Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I have seen a few black IBCs for sale recently. Would these be better than the standard white ones for algal growth etc?

Does anyone see any drawbacks with black?

Thanks
Will

I'd go with them provided 2 things - you are not trying to run cold water fish and you know what was in them. My understanding is that, mostly, light-proof IBC's are that way because their contents react with light. Very few of those compounds would be things you want in your FT.

Black ones are generally for chemicals and stuff you would not wish to consume.

Then again.. many are used for acids and the like..... see if you can find out what was in them...

Some times they have a chem sticker , or plate on them...

As I said, the black containers are to prevent reaction with light. Hazmat labels can tell you all you need to know about what was in there. Check outDOT HazMat Labels - each label is clickable to see the categories under that label.

I have used black IBC's in my system. They are food-grade and were used to store the stuff that makes your bon-bons and candy bars look shiny.

Yep, got that Journeyman... post was in response to Luke... not all black IBC's have completely nasty stuff in them...

Should have been more specific... if they were used for acids... and a lot of other things... they'll rinse clean just fine...

If the labels are still there... it's pretty easy to track the contents... but often they've been removed.... so it's always worth asking the person selling them if they know what they had been used for...

Sorry Rupert if it seemed like I was having a go - I was trying to emphasise black doesn't necessarily mean dangerous. I provided the HazMat link to help determine what the contents might have been and (by reading the descriptions) what might be done to negate any ill effects.

No probs... We're on the same page.... that's all that counts...

Thanks for all that guys, I will def check them out thoroughly before I buy any

True dat....sorry if I wasn't clear either.

Rupert, Journeyman. Stop kissing and making up. Get back to fighting!

People don't fight here, they are usually violently in agreement. If I owned a flaxseed oil company, I would ship the oil in a black IBC.

We often use black IBC's for demin water. You couldnt get a better IBC that that!