Cleaning A Drum To Store Water

Good Day Prof. Bellstedt

I need some professional advice please. I was given a 210L drum by a friend that works for a soap company. I want to use the drum to sore water in for my water changes for my tanks. The drum had motor bike soap in it before so I washed it out with normal soap and then petrol to get all the soap out, then I presser washed it out about three time and I left it to dry. Now I have filled it with tape water and put about a kg of bicarbonate of sodain the water and left it to sand for 2 days.

Do you have any advise that would assist me in the clean of this drum so it will be safe to keep water in it for my tanks?

 

Perhaps I can jump in here quickly until Prof Dirk can reply. Aside from the issues of cleaning the drum, another important thing to consider is the actual plastic. To be certain that you are choosing a drum that does not leach, check the recycling symbol on your drum. If it is a #2 HDPE (high density polyethylene), or a #4 LDPE (low density polyethylene), or a #5 PP (polypropylene), your drum is fine. If it has no symbol, your guess is as good as mine...

For example, some plastic items are made with polycarbonate plastics and identified by the #7 recycling symbol, and these may leach BPA. Bisphenol A is a xenoestrogen, a known endocrine disruptor, meaning it disturbs the hormonal messaging in our bodies. I'm not sure how this may affect fish.

 

I just checked my drum and its a 2#, so I take it that it is safe?

 

I would also wash it out with diluted bleach ...

 

I thought of doing that but i was scared it would leach into the plastic and cause problems later?

 

Didn't think of that would wait for the Prof ....

 

Thanks for the idea though!

 

Hi Clyde,

I fully agree with Lauré about the plastic. However, there are components of some soaps which really penetrate the plastic and then leach out slowly, so I would sound a word of caution here. I would let the drum stand for at least four weeks with repeated water changes. The bleach will sterilize the drum, but I do not think that is necessary as soap will not allow harmful bacteria to multiply there in any case.

I can perhaps give a comparison. My brother is a vet and is often asked by persons who have a dog that has bitten someone for the first time whether they should put down the dog or if he will not bite again. The implication of this is that if he says that the dog will be safe is then responsible if the dog bites again. I somehow feel I am in a similar situation here if you know what I mean. I leave the decision with you, but I would not use a drum for aquarium water if it has had soap in it before. Just my opinion.

Kind regards,

Dirk