Solution to unpleasant smell in Brute cans

[MR BACKHAND]

I’m having the same problem. Both salt and ro brute cans smell like cat pee. I have a power head in each container, lid on and still get the pee smell.
My main ro/di set up has 7 stages with 0 TDS coming out.

I also get the pee smell using another ro setup under the kitchen sink. so I don’t believe it’s the ro/di unit.

One brute can was brand new and the other at least a year old. So I don’t believe it has anything to do with the plastic or coating.

the only thing I can think of is maybe chloramine . I’m going to order a carbon block made to pull chloramine out. I will update as soon as I test this out.

 

[MR BACKHAND]

Got the Pentek ChlorPlus Carbon Blocks installed today. Also installed a new 1 micron sediment filter. I will post again with the results next week.

 

[MR BACKHAND]

These filters have about 300 gallons threw them. They came with a brand new ro/di set-up. Even with this muck I’m still getting 0 TDS Confirmed with 2 different meters.

 

[MR BACKHAND]

Before and after. Fingers crossed that this is the source of the cat urine smell.

 

[MR BACKHAND]

Made 15 gallons of ro/di with the 2 new chloramine remover cartridges and left it in a freshly cleaned with vinegar brute can. 3 days so far and the brute can smells good....no cat urine smell
I will be making a batch of saltwater and then test for smell. I will be using instant ocean from the bucket for the next test.

 

[Drewbacca]

Yes, I am now running a small, cheap UV sterilizer in my saltwater mixing station. I'm using a 9W Green Killing Machine that I purchased from Petco for $50.

I don't do anything with my RO water storage because I don't seem to have a smell issue with RO/DI water, only salt-mixed water.

Wierd thing is I have a 35g grey i havent used yet and have cleaned it with alcohol and rodi3x now and seems smell gone... noop.. sat the lid on it and came back hours later... whoop there it is! I'll have to try vinegar & citric acid next. (Separately)

 

[Drewbacca]

Its def not chloramine from the water.. I have 2 chloramine blocks and havrnt even stored water in mine yet tho. Its only when lid gets put on for some reason. I have white feed brute from tractor store & it's never done that. Although lid is never fully sealed either.

 

[BuddyBonButt]

I was ready to tell my daughter to get rid of her cat due to strong smell of cat urine in house to discover it was my grey brute can. I bleached it and all good now

See, I've bleached mine a few times, I try to do it once a month. That smell never goes away. That means you've been adding that water, smelling like cat pee, to your tank for a while? So I shouldn't have to throw away my 25 gallons of rodi water? It should be safe to add to my tank?

 

[vetteguy53081]

See, I've bleached mine a few times, I try to do it once a month. That smell never goes away. That means you've been adding that water, smelling like cat pee, to your tank for a while? So I shouldn't have to throw away my 25 gallons of rodi water? It should be safe to add to my tank?

I haven’t had an issue and my smell is gone a long time ago

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

What about using a heavy duty trash bag int he brute trash can?

 

[EricR]

Old thread but just found it,,, so...
My RO/DI unit (BRS 6 stage) fills into a 32 gallon, grey, Brute trashcan.
*I cap everything (Brute/5 gallon jugs) for water storage since it's all in my garage and there tends to be lots of sawdust particles floating around from other projects.

When capped (with lid) full of RO/DI for days, Brute doesn't smell.
When capped empty, it does smell like cat urine a bit when I open it.

Never worried about it and no problems in the tank but now thinking I should try the 50% vinegar scrub down idea.

 

[MissingYuengling]

I am having the same smell issue. I have a 40g Brute for just RODI water and no smell. But the 32g Brute for saltwater storage stinks. Will try one of the recommended solutions to see if that works.

 

[EricR]

I am having the same smell issue. I have a 40g Brute for just RODI water and no smell. But the 32g Brute for saltwater storage stinks. Will try one of the recommended solutions to see if that works.

I went with the 50% vinegar scrub down that someone else recommended,,, then rinsed well and let dry.
Seemed to get rid of the smell issue on my 32g Brute.

 

[merkmerk73]

The only smell I get is musty bacteria smell if I cover the brute.

Unfortunately I like to keep it covered to keep dust and other crap from settling on the top, but if I cover it, it will eventually have a musty smell.