55 gallon drum, any one cut top off?

malawinovice · 03/24/2012, 08:29 PM

Locals are selling 55 gallon closed head plastic drums. Any one cut off the top for ease of adding salt?

Structural risks?

Also have drums previously filled with canola oil for $10, or filled with vinegar for $25. Is either okay for ro/di and mixing station?

OpCode1300 · 03/24/2012, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malawinovice

Locals are selling 55 gallon closed head plastic drums. Any one cut off the top for ease of adding salt?

Structural risks?

Also have drums previously filled with canola oil for $10, or filled with vinegar for $25. Is either okay for ro/di and mixing station?

the drums fill w/ vinegar are "safe", we use vinegar to clean pumps and as sources of carbon like vodka. I would assume the oil would be ok if cleaned out good.

As for cutting the top off,I would say cut a small port, worst case it helps prevent evaporation and keep debris out of the water.

Playa-1 · 03/24/2012, 09:02 PM

You can cut the top off it you want. It will not be as sturdy around the top but still be functional. Like OpCode said, If you just cut a hole in the top big enough to do what you need then the top of the drum will be a little more stable.

tomservo · 03/24/2012, 09:04 PM

The typical "thin" drums have about a 1/4" wall, so they are still pretty sturdy. I've had my hands on a thickwall drum in the past that was 1/2" thick, thing weighed like 70-80lbs empty!

billdogg · 03/25/2012, 06:29 AM

Actually, I cut off 1/2 of the bottom! The top already has threaded fittings - why not use them? My barrel sits upside down plumbed to an old iwaki pump for circulation and to pump the water to the tanks on water change day. The piece I cut off I hinged back on using a couple pieces of plastic milk jug and nylon nuts and bolts. The hinges break every couple years -takes 5 minutes to replace them - the barrel has been in service since at least 1990.

malawinovice · 03/25/2012, 06:52 AM

What did you use for drain? 2" male thread?

Reefir · 03/25/2012, 07:07 AM

i cut like 3 inches off the top of a 5 gallon bucket , I trace the bottom of the 5g on top of the 55g drum and cut it out a 1/4 bigger and the 5g bucket fits right in with a lid and its sealed and easy to hose out and add salt etc. I put mine on a 2' tall stand , drilled a bulkhead on the bottom and have a pvc shutoff , i mix my salywater in it and fill buckets of water with ease . just my ways , good luck !

MLS · 03/25/2012, 07:23 AM

I knew someone who used an drum filled with cooking oil without problems.
They threw a couple of gallons on vinegar in the drum to help clean/cut the oil in the drum.

Big Dog · 03/25/2012, 08:24 AM

Reciprocating saw ........ cut half in a half moon config

ek9vboi · 03/25/2012, 08:53 AM

I didn't cut off my top, but I did cut the hole larger for ease of adding salt. Used a 4" knockout cap using in plumbing to test pressure for recapping. Works great but doesn't have a nice seal to keep the water in, I'll have to work on that.

Also, pick up the vinegar barrel, it's not much more for something you have put a heck of a lot of money into.

malawinovice · 03/25/2012, 05:11 PM

I will pick up the used vinegar barrels.

Going to try to hang the ro/di tank from rafters, another thread.
Will have to try the upside down tank to use current bunge holes for drains.

Finally a larger 5 gallon pail hole on the top for mixing and cords for heater and kora for stirring.

Thanks all for the great ideas.

03/24/2012, 08:29 PM	#1
malawinovice Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 677	55 gallon drum, any one cut top off? Locals are selling 55 gallon closed head plastic drums. Any one cut off the top for ease of adding salt? Structural risks? Also have drums previously filled with canola oil for $10, or filled with vinegar for $25. Is either okay for ro/di and mixing station?

03/25/2012, 06:29 AM	#5
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	Actually, I cut off 1/2 of the bottom! The top already has threaded fittings - why not use them? My barrel sits upside down plumbed to an old iwaki pump for circulation and to pump the water to the tanks on water change day. The piece I cut off I hinged back on using a couple pieces of plastic milk jug and nylon nuts and bolts. The hinges break every couple years -takes 5 minutes to replace them - the barrel has been in service since at least 1990. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

03/25/2012, 07:23 AM	#8
MLS Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 67	I knew someone who used an drum filled with cooking oil without problems. They threw a couple of gallons on vinegar in the drum to help clean/cut the oil in the drum. __________________ Mike 40L Reef Tank, 10 Gallon Nano, 5 Gallon Pico

03/24/2012, 09:02 PM	#3
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	You can cut the top off it you want. It will not be as sturdy around the top but still be functional. Like OpCode said, If you just cut a hole in the top big enough to do what you need then the top of the drum will be a little more stable.

03/24/2012, 09:04 PM	#4
tomservo Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 332	The typical "thin" drums have about a 1/4" wall, so they are still pretty sturdy. I've had my hands on a thickwall drum in the past that was 1/2" thick, thing weighed like 70-80lbs empty!

03/25/2012, 06:52 AM	#6
malawinovice Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 677	What did you use for drain? 2" male thread?

03/25/2012, 07:07 AM	#7
Reefir Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bristol Ct. Posts: 1,704	i cut like 3 inches off the top of a 5 gallon bucket , I trace the bottom of the 5g on top of the 55g drum and cut it out a 1/4 bigger and the 5g bucket fits right in with a lid and its sealed and easy to hose out and add salt etc. I put mine on a 2' tall stand , drilled a bulkhead on the bottom and have a pvc shutoff , i mix my salywater in it and fill buckets of water with ease . just my ways , good luck !

03/25/2012, 08:24 AM	#9
Big Dog Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Kittanning, PA Posts: 226	Reciprocating saw ........ cut half in a half moon config

03/25/2012, 08:53 AM	#10
ek9vboi Registered Member. Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: South FL Posts: 3,027	I didn't cut off my top, but I did cut the hole larger for ease of adding salt. Used a 4" knockout cap using in plumbing to test pressure for recapping. Works great but doesn't have a nice seal to keep the water in, I'll have to work on that. Also, pick up the vinegar barrel, it's not much more for something you have put a heck of a lot of money into.

03/25/2012, 05:11 PM	#11
malawinovice Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 677	I will pick up the used vinegar barrels. Going to try to hang the ro/di tank from rafters, another thread. Will have to try the upside down tank to use current bunge holes for drains. Finally a larger 5 gallon pail hole on the top for mixing and cords for heater and kora for stirring. Thanks all for the great ideas.