brute rubbermaid trash bin

president89 · 08/19/2007, 04:11 PM

Has anyone used one of these to store ro/di water or to cure live rock?

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...ctId=100138897

USC-fan · 08/19/2007, 04:56 PM

yes that will work fine. I use that for my top off water.

TCU Reefer · 08/19/2007, 06:46 PM

That's probably the most used water container in this hobby. Make sure you get wheels for it!

krzyphsygy · 08/19/2007, 07:24 PM

but it from Lowe's, its cheaper, or they will give it to you cheaper!!

president89 · 08/19/2007, 07:37 PM

I was worried it might break under pressure.

jlt23 · 08/19/2007, 07:39 PM

I use one to store RODI and I use another to mix saltwater. Works great. Like TCU Reefer said, get the wheels.

luv951 · 08/19/2007, 07:51 PM

There was a thread on here where guys were saying that those failed after a while (like a couple of years).

Any truth to that? I was surprised to hear it.

TCU Reefer · 08/19/2007, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by luv951
There was a thread on here where guys were saying that those failed after a while (like a couple of years).

Any truth to that? I was surprised to hear it.

I'm not sure i buy into that.

They are very strudy and durable, hence the name (Brute).

I've been using both of mine for over a year and no signs of deterioration whatsoever.

Sea Polar · 08/19/2007, 08:50 PM

Will the smaller green ones work too?

I just bought two of them today.

swannL11 · 08/19/2007, 10:30 PM

I'm using that rubbermaid container now. Works great. Use it for my saltwater so I marked a line on the outside to show me when I reached 20 gallons (I only make up 20g at atime). That way I know how much salt to add.

JCTewks · 08/19/2007, 10:46 PM

as long as the smaller green ones are "brute" they are approved for potable water

klam114 · 08/19/2007, 11:40 PM

I use all 3 sizes for different reasons, 20g, 32g and 45g.

danskim · 08/20/2007, 12:41 AM

I think only Grey, Yellow and White Brute containers are FDA approved for potable water/food storage.

danskim · 08/20/2007, 12:43 AM

Sea Polar,
The trash bin you got isn't a Brute model. It may or may not leech plastic resins into whatever water it may hold because it's not guaranteed to be safe for potable water.

loosecannon · 08/20/2007, 11:33 PM

I have that same one , to store water. I also have a 50 gal. ben I use as a sump for my 75 gal. tank.

Ewan · 08/21/2007, 05:01 AM

I've been using 2 brutes for over 5 years now. One is for kalkwasser (32g) , the other is for saltwater (44g). I wash them out every couple of months or so. Very sturdy containers.

No signs of deterioration whatsoever.

glyle41 · 08/21/2007, 06:53 AM

I have several of the large ones have been using for years no probs at all and get the wheels for sure

ibmgeek · 08/21/2007, 10:13 AM

I have not bought one, because i dont know if it will bow in the middle. Has anybody had one that failed? I might use the big drum containers for storing water,liquids etc... (plus i get them free)

Wryknow · 08/21/2007, 10:54 AM

The BRUTE trashcans will bulge when they are filled but I've never heard of one tearing. Given the material that they are made out of (LLDPE) tearing is extremely unlikey at room temperature, although they can be punctured of course. Just go ahead and pick one up and compare the material to any other trashcan at Lowes and you can see the difference. They cost more than other plastic containers because they use a very heavy gauge LLDPE, which is a superior material to the LDPE most other containers use, because of its tear resistance. (LLDPE is the same plastic that they make grocery bags out of only the BRUTE conatainers are like 1,000 times thicker.)

I use 5 of these containers in different sizes (three as sumps/refugiums and two for water changes) and have never had an issue with them.

michaeljames · 08/21/2007, 02:34 PM

I've been using them for years with no problems, even my LFS uses them for a variety of applications

cayars · 08/21/2007, 04:42 PM

Keep in mind RO/DI isn't potable water and you will notice a little leach from the brute containers with "pure" water stored in them.

Since most salt mixes are light in calcium and since you need to normally add calcium to the tank also, what you can do is toss a little calcium into the RO/DI water so it isn't "ION HUNGRY" anymore and this pretty much stops any type of leaching.

Carlo

JCTewks · 08/21/2007, 06:26 PM

good idea cayars!! Although I use the RO/DI water for making coffee too

I did notice that some leaked RO/DI water actually took the paint off of the concrete floor in the basement!!

