RO/DI storage question

[USMA36]

I was able to find two tall 58 gallon containers for RO/DI and salt water storage. They were used to hold olives. Will this be safe to use for water storage? They are definitely food grade, I just wonder about any chemicals or pesticides used when the olives were grown.

 

[vertigo01]

Generally,food service barrels such as those, were used to hold the olives in a brine solution. The only chemical that I can think of that would have been added is a food preservative type.

If in doubt, I would clean them as good as possible and fill them up with RODI like you would for actual production.
I.E. powerheads and heaters going and test the water after a week or so.

I had some barrels giver to me by a family member that were used for liquid Seafood/Crab Boil production.
I would have used them except that I could never get rid of the seafood/crab boil smell.
Didnt want the tank inhabitants to constantly feel as though they were next in the pot..lol

 

[amps]

Despite having been used for Olives in their first life, were they perhaps used for something else by the seller?

I know it's more money but new barrels from Uline aren't very expensive. An open top, 55gal, food grade barrel is only $79 brand new. $108 for a large fish tank setup isn't a huge differential.

 

[USMA36]

I did ask if they were ever used for anything else. The seller was the only user.