Containers for storing water for tank???

[Scott Jolly]

All, I have been following the list for a while and many thanks to all
that ask and answer.

My question - I don't have a RO filter. I rely on rainwater and when
that falls short I go to the local health food store to get RO/DI. The
rainwater I collect flows off my roof into large rubbermaid totes that i
then siphon (from the middle) into the standard red 5 gallon gas jugs
(only used for tankwater). After 3 years in my 72G bowfront with 15G
sump, this is working quite well. Corals, inverts (lots of shrimp) and
fish are happy.

The plastic gas jugs are getting kind of slimy - is there any way to
safely clean them for continued use? should i buy new ones yearly? ($6
per container) or possibly jump up to some food prep container (RV
container someone mentioned)? But even those will need to be cleaned so
maybe my real question is how best to clean a plastic vessel that is to
hold water for my tank?

I seemingly opened myself up to feedback on the collection of rainwater,
using a plastic gas "can" and not really cleaning the container for my
water.

Any thoughts/flames/ideas appreciated.

Scott

[Bob]

Bleach the jugs after every use (why not?). Let them air dry then, add water
and just for ****s and grins add Prime water conditioner.

I mentioned the RV water storage container. They work great. I searched for
a long time to find a supplier that didn't want to charge $200/container. I
picked up 2 (totaling 125 Gallons) for $110 with freight. They came sealed
so, I had to cut the holes myself which was great considering every
application is different. Examples of a place that gouges you on price (
http://www.tank-depot.com/shopping/product.asp?SiteID=13&Group=300 )

I purchased them from: http://www.amerikart.com

The containers that I purchased... do not get slimy and I have a pump
circulating water in them 24x7. They hold top off water for over 200 gallons
worth of tanks in my fishroom. I fill the container (currently) every 16
days. It was every 18, but went to 16 just recently. YMMV.


DaTroll


"Scott Jolly" > wrote in message
t...
All, I have been following the list for a while and many thanks to all
that ask and answer.

My question - I don't have a RO filter. I rely on rainwater and when
that falls short I go to the local health food store to get RO/DI. The
rainwater I collect flows off my roof into large rubbermaid totes that i
then siphon (from the middle) into the standard red 5 gallon gas jugs
(only used for tankwater). After 3 years in my 72G bowfront with 15G
sump, this is working quite well. Corals, inverts (lots of shrimp) and
fish are happy.

The plastic gas jugs are getting kind of slimy - is there any way to
safely clean them for continued use? should i buy new ones yearly? ($6
per container) or possibly jump up to some food prep container (RV
container someone mentioned)? But even those will need to be cleaned so
maybe my real question is how best to clean a plastic vessel that is to
hold water for my tank?

I seemingly opened myself up to feedback on the collection of rainwater,
using a plastic gas "can" and not really cleaning the container for my
water.

Any thoughts/flames/ideas appreciated.

Scott