Sun tan lotion in my water bucket

[Keith P]

My girl friend (bless her heart) just told me she likely got sun tan lotion spray in my make up water bucket. I was letting it air out after bleaching it clean.

Should I worry? Any easy clean up ideas? Or should I just replace it.
The bucket is a 10G brute can.

 

[dacaptain78]

I would just bleach it clean again.

 

[Awibrandy]

I wouldn't take the chance! Especially with such a small amount of water.
Dump it, and start fresh!

 

[Avi]

It's best to be safe rather than sorry since that kind of stuff contains oils, etc...empty the water out...clean the bucket with bleach...and then use it again.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Replace it. The cost of a new bucket is well worth the chance you might be taking if you chance it.

 

[oonycxwilloo]

+1

Replace it. It's ONLY 10 gallons.

 

[TripleT]

What kind of lighting do you have? Maybe it will benefit your tank.

Since it's not a $2 bucket, I'd scrub, rinse, bleach, rinse, air dry, and reuse it.

I'm assuming we're just talking a little mist, not like she used half the bottle?

Or, if you can use the can for other non-tank purposes, pick up a new one.

On a related note, I often run with a Polyfilter pad or Pura pad in my sump. Gives extra peace of mind knowing that stray toxins will (hopefully) get filtered out.

 

[Keith P]

It was dry and empty. She sprayed herself over it. It's my fault for leaving it by her vanity mirror.

It doesn't look oily. I wouldn't have known if she didn't tell me.

Locally, it's a $30 container.

 

[cowfish]

$30 bucks vs possible TANK WIPEOUT.

I'd spend the money.

 

[Avi]

Soak it with a solution containing bleach and there's no danger of a wipe-out. You can even wash it thoroughly with some mild detergent solution and then flush it out very well before you use the bleach. Or, you can waste $30.

 

[TrIsTaTe05]

+1

i wouldn't take the chance! Especially with such a small amount of water.
Dump it, and start fresh!

 

[JimmyR1rider]

Hey Keith Id toss it personally but if you do the bleach thing, we use 1/4 cup bleach to 1 gallon of water for disinfecting our equipment at work after a fire. That ratio will kill off anything living on the surface do that 2 or 3 times then rinse, but like others have said better safe than sorry, cant you use it for something else around the house? That way it wont be a waste of $30?

 

[UnknownWaters]

Bleach has no grease or oil cutting or cleaning values so if you put bleach in that bucket you should soak your socks and any other whites you need to clean IMO.
Try using white vinegar at least the acid in it will cut some of the grease and oil and if a little leaches into the tank it wont kill anything.

 

[asianer]

Let it evaporate and then you'll be left with suntan lotion again

 

[Avi]

I think that there are actually reef-keeping emotions coming out on this question. There's, on the one hand, the opinion that this just isn't a real threat of any significance here because some tanning lotion might have gotten on the bucket. While bleach doesn't have any "grease cutting" ability, detergent does, so a slight was with some mild detergent/water solution would resolve that and the bleach would certainly kill any kind of organic residue that might...but probably...isn't even there.

On the other hand, there are those that believe that it just "worth the gamble," and there might well be some danger that would be wise to simply avoid. This position argues that we must not take any chances with the health of the fish/inverts that we keep.

Isn't that how it's breaking down here? But shouldn't we decide for Keith whether $30 is a lot to him of not? Keith, please post your 2009 tax returns.

 

[Keith P]

I rinsed the heck out of it with RO. I did see a slight oil glimmer the first rinse.

After like 20+ rinses, it looked clean. I went for the "dilution solution".

 

[KathyC]

...maybe a little white vinegar bath followed by some very hot water...just to be even more secure. I'd go as far as making some SW from water from the bucket and put an invert in the water to make sure he does ok..then resume using it?
While it's probably fine, why chance it without a test?

 

[Keith P]

Salt is mixing. I'll throw a small snail in there for 24hr.
Thanks for the suggestion Kathy!

 

[jaa1456]

I would buy a new one, since some plastics will absorb oils. Why take the chance at all.

 

[JimmyR1rider]

Bleach has no grease or oil cutting or cleaning values so if you put bleach in that bucket you should soak your socks and any other whites you need to clean IMO.
Try using white vinegar at least the acid in it will cut some of the grease and oil and if a little leaches into the tank it wont kill anything.

DAMN IT!!! Reporting to corner with dunce cap on. Screw you Tony lol