Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi all,

Yes its another one, and for the most I already know what to do. I guess people just ask because it will either save time and money. In my case I have an opportunity to purchase cheap used IBCs that have had a dispersing agent in them. Obviously if its not "safe" thrn I dont really want to spend money to buy or time to clean. As they normally do, the seller has said its safe, and should be safe for fish. However I'd like to call on the IBC/MSDS/Backyard Chemistry Scientists.... who know what is what, and are proficient at reading MSDS info. I'd really appreciate help.

Here is the MSDS

TIA

looks pretty harmless to me?

it reads in its handling procedure it IS NOT SAFE TO EAT.. I would not want to use that IBC, but I am new to the IBC stuff. I figure anything that is said to limit exposure to skin, handle in well ventilated, and not safe to eat.. three strikes and your out of here

Just found another lot of IBCs that have had FORMIC ACID in them?.....in my google searches it looks to be an organic acid, sometimes used to preserve livestock feeds such as hay.

Wash the formic acid containers with vinegar, then soap & Water. The vinegar will encourage the formic acid to decompose into Water & Carbon Dioxide. Completely harmless.

Wouldn't it be easier just to neuralise with sodium bicarbonate then just rinse out?

I agree; in my opinion these are safe and eminently suitable for aquaponics use. This stuff, Hydropalat, is like lolly-water compared to the stuff that was contained in some of my IBCs, and I have had no issues with toxicity at all.

A good rinse should be all the IBC bladders need, but rinse them a few times and leave them to sit for a while - just for your peace of mind.

Am I the only one was say "dirty IBC post" and thought "topless IBC's"? This post is worthless without pictures!

+1 smatthew. I was expecting tassels..


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I must be getting old because the other 'dirty' didn't enter my mind. I'm sad now.

can just see it now, IBCs with their "cages" off

Sorry to bring this post up again. I now have an unlimited very cheap supply of IBCs thanks to a close friend. Unfortunately he's just said they have had water based Varnish in them. I've tried searching the forum and had one topic relating to water based varnish, but it lead no where.

Can it be used? After the obvious clean.

I know its a touchy and skeptical topic using IBCs that have had chemicals. There really needs to be a sticky on this. Debunking myths etc. I guess there needs to be some real investigation by contacting schutz and those industrial companies who clean and recondition these, into what chemicals "lock" into the plastic, or do they even get absorbed into it?
Then perhaps the methods or process they go through to make sure its "clean" and cleared to be reused.

Then do a sticky based on a consensus of information from members who have had exchemical and even some hazardous food grade ones (acids, additives etc).

What to definitely stay away from;
Where to possibly find safe ones (drink/food manufacturers);
What was in them(perhaps references to msds too);
Is it safe to clean/use;
What is safe to clean it with;
Is there something to use to split/ break the chemical down;
And list the methods of cleaning (triple clean, sit til algae (does it need it?) Steam clean etc.)

It would put a lot of people out of forum searching misery, and perhaps squash a lot of skepticism on using them.

Sadly not everyone is handy to "safe/foodgrade" ibcs at our doorstep, and theyre more widely used for transporting chemicals. Even sourcing them could mean massive freight cost.

We all need this sticky.

Anyway, is it ok to use the water based varnish ones?

You raise excellent points and ask worthwhile questions, BattzNZ.

As far as the water based varnish IBC bladders are concerned, I can't say for sure that they would be ok to use for AP but I suspect that they would be. Here is my suggestion: rinse the bladder, scrub it with something (detergent, vinegar or whatever you think seems appropriate), rinse them again and then fill and let sit for a couple of weeks. Introduce a couple of small Goldfish to act as your proverbial 'canaries in a coalmine'. If after a few weeks they seem to be doing well then you can probably conclude that any residual toxic substances in the bladder are at worst present in fairly low levels.

None of what I have suggested is new or ground breaking but it may at least confirm your own ideas on the matter and allow you to proceed with more confidence. After all, the method has worked for me and I suspect that my IBCs had more potent contents than varnish.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_polyacrylate

as long as its all washed off and you dont end up with fish swimming in gel, should be fine.

Let sit with water and see if algae grows instead of sacrificial gold fish?


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Hi all,

So with the IBCs with waterbased "varnish", I was able to take a photo.
I also found a technical data sheet, not msds. Might have to contact the manufacturer for it. So far as I know the product is used on labeling products for a food packaging manufacture here.
Here is the technical data PDF

The photo I took

From what I can tell its fairly harmless, but can not confirm further without msds.
Aparently dried its virtually non toxic.

I am talking myself up here. But can someone please give me a better opinion on the use of this IBC.

TIA