Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

hi,

What are wheelie bins made of? Is it safe to use one as a sump?

thanks

I have been using them as tanks for a while with no probs for raising tropicals. I will be using them as sumps very soon.

At present I am not eating the fish though.

I guess it would be pertinent to contact the manufacturers regards food safety, perhaps try and find out if there is a standard regards how much of anything can leach into water and see if they comply.

Bear in mind that a fish is in the environment for as long as it takes to grow to plate size. This could affect how much if any leachate gets into the system of the fish. Could also have a bearing on plant uptake of any nasties.

We have got a similar discussion going on here regards various grades of plastic pipe. Maybe someone will probaby post the link regards that subject.

I have a feeling that there would probably be less nasties in water using a wheelie bin sump than in water stored in a local dam.

Hope this helps a little.

lots of the so called nasties people worry about are non events. take lead. it's everywhere, but we aren't all lead poisoned.

Nevertheless, I would expect that the plastic deemed suitable by a waste contractor for the making of bins for rubbish disposal (Hmmm, awkward phrasing!) would be unlikely to be food grade!

yeah true

Yesterday at B I saw a 200 litre bucket sold as a rainwater tank for about $70. These are supposed to be food grade I think. I'm not sure how this price compares to a wheelie bin?

Is the hoses we use to water our plants food safe... Or the copper pipes that brings the water to our homes.... or the pipes at the water treatment plant where they add chlorine and fluorine? Are the taps we drink out of safe?

I think that in a way, we are getting poisoned far more everyday, than from what may leach out of a few PVC pipes...

Yes, I do realize it is a closed system and that the heavy metals and carcinogens will have to come out via the fish or the plants... True.. Very slowly. But then... who thoroughly washes their fruit and vegetables when they buy them from the shop?

me.

Timmy, the lead debate has come and gone. google it for some info on the minute qty that is detrimental and also the cumulative effect............

Is the hoses we use to water our plants food safe NOPE... Or the copper pipes that brings the water to our homes YEP, and lead based solder for these pipes has been long banned as has silver solder with cadmium.... or the pipes at the water treatment plant PROBABLY where they add chlorine and fluorine You know my stance on the flouride ? Are the taps we drink out of safe?

Seriously guys, thinks like this are like death by 1000 cuts. Hell if i went along with those lines then i wouldn't wear a seat belt becasue "you're gonna die some day of something" WHY TF hurry it up. compare fish that we're all now familiar with to OUR body, stress a fish out, put it through shit water quality and its much more suceptible to disease. The more chems we barrage our body with the less resources it has to keep us healthy.

I'm not saying what pipe you use is the be all and end all, but by the same token i don't think it should be dismissed as inconsequential.

Can i mix 0.1ppm of fuel with my soup and not get sick? probably
can i do it for an extended period and not expect some ramifications which may or may not even get linked with it? Probably NOT.

end rant.

Steve,
Has someone opened YOUR can of worms?

I just say, don't look too far into it... Everything will kill you one day. Having fresh veges and fish.... I prefer to live that way than get all my stuff from miles away... Sure it may kill you in 80 years, it may not. Even though I know there be some leachants in system at least I know what they are... you don't don't what you are getting in the shops...

I know quite a few gardeners that fill up old tires with dirt or compost and plant in the "container"

Speaking of washing fruits and vegetables.... Your tap water is probably contaminated.

I figure the composition of the growbeds and fish tanks are almost inconsequential -- in a few months they'll be coated with bioslime.

Wikipedia says usually made of HDPE, is that safe? I try and find out where it was made and what of?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheelie_bin

Since they are making potable water pipes of HDPE no worse than anything else you would think. I know there is one chemical in its manufacture that is rather suss but once the chemical reactions have taken place I think it becomes stable.

So we rename wheelie bins potable portables?

food grade HDPE is virgin material and process with regard to impurities making their way in.

non food grade HDPE can be recycled material and recycled recycled material with out regard for what goes in or what was previously in.

Tim no disrespect intended so dont take it the wrong way, i was well past 21 when i started giving a shit asked the same question at 21 i would have replied (and did quite often ) exactly the same way .

The reason the "wellness" industry supplements, feel younger products, etc. is approaching a 1 trillion dollar industry is because once people reach a certain age and can see over the hill they want to squeeze every extra day out of it and the proportion of the population that is at that stage is huge due to the baby boomers But i've gone off on a tangent now

Short answer to the original question? If you're asking the question about food safe then you're obviously concerned

the bin is from here: http://www.osgs.com.au/item_binsA2.htm . I emailed them and am awaiting response.