Is Rubbermaid bad for RO storage???

[rwillden]

I have been using an 18 Gallon Blue Roughneck Rubbermaid container for my automatic RO/DI topoff system for about 6 months. I have heard however that such a container may leach stuff into my tank that I don't want. The cause mentioned was that RO water may deteriorate the plastics or something... I have felt a slimy material on the insides of this container after water sits in it for about a week or so. I have also noticed that when this slime is present, that my Phospates are higher than usual. (May be the cause of a recent Cyano bloom...) Should I be worried? Is there another container that might work better that still looks decent? (No garbage cans....) It sits beside my tank, in my front room, and the wife thinks the rubbermaid container is pushing it...

Any input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Ryan

 

[Anonymous]

if the container is new i wouldn't worry about it. the "slime is probably just a side effect of the water becoming a little stagnant.

RO water is just clean water and yes water it is a "solvent" but i doubt you are experiencing a chemical reaction.

 

[jmlesq]

The roughneck is not food grade. A rubbermaid brute (except for the red colored) is food grade. My understanding is that if food grade, then no leaching. You can get it online (as well as other possible water containers) at www.usplastics.com.

I doubt the slime is at all related to something leaching and agree with Podman that its the result of stagnant water.

John

 

[Anonymous]

your slime is most likely a bacterial film :wink: housedust is comprised of many organic substances, like dead skin, etc.-which help to feed the bacteria, and can even add some phosphate to the water

the bacteria also add phosphates to the water in the tub.-it's a byproduct of cellular respiration :wink:

fwiw:

i've never really heard of any rubbermaid container being suspect of leaching out much of anything into rodi water-i've always used rubbermaid tubs-never bothered to check if they were food grade or not-and never really had a problem

hth

 

[Anonymous]

i know that when working in chip plants there are different grades of acceptable plastics for each given protocol and they are based on particulate plastic matter not chemical leaching.

but then they aren't using rubbermaid either...

 

[consigliere]

polyethelene vats are the safest.....you can find them all over...rubbermaid is questionable.

 

[ChrisRD]

i've always used rubbermaid tubs-never bothered to check if they were food grade or not-and never really had a problem

This has been my experience as well. I've been using a couple of "roughneck" Rubbermaid trashcans for supply reservoirs and water changes for about 6 months now with no problems at all.

Over the years I've used all sorts of plastic containers for aquarium related stuff (including saltwater) and never had a problem. I'm sure many of those containers were not food grade.

 

[rwillden]

So would it be dumb to put a powerhead in the Rubbermaid container to keep the water from becoming stagnant?

 

[Anonymous]

So would it be dumb to put a powerhead in the Rubbermaid container to keep the water from becoming stagnant?

definitely not a dumb idea

but i'd also suggest you don't make up too much spare :wink: