Mixing Water

madmatt357 · 07/10/2007, 12:48 PM

I have been using a large Rubbermaid trash can do pre-mix my water for water changes. Is this okay to use? Also, I plan on using another for my collection container from my RO unit. Any downsides of me using these for water collection or premixing my water?

dcombs44 · 07/10/2007, 01:21 PM

Many people use the Rubbermaid Brute cans to hold and mix water. They are certified food-safe, and you can buy lids and dollies to roll them around with.

Some of the other Rubbermaids have chemicals in them for various reasons, and they can leach into the water.

I have no experience with them, but that seems to be the general consensus around Reef Central.

I personally use a collection of drinking water jugs purchased from the camping section at wal-mart. They come in 5-7 gallon sizes and work quite well. If you want something the size of a trash can, my initial recommendation is to go with the Brute.

ahullsb · 07/10/2007, 05:12 PM

I second the Brute!

cudog · 07/10/2007, 06:10 PM

will the trash can from the city work?

Spleef · 07/10/2007, 07:01 PM

The trash can from the city may work; let everyone how it does.

cudog · 07/10/2007, 07:07 PM

will the trash can from the city work?

dcombs44 · 07/10/2007, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cudog
will the trash can from the city work?

What brand is it? You really want to make sure that the container is food safe to avoid leaching chemicals into the water.

If the trash can from the city is a Rubbermaid Brute then I'm sure you can use it. Just clean it out with hot water and some distilled white vinegar. If it's not a Brute, then you need to find out if that specific container is food safe.

Good luck.

kuoka · 07/10/2007, 11:05 PM

I'm guessing if it's plastic and never been used for trash it would work. I use a big 15gal bucket I bought from the hardware store.

manhorsedog · 07/10/2007, 11:08 PM

noob question, when making new water should you cover it while it sits?

b16drag · 07/10/2007, 11:19 PM

Definately cover so dust and crapola doesnt get in it. Should also try to keep the water moving and mixing.

dcombs44 · 07/11/2007, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by b16drag
Definately cover so dust and crapola doesnt get in it. Should also try to keep the water moving and mixing.

Water does need to be covered, and only needs to be circulated if it's salt, but only about 24 hours prior to use. besides that, it can sit covered.

der_wille_zur_macht · 07/11/2007, 09:48 AM

Don't tell all the people with open-top tanks that their water needs to be covered, you might ruin their day. . . .

dcombs44 · 07/11/2007, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht
Don't tell all the people with open-top tanks that their water needs to be covered, you might ruin their day. . . .

We are talking about stored RO/DI water for top offs and water changes. I personally would never cover my display tank.

Davidb6 · 07/11/2007, 10:44 AM

I have a 65 gal reef and I keep two 32 gal Rubbermaid Brutes in my basement. I store RO water in one and salt water in the other. I keep Maxi-Jets (1200) running in each and keep a heater in the salt water at the same temp as my tank. The basement works well because it stays at a fairly constant temp.

I would like something a little more permanent some day but this is a cheap and very easy setup.

07/10/2007, 12:48 PM	#1
madmatt357 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Georgia Posts: 164	Mixing Water I have been using a large Rubbermaid trash can do pre-mix my water for water changes. Is this okay to use? Also, I plan on using another for my collection container from my RO unit. Any downsides of me using these for water collection or premixing my water?

07/10/2007, 01:21 PM	#2
dcombs44 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 2,913	Many people use the Rubbermaid Brute cans to hold and mix water. They are certified food-safe, and you can buy lids and dollies to roll them around with. Some of the other Rubbermaids have chemicals in them for various reasons, and they can leach into the water. I have no experience with them, but that seems to be the general consensus around Reef Central. I personally use a collection of drinking water jugs purchased from the camping section at wal-mart. They come in 5-7 gallon sizes and work quite well. If you want something the size of a trash can, my initial recommendation is to go with the Brute. __________________ Current Setup: 10 Gallon Skimmerless Zoanthid Tank Lighting: Single 175 Watt Metal Halide (14,000 K Hamilton Lamp) Filtration: 10 gallon sump/refugium and Phosban Reactor Return: Mag Drive 700 Controller: ReefKeeper Lite (Basic Version) Circulation: TBD Age of System: Build is in Progress

07/10/2007, 05:12 PM	#3
ahullsb Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: sacramento, ca Posts: 2,729	I second the Brute! __________________ Andy Sacramento, CA Current Tank Info: 55 gallon reef w/20 gallon sump/ER135/ 75 pounds of live rock, 4 in sandbed, 2 b&w ocellaris clowns, yellow watchman/pistol, rosy scaled wrasse, Mystery wrasse, Copperbanded Butterfly, Lighting 48" outer orbit 2 150 mh/ 4 t5 actinics

07/10/2007, 11:05 PM	#8
kuoka Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NorCal Cali Posts: 713	I'm guessing if it's plastic and never been used for trash it would work. I use a big 15gal bucket I bought from the hardware store. __________________ They say don't talk about someone unless you've walked a mile in their shoes.. But if you do, at least you'll be ahead of them AND have their shoes! :) Current Tank Info: 72gal glass bow front reef, mostly LPS with some SPS, tangs, anthias, blenny, paired percula clowns, gold headed sleeper goby, red fairy wrasse

07/11/2007, 09:48 AM	#12
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	Don't tell all the people with open-top tanks that their water needs to be covered, you might ruin their day. . . . __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

07/10/2007, 06:10 PM	#4
cudog Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 18	will the trash can from the city work?

07/10/2007, 07:01 PM	#5
Spleef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 50	The trash can from the city may work; let everyone how it does.

07/10/2007, 07:07 PM	#6
cudog Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 18	will the trash can from the city work?

07/10/2007, 11:08 PM	#9
manhorsedog Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 367	noob question, when making new water should you cover it while it sits?

07/10/2007, 11:19 PM	#10
b16drag Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: California Posts: 903	Definately cover so dust and crapola doesnt get in it. Should also try to keep the water moving and mixing.

07/11/2007, 10:44 AM	#14
Davidb6 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Savanah Ga Posts: 770	I have a 65 gal reef and I keep two 32 gal Rubbermaid Brutes in my basement. I store RO water in one and salt water in the other. I keep Maxi-Jets (1200) running in each and keep a heater in the salt water at the same temp as my tank. The basement works well because it stays at a fairly constant temp. I would like something a little more permanent some day but this is a cheap and very easy setup.