Water storage procedure

whiterabbit.50 · 02/01/2009, 01:26 PM

Hello,

I know this has been discussed before and I have read many of the threads but I still have some questions.

I know I have to use food grade containers to store water, but my questions is: how do you know if they are food grade? Is is just as simple as seeing if their translucent? Do they need to have the little fork and glass symbol on them or does it say "food grade"?

Right now im using a PET (1) water container (one that used to hold water for a water cooler/dispenser) to hold my top off RO/DI water, it has the little fork and glass symbol on it. Is this safe to use?

For my salt water storage im using two HDPE (2) buckets. One is an Instant Ocean salt bucket and the other is a bucket that carried grape juice (used to make wine). Neither say that their food grade (although they have alot of markings on them). Are these safe to use?

Lastly, I usually mix my salt (red sea) 24-48 hours before using it, I dont have any powerheads/airpumps running, I just mix it with my hand a bit and wait. Is this ok?

Thanks for the help!

Geodriller · 02/01/2009, 01:50 PM

I have used a tote that said nothing about being food-safe on it for years with no problems that I now of. I just rinced it with water and a small amount of bleach before the initial use. And the second question is it is very important to heat and airate your fresh water before you mix the salt in so you can get oxygen levels up for buffering capabilities. Run fresh water for atleast 12 hrs with heat, water movement, and airation, Then mix in salt and run for an additional 12hrs min.

kraze3 · 02/01/2009, 01:52 PM

I use a rubbermaid roughneck, 2 actually. been using them a long time with no problems, they are blue. Ive used everything from IO buckets to home depot orange buckets. Some say the orange buckets leech, but I never had any problems. Even have a 32 gallon brute trash can that I mix my salt water in. I would stick to food grade if you can I guess but I think alot of things are safe to use.

kraze3 · 02/01/2009, 01:53 PM

I would use a powerhead to mix your salt. I would deff use a small heater too to match your tank waters temp.

Geodriller · 02/01/2009, 02:01 PM

Deff...temp is VERY important.

MotherFish · 02/01/2009, 02:06 PM

I think in this as in most cases with this hobby, people tend to go way overboard in their assumptions.

Most hobbyists that I know use Brute garbage cans for both SW mixing/storage and RO storage.
None of the commercial storage tanks used for water storage in the aquaculture businesses that I've dealt with are "food grade" or approved for "potable water".

I'm also fairly certain that none of the plastics used to make your powerheads, pumps, overflows, plumbing, bioballs, hobs, skimmers, or anything else that's in constant contact with your tank water is "food grade" either.

whiterabbit.50 · 02/01/2009, 02:23 PM

i have a 55g tank thats runs at 77, and my room temp in my house is 74-75. When I change 10g that are at room temperature, doesnt that really make no difference to the temp of my tank? I just don feel like buying 2 heaters + 2 thermometers to keep my mixed salt water at the correct temp.

02/01/2009, 01:26 PM	#1
whiterabbit.50 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 67	Water storage procedure Hello, I know this has been discussed before and I have read many of the threads but I still have some questions. I know I have to use food grade containers to store water, but my questions is: how do you know if they are food grade? Is is just as simple as seeing if their translucent? Do they need to have the little fork and glass symbol on them or does it say "food grade"? Right now im using a PET (1) water container (one that used to hold water for a water cooler/dispenser) to hold my top off RO/DI water, it has the little fork and glass symbol on it. Is this safe to use? For my salt water storage im using two HDPE (2) buckets. One is an Instant Ocean salt bucket and the other is a bucket that carried grape juice (used to make wine). Neither say that their food grade (although they have alot of markings on them). Are these safe to use? Lastly, I usually mix my salt (red sea) 24-48 hours before using it, I dont have any powerheads/airpumps running, I just mix it with my hand a bit and wait. Is this ok? Thanks for the help!

02/01/2009, 01:50 PM	#2
Geodriller Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Pekin, Illinois Posts: 257	I have used a tote that said nothing about being food-safe on it for years with no problems that I now of. I just rinced it with water and a small amount of bleach before the initial use. And the second question is it is very important to heat and airate your fresh water before you mix the salt in so you can get oxygen levels up for buffering capabilities. Run fresh water for atleast 12 hrs with heat, water movement, and airation, Then mix in salt and run for an additional 12hrs min.

02/01/2009, 01:52 PM	#3
kraze3 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: RI Posts: 2,373	I use a rubbermaid roughneck, 2 actually. been using them a long time with no problems, they are blue. Ive used everything from IO buckets to home depot orange buckets. Some say the orange buckets leech, but I never had any problems. Even have a 32 gallon brute trash can that I mix my salt water in. I would stick to food grade if you can I guess but I think alot of things are safe to use.

02/01/2009, 01:53 PM	#4
kraze3 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: RI Posts: 2,373	I would use a powerhead to mix your salt. I would deff use a small heater too to match your tank waters temp.

02/01/2009, 02:01 PM	#5
Geodriller Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Pekin, Illinois Posts: 257	Deff...temp is VERY important.

02/01/2009, 02:06 PM	#6
MotherFish Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 208	I think in this as in most cases with this hobby, people tend to go way overboard in their assumptions. Most hobbyists that I know use Brute garbage cans for both SW mixing/storage and RO storage. None of the commercial storage tanks used for water storage in the aquaculture businesses that I've dealt with are "food grade" or approved for "potable water". I'm also fairly certain that none of the plastics used to make your powerheads, pumps, overflows, plumbing, bioballs, hobs, skimmers, or anything else that's in constant contact with your tank water is "food grade" either.

02/01/2009, 02:23 PM	#7
whiterabbit.50 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 67	i have a 55g tank thats runs at 77, and my room temp in my house is 74-75. When I change 10g that are at room temperature, doesnt that really make no difference to the temp of my tank? I just don feel like buying 2 heaters + 2 thermometers to keep my mixed salt water at the correct temp.