BeanAnimal · 08/21/2007, 07:40 PM

cayars.... you keep posting that RO/DI is not potable. That simply is not true. You can most certainly drink RO/DI water.

There is some debate about it leaching electrolytes and minerals from your body. In large quantities, this could be the case, but in large quantities, water of any kind can kill you.

The nonsense about needing to get minerals from our water is urban legend. The water leaching your body dry is urban legen. Even the dopes at the WHO (World Health Organization) don't seem to get it right. They even warn people not to use deionized water to prepare food and drink. Heh? As soon as you mix it with anything it is no longer deionized. Shows you how much you should trust the morons at the WHO.

Our diets are chock full of magnitudes more minerals than we need to survive. Anybody who consumes food on a regular basis will replinish any minerals that the water would absorb.

Stuck in the desert? RO/DI would not be the best idea for you to drink. Then again Ice Tea would kill you too.

JCTewks · 08/21/2007, 10:34 PM

Bean, but, ion hungry DI water can draw things out that standard mineralized tap water would not. not really out of your body so much...but things like softening the paint on my floor, and possibly drawing plasticizers out of certain storage containers.

JCTewks · 08/21/2007, 10:36 PM

btw...DI water makes much better coffee and tea than "other" water

08/19/2007, 04:11 PM	#1
president89 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 466	brute rubbermaid trash bin Has anyone used one of these to store ro/di water or to cure live rock? http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...ctId=100138897

08/19/2007, 06:46 PM	#3
TCU Reefer Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 1,044	That's probably the most used water container in this hobby. Make sure you get wheels for it! __________________ Steve - DFWMAS Member Click on the red house to view my build thread Current Tank Info: 215g starboard SPS in-wall, AC Jr, 3 x 250w MH's, 10k Reeflux, 320w VHO actinics, closed loop w/ Sequence Dart and OM 4-Way, Tunze wavebox, VorTech, 2x modded MJ 1200's, ASM G4 recirc/meshwheel, Geo 618 Ca reactor, custom Melev sump, Mag 9.5 return

08/19/2007, 07:51 PM	#7
luv951 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Washougal, WA Posts: 841	There was a thread on here where guys were saying that those failed after a while (like a couple of years). Any truth to that? I was surprised to hear it. __________________ "Ummm, you do realize that you just took a picture of a cup of poo, right?" -my wife

08/19/2007, 08:50 PM	#9
Sea Polar Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 88	Will the smaller green ones work too? I just bought two of them today. Last edited by Sea Polar; 08/19/2007 at 09:13 PM.

08/20/2007, 12:41 AM	#13
danskim Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ellicott City, MD Posts: 1,639	I think only Grey, Yellow and White Brute containers are FDA approved for potable water/food storage. __________________ Dan The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever. -Jacques Cousteau

08/19/2007, 04:56 PM	#2
USC-fan Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 3,626	yes that will work fine. I use that for my top off water.

08/19/2007, 07:24 PM	#4
krzyphsygy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 2,148	but it from Lowe's, its cheaper, or they will give it to you cheaper!!

08/19/2007, 07:37 PM	#5
president89 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 466	I was worried it might break under pressure.

08/19/2007, 07:39 PM	#6
jlt23 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Tustin, CA Posts: 712	I use one to store RODI and I use another to mix saltwater. Works great. Like TCU Reefer said, get the wheels.

08/19/2007, 10:30 PM	#10
swannL11 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Charleston SC Posts: 57	I'm using that rubbermaid container now. Works great. Use it for my saltwater so I marked a line on the outside to show me when I reached 20 gallons (I only make up 20g at atime). That way I know how much salt to add.

08/19/2007, 10:46 PM	#11
JCTewks Moved On Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Wilmington, Ohio Posts: 3,040	as long as the smaller green ones are "brute" they are approved for potable water

08/19/2007, 11:40 PM	#12
klam114 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 685	I use all 3 sizes for different reasons, 20g, 32g and 45g.

