walmart for about five bucks (5 gal)
See em at Walmart for about five bucks (5 gal)
If you're concerned about both the former content of your bucket, as well as the cleaners needed to remove said contents, go to the local supermarket bakery and ask for the empty frosting or oil buckets. You will have to clean them, too, but at least you know you're getting food grade buckets that only held what they were designed. And you can use vinegar and salt as your cleaning agents, and not worry about anything.
But I'm with plantedrich, there's always some risk with everything. I'd be willing to clean the old buckets.
But I'm with plantedrich, there's always some risk with everything. I'd be willing to clean the old buckets.
My main point would be that what we use buckets for in the yard is not as likely to kill fish as the things they use to make, ship, and sell the buckets that are new.
Thanks again for all the replies. I do not have a habit of wasting resources, besides I live in a small apartment and I don't have space in my little storeroom. So i try to avoid buying the pail even though the homeproud ones only cost like $5-$8. Will proceed to use the pails and do a bleach, vinegar/salt cleaning.
Myself I don't think it's worth the gamble. Small trace amounts of things may not cause instant deaths but may cause problems down the road that are difficult to pinpoint. If you insist on using the contaminated bucket, maybe line it with a garbage bag for aging your water?
Myself the cost of a bucket is nothing compared to the headaches that the possible leaching of toxic chemicals could cause you.
Any time you have any deaths or issues you would always be second guessing a 5$ bucket. Fish may be fine, but down the road you start adding shrimp that keep dying and spend a ton of money trying to figure out why, and all this may be from an un traceable chemical leaching from a 5$ bucket you didn't replace......
Just my 2 cents.
Cheers.
.
Myself the cost of a bucket is nothing compared to the headaches that the possible leaching of toxic chemicals could cause you.
Any time you have any deaths or issues you would always be second guessing a 5$ bucket. Fish may be fine, but down the road you start adding shrimp that keep dying and spend a ton of money trying to figure out why, and all this may be from an un traceable chemical leaching from a 5$ bucket you didn't replace......
Just my 2 cents.
Cheers.
.
Yep, I was in home depot the other day and got a nice orange 5G Homer Bucket for $2.97Five bucks for a new bucket would be my choice.
See em at Walmart for about five bucks (5 gal)
Main point in my view, is not to use dedicated fish tank bucket's for anything else.
Just an accident/disaster waiting to happen.
Just an accident/disaster waiting to happen.
Yes. I never use my buckets for anything else. I just bought four lowes buckets. I needed one for fishing after I bought them and won't use them in the fish house anymore. Yes. I am that finicky. I go so far to washout the sink after the wife has had cleaning water in it.Main point in my view, is not to use dedicated fish tank bucket's for anything else.
Just an accident/disaster waiting to happen.
My point is, there is no guarantee the buckets I buy from store are brand new. They could be return items where the previous buyer could have use it to wash their bathroom, kitchen, cars etc. It's just calculated risk. Will post here if I have problems down the road.
I don't think most people return a $2.97 bucket, but I could be wrong. I think your odds are pretty good at getting a 'new' one.
I wouldn't use an old one for fish stuff that has been used to mop things up but I bet you could without any issues.
Like others say just buy some sheetrock buckets at home depot for a few bucks or something.
On another note I re-use sheetrock buckets after quarantine tanks and such and disinfect with bleach and then just rinse them out and use them again without issues. I would argue if you disinfected and scrubbed an old bucket good enough with bleach and then rinsed and perhaps dechlorinated with prime you would be fine.
Like others say just buy some sheetrock buckets at home depot for a few bucks or something.
On another note I re-use sheetrock buckets after quarantine tanks and such and disinfect with bleach and then just rinse them out and use them again without issues. I would argue if you disinfected and scrubbed an old bucket good enough with bleach and then rinsed and perhaps dechlorinated with prime you would be fine.
Am looking at some food grade pail 15L from a local depot with lid. Might help to store water better i think. For new buckets, is it safe to use Bar Keeper Friend and give it a light scrub?
Buckets from the store may still have release agent on, which is like an oil to help pull the buckets loose from the mold.
I would clean the bucket and use it, our hobby is quite the opposite to green already, so a bit of upcycling/recycling is in order.
But once you made a choice, keep it as a dedicated tank bucket. I made lines on my bucket for 5, 10 and 15 liter and corresponding marks on my tanks, so it is always easy to fetch just the right amount of water and measure out dechlorinator.
As for the aging, don't let the water stand for more than 2 days to avoid bacteria growing in it.
I would clean the bucket and use it, our hobby is quite the opposite to green already, so a bit of upcycling/recycling is in order.
But once you made a choice, keep it as a dedicated tank bucket. I made lines on my bucket for 5, 10 and 15 liter and corresponding marks on my tanks, so it is always easy to fetch just the right amount of water and measure out dechlorinator.
As for the aging, don't let the water stand for more than 2 days to avoid bacteria growing in it.
Don't age for more than 2 days? really? I have always store water for 1-2 weeks as I use to only water change twice per week. I keep them for emergency, in case I need to do large water change.Buckets from the store may still have release agent on, which is like an oil to help pull the buckets loose from the mold.
I would clean the bucket and use it, our hobby is quite the opposite to green already, so a bit of upcycling/recycling is in order.
But once you made a choice, keep it as a dedicated tank bucket. I made lines on my bucket for 5, 10 and 15 liter and corresponding marks on my tanks, so it is always easy to fetch just the right amount of water and measure out dechlorinator.
As for the aging, don't let the water stand for more than 2 days to avoid bacteria growing in it.
1 - 20 of 24 Posts
- This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
The Planted Tank Forum
A forum community dedicated to Aquatic tank owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about flora, fauna, health, housing, filters, care, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Top Contributors this Month
View All
Kwyet
131 Replies
Creature From The Tank
69 Replies
Goodwood
47 Replies
Recommended Communities
