Old Wheeled Garbage Can For Aquarium Use?

I have a 32 gallon garbage can that I haven’t used for garbage in about 5 years. I lost the top during a thunderstorm so I got a new can. I kept the old can because it’s good and sturdy and I knew I’d find a good use for it. This past summer I used it a couple of times to dump grass clippings in before I dumped them all out.

For water changes, I’m using an ol’ school python. I usually suck the end of the tube to get the water flow going out the aquarium. I had been pouring it into (2) 5 gallon buckets and dumping them, I did that twice so I’m cycling 20 gallons. It was time consuming and I felt I could streamline the process some.

Ive recently replaced the 6ft python tube with a 25 ft tube and pump the aquarium water out into the kitchen sink so it’s sped up the emptying part of the process a lot. It takes about 10 - 15 minutes to pump out about 25% of my 75 gallon.

During the time I was pumping the water out of the aquarium into the sink, I filled up my two 5 gallon buckets with fresh water and put prime in them. I still had quite a bit of time left before 25% of the water was out.

I want to use the old garbage can as what I put my fresh water in and use the python to pump the water in the aquarium. I figure some it takes 10 - 15 to empty it, it’ll take the same to fill it via the garbage can.

I don’t want to get a new python and hook it up to the sink and pump it straight in the aquarium. I’m not a fan of putting untreated water into the aquarium and I don’t want to dump enough prime in the aquarium for a full 75 gallons beforehand, that seems like a waste. My plan is to fill up a five gallon bucket via the tub, prime it, and dump it into the can while at the same time I’m emptying the water into the sink. That way, when the 15 minutes are up and 25% of the water is emptied from the tank I’m ready to siphon the water out of the garbage can into the tank. 15 more minutes and I’m done...

Finally my question.... if I bleach the out of that old garbage can, inside and out, rinse well, and repeat would it hurt the fish to use it for clean water it will there be some type of super bacteria left over? Or is using and old garbage can just plain nasty and I should go get a new one?

Edit.... I forgot to add the can has wheels...

 

Why not just fill the tub, treat it and use a pump and garden hose to refill the tank. I have a green scrunchy hose I use to fill mine.

 

I do have to say that is an interesting idea for repurposing a can!

 

Why not just fill the tub, treat it and use a pump and garden hose to refill the tank. I have a green scrunchy hose I use to fill mine.

I guess the only downside would be that I’d have to make sure there’s no soap left on the tub from the previous shower first, otherwise that’d work too..

 

A quick bleach squirt and rinse. The garbage can thing in not sure of since its not food grade plastic so I'm not sure what else it may add to the water. It should have a recycle number on it that would tell you what's its made out of.

 

A quick bleach squirt and rinse. The garbage can thing in not sure of since its not food grade plastic so I'm not sure what else it may add to the water. It should have a recycle number on it that would tell you what's its made out of.

Good point, I appreciate the input, I’ll check it out, thanks.

I do have to say that is an interesting idea for repurposing a can!

I’m always thinking waaaaaay outside the box, scary sometimes...

 

I use brute 32 g cans and the wheeled dolly that fits them .I prep water in a couple of them and even a 42g..
Rubbermaid makes whaite food safe cans sold at tractor supply. I use regular brutes for 5+ years now .
I don't think I would use an old can that may have other things in it for the clean water ..For waste it should be fine .

 

I use brute 32 g cans and the wheeled dolly that fits them .I prep water in a couple of them and even a 42g..
Rubbermaid makes whaite food safe cans sold at tractor supply. I use regular brutes for 5+ years now .
I don't think I would use an old can that may have other things in it for the clean water ..For waste it should be fine .

Unfortunately I’m a bit clumsy. I could easily see myself knocking that brute can off the dolly and having 20+ gallons all over my floor. I would use one with wheels built on. I’m going to get a new can. I’ll check out the Rubbermaid you mentioned. Preciate it.

 

Just as a follow up....

I ended up going to Lowe’s and buying a new can


I know it’s overkill, but I won’t have to buy a new can every year cause the last broke so I got the sturdiest one I could find. That would hopefully last a lot longer than I will...

I also got this pump....



Took about 10 minutes to empty about 30%, and about the same to fill it, and Bob’s your uncle...

 

I used Prime for my tanks which worked well, but I switched to Seachem Safe for dechlorinating my 75g.

Seachem Safe is great!

I started with the smaller 250 gram container and that is going to last a very long time.

 

I use a Brute 44g grey trash can that I bought just for this purpose, got it from Home Depot and it was listed as food safe. It's pretty much what you'd get from a liquor store if you bought a keg of beer, very sturdy. I use 2 different pumps, a 220gph to empty the tank (I'm thinking of using a larger pump for this but was afraid of sucking up a fish when I first started doing this) and a 500gph to fill. I have a Zacro thermometer that I use to match temperature in the can while filling. I bought some Velcro stick on dots and put one on the rI'm of the can and one on the back of the thermometer so that it doesn't accidentally fall in, had that happen of course, lol. I mix my water, conditioner, ferts and some semi-dissolved Equilibrium in the can and then as soon as I'm done draining I can go ahead and start refilling. Even with all of these "refinements" to the process it still takes me about an hour to do my 55 gallon tank, doing about a 60% WC. With a little practice I have a good idea how much water to put in the can and take out of the tank so that when I'm done refilling the tank I don't have too much left and can just bucket a little bit out and then tote the can outside to finish emptying it. Long post, sorry.