? for those of you with the Dr. Pepper drums.

[Scott]

I got a 55 gallon and a 30 gallon drum from the flea market that once had Dr. Pepper in them. I have been soaking them in water and vinegar for about a week and I have cut the top off one. It didn't work out like I had planned but it will do.

So, how did you cut the top off of yours? Just for a little humor (for you not me) I used a table saw (can you imagine some idiot standing up on a chair so that he could hold the barrel against the gate to cut the top off (twice, the first cut only cut a band that went around the top)?) Now I need a router to cut a groove in the top so that it sits on the barrel right .


What did you use to clean it? I am not worried about the smell but I did notice that when I had some vinegar in there and filled it up it worked like a skimmer and there was some brown matter in the bubbles. I got that out and didn't get any more like that so I feel that it is clean.

[Kart Racer]

I went the easy way and bought one that was already cut. The guy cut the top a couple ionches down and turned it over so it sits on top with no problem. I even went all the way and bought the one with a wooden handle attached.

Jeff

[ShagMan]

I never got the smell outta mine at all I think others have had similar experience... doesn't seem to increase the TDS readings on the water tho.

[Michelle]

Jigsaw... and the smell was finally gone from ours after a month of steady use

[snoopdog]

I thought I knew what these looked like, are they not the same thing Liz had in her formal dining room ? If so they why would you cut the top off of one ? Charlie had a spiket at the bottom for water retrieval.

[Scott]

To clean it and put a float valve it.

[SaltnLime]

definately want to cut the top off..... I like the clear ones so you can see the water level inside.... I use one for my auto top off..with an open spigot going to a float vavle in the sump. I allow the barrel to drain almost all the way down then open the RO/DI unit and refill... this allows me to make water all at once so my RO unit is not constantly on.

Another good use is to get two more of em..... take a 5 gallon bucket and mark each clear drum at the 5 - 25 gallon water level.... this is usefull for measuring salt and other additives in top off or treatment water.

I mix makeup saltwater and let it airate in one barrel and then in another I drain the same amount of tank water (another good use for the marks). I use a pump and some hose to transfer water from tank to barrel and vice versa...... no more guessing salt amounts and coming up short on makup water.......

Anyway, I never got the sprite smell outta the barrels....

[Scott]

I cut the tops off the 30 and 50 gallon ones. I am going to use the 15 gallon blue drum to do my water changes.

[Brandon]

I've had mine 4 years, still smells like Dr. Pepper.

[Xster]

I've had mine 4 years, still smells like Dr. Pepper.

Is the smell of Dr. Pepper the long lost secret to reefkeeping? Might be...

[Scott]

Shawn has the Sprite ones. I think that is the real secret. Did you see the growth he had before Ivan.

[ShagMan]

That can't be right, I have one of the Sprite ones too hehe

[medikall]

Can someone post a pic of these, I have no idea what your talking about.

[Scott]

The 55 and 30 gallon drums are just the normal white plastic translucent drums that are pretty common. I guess they are food grade because they had Coke products in them. The 15 gallon is blue and has a handle.