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dd

  • Posts: 2623
Algae in van tank
« on: January 22, 2009, 09:38:33 am »
What is the best way to clean this? Have seen suggested before Milton sterilizing tablets (imagine have to use a lot of these) and isopropanyl.

Next van fit will definitely go for a coloured tank with sight guage to prevent light pentration.

Mike 108

  • Posts: 650
Re: Algae in van tank
« Reply #1 on: January 22, 2009, 05:52:29 pm »
You could loosen it with a high pressure water spray and then drain the tank.

Then fit a plywood cover (or use an old curtain/dustsheet to keep out the light).

Still on the subject of algae -

Does a 'Shurflo' pump have an integral filter that will stop 'bits' of algae getting through to the hose/brush?

Mike

Ian_Giles

  • Posts: 2997
Re: Algae in van tank
« Reply #2 on: January 22, 2009, 06:10:00 pm »
Believe it or not, the algae won't affect anything!
Since I started using isopropanol it has loosened the algae in my main tank and now my van tank has loads and loads of green bits floating around in it :o :o :o

Checked TDS...zero....still worried I cleaned my own windows....perfect 8) And have been constantly checking work as I go along...no different at all from before.

It sounds weird I know, but you don't need to worry too much.

If it is in your IBC tank and you want rid, then empty it, stick a jet gun on your hosepipe, reach inside and blast it out as best you can.
Keep the big drainage valve open and simply clean out your tank, fill it up with water straight from the hose and re-open the valve to further flush your tank.

Now you have it algae free, work out some method of covering your tank so that sunlight can't get at it, either box it in or cover it in black polythene or something if you want to prevent the algae re-growing.

Ian
Ian. ISM CLEANING SERVICES

RO-Sheen

  • Posts: 1308
Re: Algae in van tank
« Reply #3 on: January 22, 2009, 06:28:56 pm »
Believe it or not, the algae won't affect anything!
Since I started using isopropanol it has loosened the algae in my main tank and now my van tank has loads and loads of green bits floating around in it :o :o :o

Checked TDS...zero....still worried I cleaned my own windows....perfect 8) And have been constantly checking work as I go along...no different at all from before.

It sounds weird I know, but you don't need to worry too much.

If it is in your IBC tank and you want rid, then empty it, stick a jet gun on your hosepipe, reach inside and blast it out as best you can.
Keep the big drainage valve open and simply clean out your tank, fill it up with water straight from the hose and re-open the valve to further flush your tank.

Now you have it algae free, work out some method of covering your tank so that sunlight can't get at it, either box it in or cover it in black polythene or something if you want to prevent the algae re-growing.

Ian

I wouldn't be on sure on that! Craig Mawlam from Ionics told me that Legionella only needs two things to grow and they are food (Algae) and temperature (I think it needs to be at about 35degC). So during the wonderfully hot (eh?)summers we have here, your water in your tank can easily warm upto 35degs!
I clean my 650lt tank once a year by pouring a bottle of milton into the tank and filling it up with tap water. I then go for a drive so it sloshes around and then back home and drain the tank. Then fill up as usual with pure water.
Formerly known as GARGAAX

Ian_Giles

  • Posts: 2997
Re: Algae in van tank
« Reply #4 on: January 26, 2009, 12:05:51 pm »
Legionnaires is mentioned now and again and it has to be theoretically possible for it to occur with a WFP system, but the probability of it happening has to be incredibly low.
The input water is going to be sterile (and cold!) and the product water is continually being used, I doubt the water in my IBC will ever really achieve the temperatures needed for the bacteria to develop.
It often develops in air conditioning units in things like large offices, hotels or hospitals, the water is continually being recycled at  fairly consistent temperatures, and if the bacteria gets in then conditions are such that it soon breeds prolifically.

Conditions are not good in WFP tanks, if they were I am sure that somewhere it would have developed by now.

Although that is a side issue to algae spotting the glass of course...unless legionnaires was part of the query of course!!