08/20/2007, 12:43 AM	#14
danskim Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ellicott City, MD Posts: 1,639	Sea Polar, The trash bin you got isn't a Brute model. It may or may not leech plastic resins into whatever water it may hold because it's not guaranteed to be safe for potable water. __________________ Dan The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever. -Jacques Cousteau

08/20/2007, 11:33 PM	#15
loosecannon Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: port kent Posts: 1,292	I have that same one , to store water. I also have a 50 gal. ben I use as a sump for my 75 gal. tank. __________________ I like getting WET! Current Tank Info: 44gal. 40 gal. 75 gal. 30gal. and working on a 75gal. rigt

08/21/2007, 05:01 AM	#16
Ewan Premium Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Fredericton, NB, Canada Posts: 2,594	I've been using 2 brutes for over 5 years now. One is for kalkwasser (32g) , the other is for saltwater (44g). I wash them out every couple of months or so. Very sturdy containers. No signs of deterioration whatsoever.

08/21/2007, 06:53 AM	#17
glyle41 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Spring Hill Fla Posts: 215	I have several of the large ones have been using for years no probs at all and get the wheels for sure

08/21/2007, 10:13 AM	#18
ibmgeek Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Miami,FL Posts: 104	I have not bought one, because i dont know if it will bow in the middle. Has anybody had one that failed? I might use the big drum containers for storing water,liquids etc... (plus i get them free)

08/21/2007, 10:54 AM	#19
Wryknow Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 1,203	The BRUTE trashcans will bulge when they are filled but I've never heard of one tearing. Given the material that they are made out of (LLDPE) tearing is extremely unlikey at room temperature, although they can be punctured of course. Just go ahead and pick one up and compare the material to any other trashcan at Lowes and you can see the difference. They cost more than other plastic containers because they use a very heavy gauge LLDPE, which is a superior material to the LDPE most other containers use, because of its tear resistance. (LLDPE is the same plastic that they make grocery bags out of only the BRUTE conatainers are like 1,000 times thicker.) I use 5 of these containers in different sizes (three as sumps/refugiums and two for water changes) and have never had an issue with them. __________________ You cannot use reason to change the opinion of a person that did not use reason to form their opinion in the first place. Current Tank Info: 65 G RR, w/ 50 G sump/refugium, DIY LED lighting, AquaMaxx CO-1 skimmer, Tunze 1073.050 return

08/21/2007, 02:34 PM	#20
michaeljames Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Rochester NY Posts: 737	I've been using them for years with no problems, even my LFS uses them for a variety of applications __________________ "This tastes like crap!" "Well here, try it with some selcon and garlic..." Current Tank Info: 180g RR AGA 2 x 250w SE MH 1 x 175 SE MH 2 x 6' Super atinic VHO Iwaki 100 return Reef Octopus Skimmer

08/21/2007, 04:42 PM	#21
cayars Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bordentown, New Jersey Posts: 653	Keep in mind RO/DI isn't potable water and you will notice a little leach from the brute containers with "pure" water stored in them. Since most salt mixes are light in calcium and since you need to normally add calcium to the tank also, what you can do is toss a little calcium into the RO/DI water so it isn't "ION HUNGRY" anymore and this pretty much stops any type of leaching. Carlo

08/21/2007, 06:26 PM	#22
JCTewks Moved On Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Wilmington, Ohio Posts: 3,040	good idea cayars!! Although I use the RO/DI water for making coffee too I did notice that some leaked RO/DI water actually took the paint off of the concrete floor in the basement!!

08/21/2007, 07:40 PM	#23
BeanAnimal Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 20,772	cayars.... you keep posting that RO/DI is not potable. That simply is not true. You can most certainly drink RO/DI water. There is some debate about it leaching electrolytes and minerals from your body. In large quantities, this could be the case, but in large quantities, water of any kind can kill you. The nonsense about needing to get minerals from our water is urban legend. The water leaching your body dry is urban legen. Even the dopes at the WHO (World Health Organization) don't seem to get it right. They even warn people not to use deionized water to prepare food and drink. Heh? As soon as you mix it with anything it is no longer deionized. Shows you how much you should trust the morons at the WHO. Our diets are chock full of magnitudes more minerals than we need to survive. Anybody who consumes food on a regular basis will replinish any minerals that the water would absorb. Stuck in the desert? RO/DI would not be the best idea for you to drink. Then again Ice Tea would kill you too.

08/21/2007, 10:34 PM	#24
JCTewks Moved On Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Wilmington, Ohio Posts: 3,040	Bean, but, ion hungry DI water can draw things out that standard mineralized tap water would not. not really out of your body so much...but things like softening the paint on my floor, and possibly drawing plasticizers out of certain storage containers.

08/21/2007, 10:36 PM	#25
JCTewks Moved On Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Wilmington, Ohio Posts: 3,040	btw...DI water makes much better coffee and tea than "other" water