Hi Guys! I am sure someone has done this before. I have 3 jerricans that used to contain the below product. Q: Though not considered hazardous for humans fish or animals, I still feel it will not be good for aquarium water with just a saltwater wash....or will it? I would like to store mainly RO water. For those that have done this, please give me your advice on how you made this safe for storage? Below, are details on the product that used to be contained in there. Dont know if I am being paranoid or not... Main area of concern is below in red. I could not find an MSDS on this chemical. ELINEX Technical Information AFFF 3% - ELINEX SKF 3% Introduction ELINEX SKF 3% is a synthetic fire fighting foam concentrate designed for use on non-polar, hydrocarbon hazards. When proportioned with water and applied with conventional foam or water/fog equipment, ELINEX SKF 3% AFFF provides excellent control and extinguishment of Class B fires by spreading a vapor sealing film over the liquid fuel. This vapor seal inhibits re-flash even when the foam blanket is ruptured and also allows the product to be used to secure non-ignited spills. ELINEX SKF 3% provides excellent penetrating and wetting qualities when used on Class A fires. This is important when extinguishing deep-seated fires in wood, paper, rubber tires and other ordinary combustibles. Typical Properties Nominal use concentration : 3% Specific gravity @ (23°C) : 1.01 ± 0.01 g/cm^3 Viscosity @ (23°C) : >180 cP Minimum use temperature : 2oC Storage temperature : 1.7°- 49°C Freezing point : -2°C pH@ (23°C) : 7.0 – 8.5 Applications ELINEX SKF 3% can be used with conventional foam equipment with fresh , sea or brackish water. Self-educting foam nozzles and foam nozzles with in-line eductors are among the most common types of hardware for application. In addition to its use in aspirating foam equipment, ELINEX SKF 3% can be dispensed effectively through non-aspirating equipment including fog nozzles, water spray devices and standard sprinklers. ELINEX SKF 3% may be applied to fires simultaneously with dry chemical fire fighting agents because the two are compatible. Features Effective: rapid extinguishment reduces the chances of dangerous incidents and reduces the risk to property and equipment. ELINEX SKF 3% also prevents re-flash and burn-back, which are major causes of injuries. The securing action of ELINEX SKF 3% minimizes the fire hazard during cleanup of flammable liquid spills. Environmental & Toxicity ELINEX SKF 3% is considered as biodegradable material with minimal environmental impact. More than 90% is biologically degradable within 28 days. The material is non toxic to Humans, Fish or Animals. Storage ELINEX SKF 3% may be stored in its shipping container without change in its original physical or chemicals caracteristics. Shelf life is expected to be 20 years when stored at recommended temperatures and in original containers. It does not show significant sedimentation or precipitation in storage or after temperature cycling. Freezing and thawing have no effect on performance and the concentrate proportions satisfactorily in ordinary equipment at temperature above 2°C – thaw cycling may cause slight stratification which may be overcome with moderate agitation. Premix solutions in fresh water may be stored 5 years for ready use at temperatures above freezing. Click source for end of document... Source
By no means an expert reply. Just a source of informed, long term and ongoing experience with many water preparation and storage vessels! OK @dash @Sash I will run thru the basics.. An aquarium is a closed environment. Anything you add remains in circulation, right? RO water is purer, cleaner water..Thus a MUCH better solvent...which means it will essentially draw in ANYTHING it is in contact with, even if that solute concentration is minute. You have a finite volume of water (in drum or tank) That means you runs the risk of accumulation of ANY Additive materials, yet you want to re-use, and recycle jerry cans?? This is not making sense in the light of above. Rather buy 20L brand new around R50-60 ea Polyoak is a reliable, south african manufacturer Next best best are food containers eg. fruit pulp, syrups etc. This product does not give me any sense of safety , nor security when it mentions "biodegradable..and non toxic...fish" You dont have 1 month, vast volumes of dilution, nor an idea of what kind of fish it tested 'safe' on :tongue: Those are generalisations, and disclaimers at the very end make it clear the manufacturer makes no claims beyond the product efficacy... NOT a single mention of how to render containers safe, and pristine for your aquarium use. Take into account, time(days if not weeks), wasted water(100's of L), acids/alkalis , solvents, detergents ..all pose further risk ,and then sacrificing sufficiently "sensitive" fish to test water stored ..ALL THIS you may employ in "trying to clean" and STILL, have no real idea besides your gut feel. After all, if you drank water laced with this junk, and you lived..That doesn't change the "Not safe for aquarium/RO water use " Verdict I say, when it comes to safeguarding aquarium integrity....false economy is dangerous. Trade or sell your's for at least ONE safe jerry can Others will differ...Those are my views
@Altum THANK YOU! I am going to take this view as practice then. Bummer, I already had paid for these hehe Just got to find somewhere in Centurion that will have these brand new. Thanks a mill guys for the input!
