RE: bent spines/was Winter 1967

[David_Koran at HQ02.USACE.ARMY.MIL]

Scott,

I bought some 3 gallon Rubbermaid containers a couple of years ago and
started to use them last year.  I discovered a pinhole in the same place on
about 60% of them.  Since Newell acquired the Rubbermaid line I suspect it
is just another example of their skimping on the product while living off
the name.  The quality just isn't there when you compare it to the product
from about 10 years ago.  The containers are thinner and will crack when
dropped something the old ones would not due unless they sat out in the sun
for a couple of summers (UV degradation).  I suspect they are just skimping
on the amount of plastic they put into the mold.

Dave

-----Original Message-----
From: unclescott [mailto:unclescott at prodigy_net]
Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2003 12:24 PM
To: killietalk at aka_org
Subject: Re: bent spines/was Winter 1967


Thank you all for your comments upon plastics and their possible influences
upon our killies. This is especially useful for those of us chemistry
challenged types.

I have been using Rubbermaid's Roughneck 32 gallon refuse containers for
water storage and daphnia culture for a number of years. I was vaguely aware
of potential propbelms and uneasy knowing that they were not food quality
containers. The new ones didn't smell "quite right" and so they have been
introduced to my set-up in the following manner:

The usual process for new containers is to use each one for a year or two as
my covered bleach container, left in a shaded spot. Dirty aquarium items are
dumped in there as the need arises. After a year or two the bleach container
becomes the sodium thiosulphate container, again covered and shaded. This is
where I periodically dumped the drained items which have been soaking in
that bleach container. Contents are then hosed down. Only after a couple of
years have these containers have been in the tank cleansing line do they get
used as food culture or water storage containers.

I have not seen problems such as Bill has which might be attributed to
plastics. (My killies' problems are mostly of my own making, usually
neglecting to do what needs to be done.)

Is this sufficient to wear off any harmful materials, as per Dave Koran's
cleansing of Rubbermaid containers. Or is it overkill?

Also, it seems that in the last few years too many of these rubbermaid trash
containers have developed an all too frequent tendance to develop pin hole
leaks. A friend suggested filling those offending containers with water,
marking the hole and - after drying - using a soldering iron (in a well
ventilated space in the backyard) to melt the holes shut.

If this is done, A.) will it work or just be another surprise waiting to
flood the fishroom or back yard? and B.) would the melting of the plastic
cause the release of harmful materials all over again?

Thanks in advance!

Scott

The difference between new and veteran killie keepers is that the veterans
knew what do to before the disaster. ;)



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