Brute

[ksed]

I have two R/O storage container one is a glass aquarium and the other is a Rubbermade Brute 30 gallon trash can. The water stored in the Brute container within a few days develops an anoxic odor. The glass aquarium does not appear to do that.
Any reason why this happen with a PE container vs glass tank.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I can't think of a reason except perhaps surface are to volume ratio, or perhaps mildew likes to grow on the exposed plastic parts more than glass. I never had an objectionable odor with my Brute cans (grey, 44 gallon types).

 

[ksed]

Interesting! Thanks Randy.
I don’t have any form of circulation but that would be the same for the glass tank.

 

[Rybren]

Is the aquarium open top and the Brute covered? Perhaps the Brute has a more air-tight seal.
I occasionally get a whiff of something off-smelling when I remove the cover of my SW container.

 

[ksed]

Both have a lid on it to prevent evaporation but not air tight.

 

[PatW]

When my Brutes are full, they are fine. But if I empty them and they are just a little bit wet, I get a bit of an odor after a few days with the lid on.

 

[Jwheld]

Is the brute new? Maybe something is coated on the walls that is breaking down.

 

[ksed]

It’s about a year old.

 

[Jwheld]

It’s about a year old.

Hmm. As others mention, I haven’t had issues either. I leave mixed water in mine for too long. ;Nailbiting

 

[yak85]

Never had a problem using Brutes for holding RO water or instant ocean. Could try filling it up with water and a gallon of vinegar then rinse to clean it out. Used to do that twice a year with the Brute I used for holding my instant ocean.

 

[atp0726]

Thread is getting a bit old but my Brute's get a bad odor after a while, like the smell of wet clothes left in an airtight bag for to long. I even get a touch of mildew at the top. It has happened now at 2 different homes with completely different water supplies and I have changed out filter on my RO. Nothing seems to make a difference. Even tried running an airstone for some circulation. I am starting to think its the trash cans and I may look for a different type of storage container.

 

[atp0726]

Thread is getting a bit old but my Brute's get a bad odor after a while, like the smell of wet clothes left in an airtight bag for to long. I even get a touch of mildew at the top. It has happened now at 2 different homes with completely different water supplies and I have changed out filter on my RO. Nothing seems to make a difference. Even tried running an airstone for some circulation. I am starting to think its the trash cans and I may look for a different type of storage container.

 

[atp0726]

sorry for double post

 

[oddomatic]

When my Brutes are full, they are fine. But if I empty them and they are just a little bit wet, I get a bit of an odor after a few days with the lid on.

+1

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thread is getting a bit old but my Brute's get a bad odor after a while, like the smell of wet clothes left in an airtight bag for to long. I even get a touch of mildew at the top. It has happened now at 2 different homes with completely different water supplies and I have changed out filter on my RO. Nothing seems to make a difference. Even tried running an airstone for some circulation. I am starting to think its the trash cans and I may look for a different type of storage container.

If they are clean going in, IMO, its not the Brutes that "cause" it (I had 12x44 gallon brutes going at once for years and never had such an issue, but rather just the high humidity environment and availability of mildew spores, etc.

I actually don't think the smell is any issue for the tank, but maybe for your health. With that concern, some folks occasionally bleach them.