40 breeder build

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http://www.3reef.com/threads/reef-safe-plastics-leaching-myths-facts.57828/

Pretty good read on which plastics are more prone to leaching po4 and other harmful stuff. Now I need to see what label is on my dog food container that I use for an ATO lol. Silly me, I just assumed it was something with the brutes; however, seems even 5g buckets can leach. Learn something new every day.
 
I have some very interesting results to report on my phosphate levels. I have multiple test subjects going in the hope to narrow down the culprit, and I think I might have.

Test Subject 1: All but one piece of rock in a Brute with SW:
I started this last night with confirmed 0 PO4 SW and added a cap full of PO4 remover. I have a PH running in it. PO4 today: 0.07

Test Subject 2: No rock, just straight SW in Brute:
I started this last night as well. Filled Brute with a few gallons of the same SW, no PH. PO4 today: 0.06

Test Subject 3: One piece of the same rock in a glass sump with SW:
I started this last night as well. I put one piece of the rock from the same batch in my new sump. Filled it with the same SW and have a PH running in it. PO4 today: 0

I even double checked the same batch of SW today and it tested at 0 PO4 as well.

So it appears that the Brute containers are the culprit in this whole PO4 issue! I find this very interesting and a little disturbing too with as many people as there are that use Brute containers to mix/store SW in.

So now to my curing process. Does anyone have any thoughts about these results as they apply to my curing process? I really don't have an empty glass tank (besides my new DT) that will fit all 50 lbs of the rock to cure! And I don't want to cure in the new tank out of fear of leaving precipitate in the tank.

I guess the next option is to just treat in the Brute for a week, and then move part of the rock to my glass sump and give it a couple of days to see if the rocks leach any PO4 into the water column. Anyone have any other ideas?
 
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I guess this would explain why I always had Phosphate issues when I used a big brute to store RODI!! Crazy that you get that much of a reading within 24 hours!!! At least it's not the rocks. Thanks for doing this science project buddy!! It sure opened my eyes for ANYTHING plastic that I use from now on!!
 
Reeflogic said:
It sure opened my eyes for ANYTHING plastic that I use from now on!!
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I'm really curious to see if any of the plastic containers that a lot of folks use to make/store SW also leach phosphates. @Chriscrna - I know you have some of those Ace RotoMold containers if I'm not mistaken. Feel like humoring me and running a PO4 test for water out of those in light of my recent discovery with the Brute leaching PO4?
 
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Chriscrna said:
The Ace roto mold tests at ZERO.

However, after reading this, I was more concerned with my rubbermaid stock tank sump. But alas, it tests at ZERO as well.
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Thanks for testing that, Chris! That's encouraging, and a massive relief for you I'm sure. I hadn't even thought about your Rubbermaid sump.

I wonder what it is about Brute containers? I know my tests were accurate as I took every possible precaution to avoid any cross-contamination and made sure to check levels before to make sure I was starting with 0 PO4.

The true test will be how my water checks out over the next few days as I now have them all sitting in an empty glass aquarium. Thanks to @cale0721 for letting me borrow the tank.
 
CastAway said:
My Brute RODI measures 0 on my Hanna P ULR checker. [emoji14]
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Well, aren't you special :p

Jokes aside, that's an interesting observation and further adds to the confusion. I even had two separate Brute cans that leached. Just to be on the safe side, I personally will likely stay away from Brute cans in my future builds. Rubbermaid might be the next best option.
 
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Chriscrna said:
It's probably because Jeff is a reefing brute, and you're a......well, you're kinda like a wee lil reef baby. Do they make wee lil reef baby trash cans LOL!
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I'm ordering one of these today!

ImageUploadedByREEF2REEF1461335275.141726.jpg
 
We use the website Doug provided a link to at work, they are indeed brute cans.

I've heard that they put some powder in the cans when they ship the to the warehouse to keep them from sticking and fusing together....could be the issue?
 
Interesting Waylon, I didn't think about that. My neighbor works at the Rubbermaid plant down the road from me. I need to hit her up and get to the bottom of this! :)
 
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When we get new cans in we spray them out and bleach clean , then rinse and let dry, but we're sitting flower and yeast, so no po4 testing lol.
 
Well, at least one of the cans, I did the muriatic acid bath in, and then both cans were used for the LC bath. If it is just powder, you would think that it would be long gone after these two treatments?
 

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