When we had tropical fish I cleaned the tanks with straight bleach, it completly evaporates after a short time. I wouldn't be a bit afraid to wash the can out with a little water and bleach. Just let it completly dry before using it for fuel.
Diesel can has black algae.....
- Thread starter MicroPilot
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hazmat
Elite Member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2002
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- 4,051
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- West Newbury, MA & Harrison, ME
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- Kubota L5460HSTC
A marine store might have diesel algecide.
gadgetman
Member
My NAPA Store sold me a bottle of CRC Diesel Bio-Con to prevent algae. He said he sells it in 55 gal drums to local farmers. He said a cotton combine that had been sitting for a season was full of it. They wound up having to tear down and wash the entire fuel system. Trash the old can---better safe than sorry. And treat your tractor tank NOW!!!!!
Good luck.
PS: Don't forget to check your in line fuel filter and clean it once you treat the tank.
Good luck.
PS: Don't forget to check your in line fuel filter and clean it once you treat the tank.
I know this one! Just feed less and increase protein skimming. You may want to get some snails or herbivorous fish to eat the............Oh, wait you said in Diesel. I am thinking of my other hobby-Marine aquariums.
Cricket
New member
I know how to kill the algae and clean the can. I had a can with the bottom covered with algae and hadn't got around to getting rid of it. So one day I was draining old stale gasoline out of a generator and needed a catch container. Well it killed and cleaned the can right up.
OP
MicroPilot
Veteran Member
Well, the algae can is history! I was going to clean it up, but lost the cap and fill tube, so it got piched in the trash.
dos_perros
Bronze Member
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- Kubota L4330 HST,Kubota '06 RTV
Another product specifically designed to kill algae in diesel fuel is BIOBOR. It is used extensively in the marine engine sector. Simple to use and excellent preventive maintenance for bulk storage of diesel.
patrick_g
Elite Member
Please excuse me for resurrecting an old thread but I think I might be able to save someone some trouble by covering some of the issues.
The EVIL BLACK SLIME is algae and once you have it it can be extremely difficult to eradicate. You can clean a fuel can with some gas, letting it dry, and soak with PURE bleach which will kill the algae.
BLEACH DOES NOT GO AWAY THROUGH EVAPORATION!!!
The water evaporates out of it leaving the full strength chemical behind. After the bleach treatment you need to rinse well with water. Fill the jug 10% - 20% or so, shake vigorously and dump. Repeat this at least 3 times.
A good algicide (Biobor is one) should be added to the fuel as directed. Typically the first application is a double dose to "shock" the algae.
A fuel can with algae can contaminate any tank to which it passes fuel. Some folks use algicide as a preventative rather than a cure because the consequences are so dire. If the algae finds good growing conditions it will plug filters big time and can clog injectors and in general make diesel life miserable. You can get algae in your fuel when you buy it. You will not see it if it isn't "blooming."
Folks used to think algae only caused problems in long term storage so they only used algicide for their storage tanks. You can get algae in diesel at any time but whether or not it grows a lot mainly depends on temperature and water. The algae needs food and water to multiply. Diesel is the food and condensation in the fuel tank supplies the water. At moderate temps you then have ideal algae farming conditions.
Virtually all tanks vented to the atmosphere "breathe" in and out with changes in air temp and damp air can condense water in the tank which can let a microscopic "dose" of algae suddenly multiply like crazy.
I have seen many medium to extremely severe cases of algae contamination. Many were boat related but I have also personally had the problem in automotive diesel fuel. tank. A bad case will clog filters as fast as you can change them and can require compleat disassembly of all the fuel system for cleaning of all pumps and lines.
The thing to be aware of is that you can get diesel with algae in it and not know unless it grows a lot. The cost and hassle of prevention is much much less than the consequences of a bad infestation.
Pat
The EVIL BLACK SLIME is algae and once you have it it can be extremely difficult to eradicate. You can clean a fuel can with some gas, letting it dry, and soak with PURE bleach which will kill the algae.
BLEACH DOES NOT GO AWAY THROUGH EVAPORATION!!!
The water evaporates out of it leaving the full strength chemical behind. After the bleach treatment you need to rinse well with water. Fill the jug 10% - 20% or so, shake vigorously and dump. Repeat this at least 3 times.
A good algicide (Biobor is one) should be added to the fuel as directed. Typically the first application is a double dose to "shock" the algae.
A fuel can with algae can contaminate any tank to which it passes fuel. Some folks use algicide as a preventative rather than a cure because the consequences are so dire. If the algae finds good growing conditions it will plug filters big time and can clog injectors and in general make diesel life miserable. You can get algae in your fuel when you buy it. You will not see it if it isn't "blooming."
Folks used to think algae only caused problems in long term storage so they only used algicide for their storage tanks. You can get algae in diesel at any time but whether or not it grows a lot mainly depends on temperature and water. The algae needs food and water to multiply. Diesel is the food and condensation in the fuel tank supplies the water. At moderate temps you then have ideal algae farming conditions.
Virtually all tanks vented to the atmosphere "breathe" in and out with changes in air temp and damp air can condense water in the tank which can let a microscopic "dose" of algae suddenly multiply like crazy.
I have seen many medium to extremely severe cases of algae contamination. Many were boat related but I have also personally had the problem in automotive diesel fuel. tank. A bad case will clog filters as fast as you can change them and can require compleat disassembly of all the fuel system for cleaning of all pumps and lines.
The thing to be aware of is that you can get diesel with algae in it and not know unless it grows a lot. The cost and hassle of prevention is much much less than the consequences of a bad infestation.
Pat
gordon21
Veteran Member
Woodsman Pete: Pool chlorine and brake fluid?? Do you mean liquid chlorine or the solid tablet kind? Are we talking about a foamy reaction like vinegar and baking soda from 3rd grade or something that gets really interesting?
Fire or explosion? Over the years I have problably stored those two items within 5' of one another in a shed at one time or another.
Fire or explosion? Over the years I have problably stored those two items within 5' of one another in a shed at one time or another.
