IBC or "crate/totes" container cleaning

[Marv]

For those who have the IBC totes (250 gallon models), what did you use to clean them out before you started storing your filtered oil in them?

I've got one that apparently had fish oil in it and now I'm needing it for storage of clean oil. Not sure what to clean it with, so figured I'd ask and see what others have done.

Using diesel crossed my mind, but was looking for other options too.

Thanks!

[Clay]

For those who have the IBC totes (250 gallon models), what did you use to clean them out before you started storing your filtered oil in them?

I've got one that apparently had fish oil in it and now I'm needing it for storage of clean oil. Not sure what to clean it with, so figured I'd ask and see what others have done.

Using diesel crossed my mind, but was looking for other options too.

Thanks!

Fish oil is animal fat, shouldn't hurt your vegi oil...it may make the neighborhood cats follow your truck down the street. :chuckles:
Use it like it is.
If you put water in it to wash with, you'll play hell getting it dry once it mixes with the oil.

[VTVegiPower]

I've been dealing with this issue too Marv. I have two that I have got mostly clean but I'm not really happy with them yet. I use a large heated pressure washer to clean mine out. The long wand works pretty good but you still can't reach the top of the inside. I think all i can do is get a good amount of hot water inside and flip them over and a couple times to rinse the top out. Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated. As far as drying goes I'll just bring them into the shop with radiant floors for a few days. You should be fine as Clay said with the fish oil. A little heads up; if you ever come across a tank that had a flocculant (used for potable water treatment) in it, don't take it unless they are paying you to take it. It didn't look like it would be that bad to clean but it was the nastiest, goopiest snot I've ever seen. It sticks everywhere and seems to multiply. My other tank had a citrus tire ballast and that cleans out pretty well (smells good too)

[sbaker]

I'll add mulch dye to the list of original contents that you will spend a long time trying to clean out.

[biostroker]

Where are you guys finding these? I wouldn't mind finding one for my finished oil, but haven't found one anywhere...

[clindberg]

depending on where you are you can check craigslist.

Check with large factories in the area, food distributors, chemical distributors,

ebay as well if you are willing to pay.

[VTVegiPower]

I got one from craigslist for $50 (the nasty flocculant one), that had originally come from a Water Treatment Plant. I found connection to a lot of them at a commercial tire shop. They get their tire ballast in them (some citrus liquid). The guy wanted $50 a piece but I talked him down to $35 I was happy to find both of these had a 2" plug (just like my barrels and air pressure barrel pump) threaded into their 6" cap. All the ones I've seen on ebay either won't ship or charge alot to ship. Good Luck

[greasyX]

Commonly used on rail roadS(AMTRAK,as well as cargo trains),I know of a few Tire shops and industrial places.Don't forget that any farm could give you a hook-up.Personally stopped using them in favor of 60 gallon juice barrells(move more gallons from A to B faster with handtruck,than a pump).....I used to get them for$80-+.........................greasy

[Marv]

Fish oil is animal fat, shouldn't hurt your vegi oil...it may make the neighborhood cats follow your truck down the street. :chuckles:
Use it like it is.
If you put water in it to wash with, you'll play hell getting it dry once it mixes with the oil.

Good info Clay, thanks. It didn't cross my mind that the fish oil was animal fat.

I'm hesitant to use water on it...simply because as you said, it'll be hard to get it all back out. I'm gonna drag it out this weekend and see what it looks like inside. If it's not too bad, I think I'm gonna start using it.

[Marv]

I've been dealing with this issue too Marv. I have two that I have got mostly clean but I'm not really happy with them yet. I use a large heated pressure washer to clean mine out. The long wand works pretty good but you still can't reach the top of the inside. I think all i can do is get a good amount of hot water inside and flip them over and a couple times to rinse the top out. Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated. As far as drying goes I'll just bring them into the shop with radiant floors for a few days. You should be fine as Clay said with the fish oil. A little heads up; if you ever come across a tank that had a flocculant (used for potable water treatment) in it, don't take it unless they are paying you to take it. It didn't look like it would be that bad to clean but it was the nastiest, goopiest snot I've ever seen. It sticks everywhere and seems to multiply. My other tank had a citrus tire ballast and that cleans out pretty well (smells good too)

Thanks for the tips VT...I'll be sure to avoid the flocculant...sounds like it'd be aggravating cleaning that out.

I need to score myself another container for unfiltered oil too.

[Marv]

Where are you guys finding these? I wouldn't mind finding one for my finished oil, but haven't found one anywhere...

Bio, I lucked out and picked mine up from my uncle for free. He happend to have two and told me to take one of them. I need to check with him to see if he can get more.

I'll second others suggestion of Craiglist...seen a couple of them on there.

There is a guy that sells them locally, but he wants $100/each I think. I'll try pretty hard to find one free before I pay that.

[triplemoutdoors]

330 Gallon IBC Tote

Safety-Kleen sells a 330 gallon IBC tote for $250. It is part number 5436. The cage is referbed but the bottle (container) and valve is new. They have about 150 locations across the country and most locations will deliver to you at N/C.

Here is their web site http://www.safety-kleen.com

ToteIBC.jpg

I hope this helps...

[Marv]

Looks like a local guy has them for $50/each...maybe I'll get lucky and hear back from him soon.

Good info Triple on the Safety-Kleen container.

[Tampa450]

I paid $200 for a 330 gallon tote locally.

It has standard 2" pipe thread on the bottom, which is nice.
It also has a better valve than the cheap plastic gate valve thats on most.

I have another 250 gallon, that I use for presseure washing, that was used to ship grape juice at one time....there was no way to match the threads on that thing to hook up a hose. I had to drill a hole in the cap and put a fitting in that hole (not the best setup).

[Clay]

It also has a better valve than the cheap plastic gate valve thats on most.

I preffer the cheap plastic valves. Metal is a catylist fort poly and therefor plastic is a beter material to use with vegi in an unheated sitation.

Paid 100 for mine with the "cheap plastic" valve