phosphate= Garbage?

reefhead165 · #1 01/04/2008, 03:20 PM

So i have been reading threads about Garbage cans releaseing Phosphates. I have a farm and fleet garbage can (32g) that i fill up with water and then i mix salt in that bucket. Could this be a cause of hair algae in my tank? if so what other container could i use that would not give me this problem (preferably a cheap one)
Thank you for any input

goreefer · #2 01/04/2008, 03:29 PM

An easy way to see if the can is actually releasing phosphates is to test before adding the water to the can, wait the normal amount of time that it would take to mix/stabilize the water and retest.
Not all of the cans will release phosphates or other chemicals since most are made from recycled materials, that is where the variable comes in.

mhurley · #3 01/04/2008, 03:30 PM

"garbage can" doesn't tell us much. I use Rubbermaid Brute's which are food grade safe and don't leach. You're looking for HDPE plastic (should be stamped on it somewhere). Have you tested the mixed up water for phosphates?

My opinion is no, that's not your issue. For the short amount of time water is in that bucket (let's say a couple days), it would have a leach an awful lot of phosphates for you to dump in your tank.

Get more fundamental...what are you feeding? How often? Is your skimmer pulling it's weight? Have you tested your RO water for phosphates?

bignick · #4 01/04/2008, 03:57 PM

Your TDS could be high. I would Check that and then determine where your phosphates are coming from. I too have heard of what you are saying but i would test everything i could before buying a new storage container.

Engine 7 · #5 01/04/2008, 04:14 PM

Keep in mind, when it comes to mysteries in this hobby, people make assumptions. Including myself. As an example, If I have a coral look unhealthy a week after changing brands of food or lightbulbs I have a tendency to suspect the lastest change in my tank as being the culpret. Sometimes it only makes sense. Other times people have a tendency, myself included, to jump on the bandwagon and go with the crowd.
Rubbermaid Brute Trashcans are food safe if there is a smell coming from the can it must be the contents of the can causing the smell. These cans are made to hold food. I cant believe that the smells are harmful of cause high phosphates. The plastic that they use does not leach anything including phosphates. I have never had a problem with them although I have noticed a weird smell every so often from my RO/DI container.

Then again, I could be completely wrong.

jdhanover · #6 01/04/2008, 08:15 PM

I am suspect of my Brute cans and have set up an old glass tank to take it's place. Will post results in a few weeks. The brute can for the fresh RODI water is about as clean as the day I got it. The heated SW can got a lot of brown stuff (diatoms) and I think that may be part of my algae issues. Not sure if it is phosphates or something else. We'll see. I don't feed much so i am trying to figureout the same question you are (phosphate test read zero and all other parameters are good; also tested zero for silicates)