How should I clean these??

Reefing_addiction · May 27, 2024

Ok soo, since I didn’t want to spend $50 on dosing containers I went to the thrift store and found these.
I wish they had 4 of the one on the left but they only had 2. So 4 containers =$8 plus tax. Got a pack of bulkhead push quick connector thingies

And some 1/4 acrylic rigid tubing

Sorry got side tracked

So what should I use to clean the containers? Soap? Bleach? Nothing?

VintageReefer · May 27, 2024

Good ole’ water and a toothbrush.
You could mix in some vinegar or hydrogen peroxide, just give er a good rinsin’ when dern

Formulator · May 28, 2024

I would use both vinegar and peroxide separately with good rinsing in between. Who knows what was in those containers previously. With acid and an oxidizer you will cover your bases pretty well.

On a side note - you might want to check those bottles for a numbered marking that will tell you the type of plastic. Not all plastics are reef safe and especially with a potentially corrosive alk solution in one of them, you might end up leaching harmful chemicals.

Milk jugs are food grade HDPE and always a great inexpensive option for stuff like this.

Reefkeepers Archive · May 28, 2024

Soap could be risky, vinegar & water and let it sit overnight, rinse afterwards, could use bleach too, though after a day dump it out and rinse a few times, then let dry for the chlorine to evaporate and rinse again, and you're good to go

Reefing_addiction · May 28, 2024

Formulator said:
I would use both vinegar and peroxide separately with good rinsing in between. Who knows what was in those containers previously. With acid and an oxidizer you will cover your bases pretty well.

On a side note - you might want to check those bottles for a numbered marking that will tell you the type of plastic. Not all plastics are reef safe and especially with a potentially corrosive alk solution in one of them, you might end up leaching harmful chemicals.

Milk jugs are food grade HDPE and always a great inexpensive option for stuff like this.

So I know that the smaller bottles were Rubbermaid. They are food safe. They are a #5 - which is a polypropylene that can resist most acids and solvents.

The larger containers are PET (1). And according to a little research- PET exhibits excellent resistance to acid, staining and has an overall good chemical resistance.

Both containers have graduated marks (ml) on them - which usually marks them as storage for liquids. The Rubbermaid ones I remember from growing up.

But glad you brought it up because many people may not know how to check their plastics.

This link here tells you what each number means. And searching for the resistance of each type of plastic is a simple with google.

Formulator · May 28, 2024

Reefing_addiction said:
So I know that the smaller bottles were Rubbermaid. They are food safe. They are a #5 - which is a polypropylene that can resist most acids and solvents.

The larger containers are PET (1). And according to a little research- PET exhibits excellent resistance to acid, staining and has an overall good chemical resistance.

Both containers have graduated marks (ml) on them - which usually marks them as storage for liquids. The Rubbermaid ones I remember from growing up.

But glad you brought it up because many people may not know how to check their plastics.

This link here tells you what each number means. And searching for the resistance of each type of plastic is a simple with google.

Excellent. You know what you are doing

Reefing_addiction · May 28, 2024

Formulator said:
Excellent. You know what you are doing

Nope just stab at things in the dark until I hit someone I mean something …..

I do my best to look up info before I ask questions

But then sometimes that info is so varied due to opinions

What a plastic should hold and its ability to withstand acids and chemicals is more or less straight forward …. And google can be your friend when used properly!!! (Also verify your sources!)