Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Apart from that Chappo... there's other forums where pinko-commie greenies are frequently bashed...

Think they must be cousins of the mob you're referring to...

Rupert ,, Any forum that questions the diatribe of the greens and seeks truth I am happy to support.
Hitler's ideas where once very popular ,, see how that worked out?

Geez thanks for the info! I googled for bloody ages and couldn't find the info! Doesn't sound like some terribly pleasant stuff :/

Don't know if I should be washing it out and putting the stuff down into the drain....... Does anyone know if there are companies in Perth that will wash out old IBCs for a fee?

Alternatively, can anyone comment on whether other forum users have successfully used an EPDM liner to eliminate leaching from the IBC plastic?

I was all gung-ho before and though "Yeah I'll just wash it out and scrub with some dilute HCl and it will be fine ......." But now I'm not so sure :/ Seems silly to subject myself to nasty chems just to save a buck now.....

yeh probably not the most enviroment friendly thing if there is a few litres left in there...........considering the LC50 for fish in your local creek.........

When we were cutting up our IBCs we were lucky that most of them were either fertiliser, molasses or hydrolised tuna in oil. We did start cutting into one though that we put straight back in the pile... The stuff left in it started fizzing and eating into the concrete as soon as it touched it.

Id be hesitant to use the IBC if you are worried to the point of wanting to use a liner... if your liner somehow gave out in a couple of years time and killed off everything - you would be pretty heartbroken once you were at that stage. May not be much of a chance of it happening but I would tend towards 'better safe than sorry'

Havent seen any info on lining IBCs... probably not required if the IBC is clean as it would be food grade anyway?

As for someone to clean them - I know a place in Sydney that manufactures them (and blue barrels too)... they have a facility specifically for cleaning them out for re-use or re-sale. Maybe there is a place in Perth that does this also? Seems there would be a call for getting them cleaned out over shipping them somewhere?

Not sure if that helped at all, but good luck

i wonder how much HDPE absorbs as far as the previous contents..............

exactly how much is left in it?

if you were comfortable cleaning it then you could empty the remaining contents into a sealable tin and bring it to one of those council liquid chemical disposal places, you know, like for paints and stuff........

does it smell strong? i know this is going to sound really LOW tech, but if it has a stong smell them the LACK of one after youve washed it and left it sealed up for a day might indicate its future suitability?

your call.

I have two ibcs. Both are empty but have residue and sediment that needs to be pressure sprayed off. So washing would be the go. That would create a fair bit of waste water and I think it's too irresponsible for me to just tip it down the drain.

I've sprayed the hose in a little to try and moisten things up and it smells like concentrated interior house paint. I think the appretan is used as a defoaming agent to make paints but not so sure. It's a bummer the company won't send me the msds as I could then determine if hcl or clrorine bleach would degrade this stuff and make it less toxic.

it's a bummer the company won't send me the msds

as in the said "NO" or they're not replying.

Surely there is some OH&S requirement for a manufacturer to supply as MSDS if requested?

Mind sharing this info?

Actually, I posted too soon. They (the manufacturer) replied to me requesting more information to provide an msds and I have sent them the photo of the placard that was attached to the IBC. Hopefully they'll be able to provide it to me after all

^_^

Schutz from Perth collect all our IBC's (from work) to take back and clean BUT....and it's a biggie..the containers go back into service and get refilled with the same chemical.
This being said I actually wonder how clean the containers get.

http://www.betterdrums.com
Spoken to them a couple of times now, have a handy range of bits - ie: lids, taps, adaptors, etc and do offer a cleaning service but not sure if theres a minimum quantity... and not sure how much... (not much help am I!)

Found this on the web too...
Ibc Cleaning. 404 171st St SE, Bothell, WA 98012-1288. p: 425 582 8448 - might be worth a ring?

... that IBC washer would be a handy toy!

I wouldn't reject on the basis of fizzing since there are many chemicals that will fiz when tipped out or water were added to them but that are relatively harmless. Acids for instance. Really need to base your decision on published data.

Hubby was worried more about the concrete eating properties and getting any on his hands while cutting them... there is no label on that one so had no idea what type of acid it is... thought it better to be safe than sorry as we had heaps spare anyway... still have about 10 left - so easier to work with the ones we knew the contents of Might look at it again when we are planning our next expansion...