Cleaning water storage containers

[BigDave]

The 55 Gallon drums I bought were previously used to store BBQ sauce.

While I love the smell of BBQ, I don't think it will benefit the aquarium much. What's the best way to clean sterilize the containers?

My thought is to fill them with water and add a couple of gallons of bleach. Let them sit a few days, empty them, then rinse with more fresh water.

[scooter31707]

I would use a 10:2 water to bleach ration and let them sit for a couple of days. As you stated, rinse well, then I would fill back up with regular water and dose with some prime for around 2 days, then rinse well again, and let air dry for at 48 hours.

[MrNurse]

i would use a 10:2 water to bleach ration and let them sit for a couple of days. As you stated, rinse well, then i would fill back up with regular water and dose with some prime for around 2 days, then rinse well again, and let air dry for at 48 hours.

+1

[BigDave]

Unless my math is broken you're saying for my 110 gallons of water, I should use 25 gallons of bleach? That seems a bit excessive.

[GimpyFin]

20 ml of bleach per gallon of water is roughly the ratio you want for cleaning the containers. (About a quart of bleach total for each 55 gallon drum.)

[Voodoojar]

I'd fill them up water pour like half a bottle of bleach in it and agitate with a powerhead over night. then rinse it out a couple of times.

[wildman926]

I use some blue 55g containers that held Maple Syrup. I just rinsed, cleaned with water and bleach, not much mind you, then rinsed again. I have been using them for 5 years without issue.