Alternative to clear 5gal bucket so algae won't grow inside?

Scissorhand · 04/09/2008, 07:01 PM

Hi guys,

This may seem like something really trivial but it just bugs.

So we all know of the clear 5 gal water buckets that are sold at LFS, has anyone found any good alternative at Home Depot or elsewhere where algae won't be able to grow inside, meaning that it'd probably have to be non-see-through plastic.

Picture or description of and location on where to buy such a container would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Elevate · 04/09/2008, 07:07 PM

Ah, Home Depot sells 5 gallon buckets for painting and stuff. they are like, 5 bucks I think.

Scissorhand · 04/09/2008, 07:22 PM

But I still need to have an opening where I can conveniently pour water into the sump w/o causing spills or splashing.

Tang Salad · 04/09/2008, 07:25 PM

It sounds like you mean jugs, not buckets. Yes?

widmer · 04/09/2008, 07:26 PM

Or you could go to a brewer's supply shop and pick up a beer/wine initial wort brewing pail. It's opaque white, food quality, up to 8 gallons, ~$10 www.midwestsupplies.com is the shop near me, they have them.

tangdiver · 04/09/2008, 07:32 PM

Buy a couple of Oceanic salt jugs. I use those all the time. Hold 2.5 gallons. Or at a camping supply they have 5 gallons ones. $15

Tang Salad · 04/09/2008, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tangdiver
Buy a couple of Oceanic salt jugs. I use those all the time. Hold 2.5 gallons. Or at a camping supply they have 5 gallons ones. $15

2 good ideas, both are opaque.

Scissorhand · 04/09/2008, 07:50 PM

I do mean jugs yes.

Sorry about that.

Thanks for the above ideas guys, I will check those out.

Elevate · 04/09/2008, 07:57 PM

Dont know the cost, but what about NEW red plastic gascans?

MThompson · 04/10/2008, 11:11 AM

wal-mart has 7gal blue camping water jugs. I used them prior to my RO/DI sytem for filling up at that little culligan station. Never had algae problems in them, but never kept the water in them for longer than a week or so.

LockeOak · 04/10/2008, 12:59 PM

Why not just wrap the clear ones in aluminum foil?

LockeOak · 04/10/2008, 01:47 PM

I should add that I use the 5G water-cooler style jugs to hold top-off water, never had a problem with algae in them, even before I started adding kalk to my top-off water. If you're worried about it, I'd just wrap/tape some aluminum foil around the container.

raddogz · 04/10/2008, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MThompson
wal-mart has 7gal blue camping water jugs. I used them prior to my RO/DI sytem for filling up at that little culligan station. Never had algae problems in them, but never kept the water in them for longer than a week or so.

Yep, I concur with the above for the blue camping water jugs as they can be found at many sporting/camping good stores.

SDguy · 04/10/2008, 03:47 PM

I've got the 7g blue ones also. Man, who knew that extra 2g would make them so much heavier!!

MThompson · 04/10/2008, 03:54 PM

SDguy...I noticed that too! Although I realized that I never carried a full 5gal bucket, just about 3/4....so maybe the extra 3gal? Anyway, glad to know I am not the only one with random thoughts whilst completing mundane tasks.

SDguy · 04/10/2008, 04:04 PM

Well, I carry my VERY full jugs from my lab all the way to my car in the parking lot (about 200 yards). One in each arm for balance. While the 5g ones are a pretty good stretch, the 7g ones are really pushing it

04/09/2008, 07:01 PM	#1
Scissorhand Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Pho 54, SoCal Posts: 3,066	Alternative to clear 5gal bucket so algae won't grow inside? Hi guys, This may seem like something really trivial but it just bugs. So we all know of the clear 5 gal water buckets that are sold at LFS, has anyone found any good alternative at Home Depot or elsewhere where algae won't be able to grow inside, meaning that it'd probably have to be non-see-through plastic. Picture or description of and location on where to buy such a container would be appreciated. Thanks.

04/09/2008, 07:07 PM	#2
Elevate Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 222	Ah, Home Depot sells 5 gallon buckets for painting and stuff. they are like, 5 bucks I think. __________________ Genesis1:26a Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea." Current Tank Info: 30 Cube w/ 20 sump

04/09/2008, 07:25 PM	#4
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	It sounds like you mean jugs, not buckets. Yes? __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS

04/09/2008, 07:32 PM	#6
tangdiver Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sioux Falls South Dakota Posts: 1,231	Buy a couple of Oceanic salt jugs. I use those all the time. Hold 2.5 gallons. Or at a camping supply they have 5 gallons ones. $15 __________________ Its unwise to pay to much or to little When U pay to much U lose a little $ When U pay to little U sometimes lose it all because the thing U bought was incapable of doing the thing U bought it to do Current Tank Info: 6' long, 3' wide, 2' high, My tank is not worthy of Tank of the Month

04/09/2008, 07:57 PM	#9
Elevate Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 222	Dont know the cost, but what about NEW red plastic gascans? __________________ Genesis1:26a Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea." Current Tank Info: 30 Cube w/ 20 sump

04/09/2008, 07:22 PM	#3
Scissorhand Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Pho 54, SoCal Posts: 3,066	But I still need to have an opening where I can conveniently pour water into the sump w/o causing spills or splashing.

04/09/2008, 07:26 PM	#5
widmer Drug Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 2,958	Or you could go to a brewer's supply shop and pick up a beer/wine initial wort brewing pail. It's opaque white, food quality, up to 8 gallons, ~$10 www.midwestsupplies.com is the shop near me, they have them.

04/09/2008, 07:50 PM	#8
Scissorhand Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Pho 54, SoCal Posts: 3,066	I do mean jugs yes. Sorry about that. Thanks for the above ideas guys, I will check those out.

04/10/2008, 11:11 AM	#10
MThompson Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Pine Bluff, AR Posts: 142	wal-mart has 7gal blue camping water jugs. I used them prior to my RO/DI sytem for filling up at that little culligan station. Never had algae problems in them, but never kept the water in them for longer than a week or so. __________________ MT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. - Psalm 69:1 Current Tank Info: 120gal w/ 29gal sump/fuge

04/10/2008, 12:59 PM	#11
LockeOak Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 839	Why not just wrap the clear ones in aluminum foil?

04/10/2008, 01:47 PM	#12
LockeOak Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 839	I should add that I use the 5G water-cooler style jugs to hold top-off water, never had a problem with algae in them, even before I started adding kalk to my top-off water. If you're worried about it, I'd just wrap/tape some aluminum foil around the container.

04/10/2008, 03:47 PM	#14
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	I've got the 7g blue ones also. Man, who knew that extra 2g would make them so much heavier!! __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

04/10/2008, 03:54 PM	#15
MThompson Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Pine Bluff, AR Posts: 142	SDguy...I noticed that too! Although I realized that I never carried a full 5gal bucket, just about 3/4....so maybe the extra 3gal? Anyway, glad to know I am not the only one with random thoughts whilst completing mundane tasks. __________________ MT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. - Psalm 69:1 Current Tank Info: 120gal w/ 29gal sump/fuge

04/10/2008, 04:04 PM	#16
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	Well, I carry my VERY full jugs from my lab all the way to my car in the parking lot (about 200 yards). One in each arm for balance. While the 5g ones are a pretty good stretch, the 7g ones are really pushing it __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.