Ian
Ian. ISM CLEANING SERVICES

dd

  • Posts: 2623
Re: Algae in van tank
« Reply #5 on: January 26, 2009, 07:41:00 pm »
Thanks for replies. Going to paint rear side of tank which is most exposed to light and possibly put some IPA in tank to see if it clears up algae a bit.

macmac

Re: Algae in van tank
« Reply #6 on: January 26, 2009, 10:47:47 pm »
Legionnaires is mentioned now and again and it has to be theoretically possible for it to occur with a WFP system, but the probability of it happening has to be incredibly low.
The input water is going to be sterile (and cold!) and the product water is continually being used, I doubt the water in my IBC will ever really achieve the temperatures needed for the bacteria to develop.
It often develops in air conditioning units in things like large offices, hotels or hospitals, the water is continually being recycled at  fairly consistent temperatures, and if the bacteria gets in then conditions are such that it soon breeds prolifically.

Conditions are not good in WFP tanks, if they were I am sure that somewhere it would have developed by now.

Although that is a side issue to algae spotting the glass of course...unless legionnaires was part of the query of course!!

Ian

Our pure water is not sterile, infact nothing near!

Tony

karygate

  • Posts: 694
Re: Algae in van tank
« Reply #7 on: January 27, 2009, 07:32:23 am »
is leigonairres only a problem if the customers go round licking their glass  ;D
gary

M Henderson

Re: Algae in van tank
« Reply #8 on: January 27, 2009, 02:26:01 pm »
Quote
Our pure water is not sterile, infact nothing near!

RO produced water in a tank where the light cannot penetrate is less likely to grow algae.

If you use an RO system the micro-organisms are filtered out, whereas if you use DI only all the micro-beasties and bacteria are still in there. If the light is getting to your tank then eventually it'll probably start to grow.




Ian_Giles

  • Posts: 2997
Re: Algae in van tank
« Reply #9 on: January 27, 2009, 04:41:50 pm »
L
The input water is going to be sterile (and cold!) and the product water is continually being used, I doubt the water in my IBC will ever really achieve the temperatures needed for the bacteria to develop.

Ian

Our pure water is not sterile, infact nothing near!

Tony


Tut tut Tony! you are not quite reading that part of my reply properly!!

Our purified water is not sterile...quite agree with you on that!

But by comparison tap water is! or relatively so as the chemicals in there are designed to kill off bacteria such as legionnaires and so on.

As to it being spread via WFP.....if it was in your tank then hell yes :o

In use WFP creates a very fine mist that can drift downwind for a great distance meaning people could breath in the droplets and get infected.

Theoretically that is ;)

Ian
Ian. ISM CLEANING SERVICES

dd

  • Posts: 2623
Re: Algae in van tank
« Reply #10 on: January 27, 2009, 07:42:53 pm »
Tuckerpole (Aquafactors Direct) tell me the main reason they don't do a hot system is they are worried about Legionnaires contaminating water. I don't know the science behind it (have not found them a good company to do business with lately.)

Big Dave @ CWC

  • Posts: 95
Re: Algae in van tank
« Reply #11 on: January 27, 2009, 08:58:18 pm »
Got two new lads taking over a round i bought recently.  So i got a tank from auction for them, it was green top to bottom inside, i simply blasted the algae out, then filled up the tank with pure water and 3 capfuls of miltons fluids, no sign of it coming back yet....... but i have told them to keep it wrapped in black polythene.     Wouldnt worry too much....  Even with the miltons, the reading shoots up but it never affected a single clean for me in the past. so you dont need to drain it after. (Apart from when you blast it out of course.)

NWH

  • Posts: 16952
Re: Algae in van tank
« Reply #12 on: January 27, 2009, 09:02:21 pm »
I`ll tell you what if you don`t do frames and sills regularly Algae starts to grow on them to lol,i do frames and sills everytime now i never used to but if you don`t they look awfull after a short time,leaving them wet especially wood will make them go green if you don`t clean them everytime.

dd

  • Posts: 2623
Re: Algae in van tank
« Reply #13 on: January 28, 2009, 07:42:57 pm »
Do you use a sill brush or find you can clean sills OK with standard brush?

NWH

  • Posts: 16952
Re: Algae in van tank
« Reply #14 on: January 28, 2009, 09:03:17 pm »
If i find the sills need a good going over that particular time i`ll angle the brush slightly.