Brand new Brute 32 gallon Container with Lid

[wannabeeareefkeeper]

I just purchased a brand new Brute 32 gallon plastic garbage can from local hardware store. My <span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">dilemma is: What do I clean it with?</span></span>

<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">This will be my container to pre-mix salt for weekly water changes. Would it be alright to start mixing salt without cleaning the container first; i.e. no harmful residue from manufacturing processes inside the Brute?</span></span>

<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">What are you thoughts on "to pre-clean or not pre-clean"?</span></span>

 

[gnashty]

I just rinsed mine out with tap water....

 

[racinrevo0818]

Seems a little over kill but here is what some one did!!

Repost:

Curing all new Rubbermaid and plastic buckets.

When buckets are made they are put one inside the other. This is called nesting. When newly fabricated buckets are made and they are nested, there is no way any air can circulate. Thus any toxins from newly formed synthetic materials cannot escape.

To cure: Fill the container with water. Add one cup of Clorox (bleach) and 10 pounds of common salt (rock salt will do), to each 25 gallon size container.

Allow to sit for 4-5 days.

Dump out, not on your lawn! Wash with clean fresh water.

Fill with clean fresh water. Add de-chlorinator. Allow to sit for 4-5 days.

Discard this water. Allow to open air cure (leave in your back yard) for 4-5 days.

At the end of this process, smell inside the container. If there is ANY odor of plastic, resins, etc. Cure again.

Once there is NO odor of any type, you can safely use this container to mix and store salt water.

This is why we DO NOT use or recommend selling marine salts in new plastic 5 gallon buckets. -- E.g. Get a bucket of salts... it has an odor of resin, plastic, etc. This bucket MUST be cured prior to mixing or storing salt water.

 

[j_b_]

Think I'd go with the simple rinse thing, wannabe

 

[wannabeeareefkeeper]

J.B.;791829 wrote: Think I'd go with the simple rinse thing, wannabe

I need to be very careful because I'm dealing with 20-30 gallon reef setups with HOB filters.

I don't want to expose my "small homes" to something that could wipe them out very quickly due to the size of their current homes.

Thanks for your advice.

Edit:

RacinRevo0818;791825 wrote: Seems a little over kill but here is what some one did!!

Repost:

Curing all new Rubbermaid and plastic buckets.

When buckets are made they are put one inside the other. This is called nesting. When newly fabricated buckets are made and they are nested, there is no way any air can circulate. Thus any toxins from newly formed synthetic materials cannot escape.

To cure: Fill the container with water. Add one cup of Clorox (bleach) and 10 pounds of common salt (rock salt will do), to each 25 gallon size container.

Allow to sit for 4-5 days.

Dump out, not on your lawn! Wash with clean fresh water.

Fill with clean fresh water. Add de-chlorinator. Allow to sit for 4-5 days.

Discard this water. Allow to open air cure (leave in your back yard) for 4-5 days.

At the end of this process, smell inside the container. If there is ANY odor of plastic, resins, etc. Cure again.

Once there is NO odor of any type, you can safely use this container to mix and store salt water.

This is why we DO NOT use or recommend selling marine salts in new plastic 5 gallon buckets. -- E.g. Get a bucket of salts... it has an odor of resin, plastic, etc. This bucket MUST be cured prior to mixing or storing salt water.

I was afraid of this! I needed to start mixing the salt in the morning. Thanks for your fast response to my dilemma. Now I have a choice to make.

I guess I will start buying my salt in boxes for here out.

 

[acroholic]

I've never had an issue with new plastic containers. You mainly have to be concerned with releasing agents. What I have done for the last 30 years or so is this:

Take a cup or two or table salt or reef salt mix, doesn't matter which, and put it in the Rubbermaid container. Add just enough water to moisten the salt into a damp clump. Use a rag or whatever to use the dampened salt to scrub the inside of the container. The damp salt is an abrasive and scrubs the inside of the container clean. Rinse it out when you are done and have at it.

 

[jbadd99]

gnashty;791823 wrote: I just rinsed mine out with tap water....

+1

All I did with mine.

 

[reefstinger]

+2 on just rinse with tap water Wannabe , don't sweat it unless it has a extremely strong smell

 

[markusj18]

Rinse and use it, I've done with two and not a single problem yet.

 

[ripped tide]

We are supposed to rinse them first?

 

[irahmatulla]

Ripped Tide;792021 wrote: We are supposed to rinse them first?

:mad2::mad2::mad2::mad2::mad2::mad2::mad2: J/k I just fill with water, forget about it for 2-3 days and pour it out when it's time for water change and I realize I procrastinated on the last one.

 

[stacy22]

I washed mine quickly with vinegar, rinsed, dried, then used.

 

[atlweb]

stacy22;792127 wrote: I washed mine quickly with vinegar, rinsed, dried, then used.

+1. Using bleach for anything is a scary thought. I'd rather have any residue in the bucket in my tank, than any trace of bleach.

With that said, vinegar is a very safe and effective cleaning solution and it doesn't hurt you or the environment.