Algae in water tanks

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Graham Turner

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Algae in water tanks
« on: April 18, 2010, 16:45 »
Hi there
Hope someone can help with this problem!
I bought on of those 1000ltr. IBC tanks from e,bay, it originaly contained biological anti freeze. It was swilled out well, filled and and then drained and filled again. It has now developed what looks like a pink algae showing on the tank sides. Would this be harmfull to my plants, but more importantly will it be harmefull to my family and myself? Any ideas as to how to get rid of it would be most gratefull.
Graham Turner

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Trillium

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Re: Algae in water tanks
« Reply #1 on: April 19, 2010, 00:28 »
No idea what is classed as biological anti freeze, but almost anything that works as such would not be healthy to use water from, even for plants. Despite all your cleaning, I strongly suspect that there's still a lot of residue caught in tiny crevices. This is not scientific, just a strong hunch. Best advice is to contact some sort of local health agency for further info, or perhaps a gov't agricultural department for advice.

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compostqueen

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Re: Algae in water tanks
« Reply #2 on: April 19, 2010, 09:38 »
I think I read on a can of Jeyes fluid that it cleans water butts

This is not for drinking, but just watering your plants I assume

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JayG

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Re: Algae in water tanks
« Reply #3 on: April 19, 2010, 10:29 »
I don't know what biological anti-freeze is either, unless it is another name for the "safer" version of anti-freeze using propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol.

If you Google "pink algae" you will find plenty of information about it (it is actually a bacterial colony rather than a true algae.) It can thrive in the sort of environment provided by the inside of this sort of container, although is more of a problem in swimming pools because it is unsightly and also slimy.

Providing there was no solid residue in the tank the contents should have been completely removed by your flushing regime. If it were me I'd probably drain and it and refill once more and then stop worrying about it (I suspect not many of us examine the insides of our water butts and would probably be fairly dismayed if we did!)

Sow your seeds, plant your plants. What's the difference? A couple of weeks or more when answering possible queries!

One of the best things about being an orang-utan is the fact that you don't lose your good looks as you get older

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Brushcutter

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Re: Algae in water tanks
« Reply #4 on: June 25, 2010, 21:20 »
I agree with the last poster (i know this was a while ago!) I fill my chicken drinker with water and apple cider vinegar and that gets pink algae.  It is clear plastic aswell.



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