Storage Tank Cleaning

[adk1]

What does everyone use to clean a new storage tank for sap storage?

[Kev]

Please take the first half of this post to be in good fun....
putting a plan into ACTION means actually taking action towards the goal.
not just more planning!
and ya got to have a tank that needs cleaning
now:
I pressure wash and scrub. then I wash and bleach the container. then triple rinse with hot water, IF it is going directly into service.
If I pick up containers, lets say right now with the sason over here. I would do all of the above except just use a single cold rinse as I am not as worried about carryover of bleach into my sap (they will still get done again before the season starts anyway)
I went and loaded up on 55 gal used food drums once that looked and smelled clean. when I pulled them out at the start of the season to get going. I just used them for garbage cans and got new, new to me drums. they had so much funk growing in them that even a strong bleach mix would not get rid of it. the mold or whatever seemed to be impregnated into the plastic.

[maple flats]

Is it plastic or SS. I once just rinsed a new plastic tank but it turned some nice med amber into Commercial, because of an off taste. Wash it with a cleanser (like dawn), rinse 3x, then use a good saintiser, and rinse 3 more times. Then you are good. It works best if you get a milk bulk tank cleaning brush. They do a great job. Good luck.

[twofer]

Not sure if it's the right way but with our new 940 gallon Lapierre tank we washed it down with just water. Then we scrubbed it down with baking soda and water. Then we hosed it down a couple more times with water. During the season we've been scrubbing it down with bleach and water and then hosing it down 4 or 5 times.

[adk1]

so how do you clean one of those 125 gallon tanks from Tractor Supply, the plastic ones? Only has like a 12" dia hole at the top? IF we cant use galvanized stock tanks etc that are all open on the top, how do you clean the **** things

[collinsmapleman2012]

put some water in, then take a bulk tank brush (long handled) and scrub away. slosh the water around with the brush too

[Kev]

UOTE=adk1;145386]so how do you clean one of those 125 gallon tanks from Tractor Supply, the plastic ones? Only has like a 12" dia hole at the top? IF we cant use galvanized stock tanks etc that are all open on the top, how do you clean the **** things[/QUOTE]

a long handled brush
thats one of the reasons I am fond of the 55 gal drums and homemade lids
I cut out the top leaving about a 2 1/2 inch ring of the top intact. for both strenght and as a anti slosh device for when I am hauling them in the truck.
some barrells are better than others. the ones that taper some at the top and bottom are perfect. you can cut a barrell apart about 8 inches down from the top and again the same from the bottom that gives you two "lids"
that slip down over the outside of the top of barrells and wedge on. plus they are easy to reach inside and scrub. plus I get them for free
and yes they are food grade

[adk1]

man I love getting heckled on this site

[twofer]

so how do you clean one of those 125 gallon tanks from Tractor Supply, the plastic ones? Only has like a 12" dia hole at the top? IF we cant use galvanized stock tanks etc that are all open on the top, how do you clean the **** things

We use a 65 gallon from TSC one for our head tank. We use the same brush that we use for the big tank and just slosh the water around. Be forewarned that the bulkhead won't drain the whole tank so you'll have to pick it up and tilt it to get it to drain. For a head tank it's a pain in the *** getting up on a ladder and getting on the platform to do that so I plan on replacing it as soon as financially possible.

[PerryW]

so how do you clean one of those 125 gallon tanks from Tractor Supply, the plastic ones? Only has like a 12" dia hole at the top? IF we cant use galvanized stock tanks etc that are all open on the top, how do you clean the **** things

I clean my 425 gallon poly tank through the 12" hole with a sponge mop. I run some water in with the hose, then put a few glugs of unscented chlorox in and use the mop. Then slosh it around and rinse. (you can get most of the water out by tipping the tank upside down and draining out the same 12" hole. Then rinse well.