Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I'd like to suggest that the answer is a very cautious "yes", provided you are willing to take some extra steps. Others may loudly disagree with me about this, and I'd advise you to listen closely to their objections because you'll probably want to "err on the side of caution".

Let's stipulate the situation: You've got a very popular container type that is used to ship an unknowably large number of chemicals - anything in fact, provided whatever it is doesn't immediately destroy plastic. So let's assume the "worst case scenario", by which I mean the totes contained something that 1) leeched into the plastic, 2) can't be washed out, and 3) is deadly in very tiny amounts. Not to mention 4) you really dont know, and 5) you're determined to use the totes (as opposed to some other option like a big wheeled rubbish bin).

Here's my suggestions, and I'm assuming this is all "post-cut", i.e. you've already opened up a tote:
1) Wash the heck out of it anyways, multiple times. I'd include both an acid and an alkaline wash and/or soak just to be on the "safer" side (since we really don't know if whatever it was can be washed out or forced to leech out chemically).
1a) If you stop here - which I DON'T ADVISE - then fill it full of water, let it soak for a month or two (I'm choosing that timeframe at random), then take a sample of the water to be tested for contamination. But I don't advise stopping here.
2) This is my strongest suggestion: Put in a physical liner (pond liner or very thick plastic sheeting) so that the potentially-contaminated tote is simply functioning as a support structure for your water-holding liner.
3) If you can't get a liner (and maybe even if you can), consider spraying the interior of the tote with one of those nigh-impervious sealents, provided it can adhere to the plastic and won't itself leech into the water.

If you do Step 3, you'll probably find that it would have been cheaper to simply have a known-safe tote shipped in. But Step 2 at least shouldn't be cost-prohibitive.

All this said, you're still taking something of a risk. From my own experience I can say that I wouldn't have taken the totes I acquired that used to hold highway-striping paint without having first downloading the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) which made it clear they would be safe to use.

Hope this helps!

If you do not know what has been in them then do NOT use. Best advise I can give for a safe system.

Hi Davo. Glad you got a source and at $100 each that's not bad. There is a fellow in Shepparton selling them for $50 and they are by all accounts in really good nick. Otherwise I believe anything OVER $100 would be too much in our area. What sort of system are you putting together? I'm in Strathdale so would be keen to take a peek

Found ibc's locally for $75, but they had roundup in them. Dude says others have bought them for fish tanks, but I don't know?

Stuff scares me, and I don't like it on principal, but what do you guys think?

+1. I just pay the extra for ones that have had non-oil based food products in them. Put a value on an hour of your time, if you rate this at higher than $10, definitely go with food containers. Quick scrub and rinse takes < 30 mins.

The ones that have had round up or other poisons, industrial solutions, or cooking grease/oil just take too long to clean. I'm guessing at least 3-5 hours to do it properly....plus you usually need to clean the with chlorine bleach etc, so you will need to leave it in the sun for a few days afterwards.

Thsnks! Havent been able to find others, but stipo looking.

Hello Ozzyrod, I'm ready to build my first aquaponics system. I live 20km west of Bendigo, would you be able to PM the details to me where I can get the $50 IBC's in Shepparton please.

I'm paying $175 US for basically brand new IBCs in Oregon tomorrow. It's probably not the best price but these are very high quality food grade IBCs.

Another source occasionally gets them in for about $90. And Glory Bee foods in Eugene sells them for $110 but the quality is hit or miss.

Contact truckies in your area 50$ usual going rate as they get them for 20$ from the warehouse

check out your local golf club- i bought one for $100 which had had fertiliser in it

geelong farm supplies has them for $110

Shepparyon guy has very clean IBCs for $50 each. Buy 2 and you'd pay for your petrol from Geelong and still save. Had milk products I think.

Acolyte's luvverly phone on Tapatalk

can you use ibc that had hydraulic oil in them

At another site, a aquaponics enthusiast talked about getting IBC's that "only" carried fluoride. Fluoride is a deadly poison and you should avoid them like the plague!!

Some one had four left in gulf Breeze FL. for $80 each. On craigslist

I am looking for people in NWF to share info and materials are you anywhere near crestview