Garbage Cans

[edshern]

ok, I've been through 4 garbage cans for my makeup water.
I have tried 2 rubbermaids and two other brands.
(i keep 2 32 gallon cans , one for fresh ro and one for salt)
each have developed what appear to be hairline cracks and leaked
all over could be cracking from the heater?
have i just been unlucky? or is this a standard problem?
what is everbody elses experiences.? what do you all use for your
extra water?
as always, thanks.

 

[Anonymous]

I only got cracks when I used to use the square or oddly shaped cans. The constant bow puts pressure on the can and it eventually cracks.

Now I use several 44 gallon round rubermaids, extra strength ones from depot. Never had a problem since.

 

[tinyreef]

that's a LOT of makeup water! whoa! i just use 5-gal water bottles and they're never even full.

those containers (32-gal) aren't really the best to hold makeup water long term (with flexing and moving involved). i should know, i make them. :? i do use them for a pond outside my house though (it's on its second year) they're tough enough to hold things but continual like a bucket isn't what they were designed for. you need a bucket. a BIG bucket!

try one of the salt mixes buckets.

 

[Reeffreak]

Wow, I think you have just had bad luck.

I have a 32 gal Rubbermaid from Home Depot that I have been using for 4 years and never had a problem.

Steve

 

[Anonymous]

Me to. Rubbermaid 32 on wheels. Has worked great for a year and a half!

louey

 

[danmhippo]

Louey, you don't really move that 32G trashcan around with water in it, do you? I'd be surprised that skinny little wheel shaft hasn't snap on you yet..... 8O

 

[Anonymous]

Danmhippo said:

Louey, you don't really move that 32G trashcan around with water in it, do you? I'd be surprised that skinny little wheel shaft hasn't snap on you yet.....

Sure do. I never even thought about the wheels. I just assumed that it was made for such weights. I park it in front of the kitchen sink to fill it, which takes about 16 hours. Then I roll it into the the living room and park it next to an outlet. Add salt, powerhead, and heater. The next day I roll it over to the tank and start bailing!

I just went out to the garage to take another look at the wheels and they seem pretty stout to me.

It would be a ***** if it ever fell over when full of water. 8O Hope that never happens.

Has anyone ever had a wheel break on one of these?

Louey

 

[JennM]

Are you all talking about the same "kind" of Rubbermaid Trash Cans??

I've got 2 Rubbermaid Brute trash cans. I *think* they come in 32 and 44 gallon sizes...not exactly sure, and I'm too lazy right now to walk over and look at what I've got. I've got the smaller size (although it's still very large) because I don't think I could wheel a larger one when it's full, without sloshing it all about.

The Brute cans are more flexible than the "residential grade" cans, these are industrial grade. The Brute cans run about $20-35 at Home Depot and the dolly with 5 wheels runs about another $27-29. The wheels are on a dolly that snaps on and twists on to lock the wheels on. If you don't leave them around wet to rust, they'll last a good long time. I take care of mine because I use them in clients' houses, and for some reason, rich tank owners like WHITE carpeting I usually put down towels or a tarp anyway, before rolling them along somebody's expensive floor.

Here's a piccie of the wheels:

Here's the can:

Hope this helps.

Jenn

 

[Anonymous]

JennM,

That's the can I have. The 32G version. Seems amply capable of handling the weight to me. I agree, the 44 would be tough to handle when full of water.

I'm interested to hear from others. Any one have one of these break?

Louey

 

[IcantTHINKofONE]

I have the can shown in that picture but the larger 55 gallon one. It's curing right now in my garage (with water, 50lbs rock salt, and a gallon of bleach) and i'm going to use it to hold RO water for water changes. It's never going to be moved but will always be filled. I hope it doesn't crack. I'll let you know if it does.

 

[Marcosreef]

Check Here:

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/produc ... Head+Drums

They have hundreds of FDA Approved tanks to choose from.

Marco

 

[mlundstrom]

I've have had a rolling(2 wheel) 32G can filled with salt water tip over in a hall way and soak the carpet in 3 bedrooms 8O 8O and then gravity feed thru the floor into the basement to create more cleaning pleasure. That was not the best day of my life and my wife was pleased as well. The moral of that story is DON'T OVER FILL THE BARREL.

 

[AJT]

I bought a 32 gal food grade barrel from a restuarant supply after my rubermade cracked. I always wondered if the ones you buy from HD are "safe" to hold water in? Somebody mentioned something about curing a new barrell ?

Andy

 

[Sea Serpent]

I also was concerned about the "quality" of the containers because once I found a powdery, white substance all over the inside of the HD bucket after storing RO water for a week (not the rubbermaid, but the 5 gallon ones HD sells). It seems that the lining material broke down . . . It started me thinking . .. And there have been discussions about possible leaching of phosphates and other chemicals from the rubbermaid - So I, too, bought a few FDA approved containers from USPlastics. I feel better knowing that they are not leaching anything, they are strong (35 gallon, blue, open top with latching cover). I don't mind spending a few extra $ for the peace of mind.
Just a thought . .
SS

 

[IcantTHINKofONE]

ajtanguy, yes I said something about curing a barrel. I cure all plastic containers that are going to hold tank water. By rule of thumb i add 1/50th gallon of bleach and 1 pound of rock salt per gallon of tap water in the container. I leave it for 2 weeks and stir it once a day with a stick. Then I rinse it out and fill it with tap water. I let that sit for a few more days then empty it. Then i wash it out thoroughly with soap and water and rinse it with the hose many times until the smell of bleach has disappeared. The smell of plastic should even be gone. This process burns off all the excess raw plastic on the inside of the container. You'ld be surprised by the end of the 2 weeks how much salt covered plastic bits are floating at the top of the container.

 

[danmhippo]

Hmmm, Thanks alot guys, you are NOT making me sleep any :roll: better now......

 

[Marcosreef]

Look for these codes (recycle codes) on your storage containers and see if they are compatible:

- PET (polyethylene terphthalate) beverage containers, boil-in food pouches, processed meat packages

- HDPE (high density polyethylene) milk bottles, detergent bottles, oil bottles, toys, plastic bags

- PVC (polyvinyl chloride) food wrap, vegetable oil bottles, blister packaging

- LDPE (low density polyethylene) shrink-wrap, plastic bags, garment bags

- PP (polypropylene) margarine and yogurt containers, caps for containers, wrapping to replace cellophane

- PS (polystyrene) egg cartons, fast food trays, disposable plastic silverware

Regards, Marco

 

[reefland]

Has anyone ever had a wheel break on one of these?

I have. It's just a little cap on the end of the rod. Not held on by much more than metal to metal friction.