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Cleaning an Aluminium water tank? Cleaning an Aluminium water tank?
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  #1  
Old 2 Nov 2011
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Cleaning an Aluminium water tank?
I have a Ali water tank in the back wing of my landy. After 2 years in Africa it got a bit dodgy in there, especially after sitting for many months without moving.

So I flushed it out a few times, dropped some bleach and detergent in there and drove 1,000km.

I have now removed it and can flush in with water as much as I like, but what would be a good cleaner for the remains of the bleach and so forth?
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Old 2 Nov 2011
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Bleach should be gone with repeat flushings depending on what 'dose' you put in there

I would repeat flushing and add some sterilisation tabs at the end. Like those you get for baby bottles etc. and follow the instructions.

bleach wont do you any harm at low concentrations.

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Old 4 Nov 2011
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Consider changing the tank
Maybe have a look here,

Graeme

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Old 4 Nov 2011
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Thanks mate, not an option right now, and I have a strong filter on the tank so doubt I'm being poisoned too much, less than the deodorant I spray on each day anyway
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Old 4 Nov 2011
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VWP cleaner/steriliser.

I used A LOT in home brew and wine making etc.

It cleans REALLY well and it also sterilises everything. It's also non toxic.

You should give it a few flushings before using it for drinking water though.

Art of Brewing - the OnLine HomeBrew SuperStore
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Old 9 Nov 2011
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Thanks for the replies, the only thing I managed to find was in the baby section of the local supermarket:

Milton Sterilising Fluid
Active Ingredient: Sodium Hypocholrite 2%

Water tank now smells like a swimming pool (soaking it for an hour, the will flush a lot)

Should be ok ;-)
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Old 19 Nov 2011
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Hiya

There are a lot of people with plastic tanks in their campers who put Milton in at the sterilising strength and can never drink from it again, you can't get rid of the taste This UK based man supplies tablets safe for plastic but may not be suitable to you just yet

Zappysblog for practical articles and tutorials on motorhome water hygeine, tank cleaning, tank disinfection tablets,image tutorials choosing a mobile satellite system and more.

I asked Milton about how much to put in, they said it has to be a suitable plastic for the 1 tablet per 4.5l (I think) for sterility, but to keep the water safe (once filtered of bigger bits) one tablet per 100l all the time.

Metal tank? No idea I'd be interested to hear if the taste goes!

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Old 18 Dec 2011
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Baking Soda
Folks

We used baking soda - its good for cleaning out tanks and cheap to buy. We used it on our trip in Africa, worked well. You can buy in both DIY shops and food shops.

Hope it helps

Nick
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Old 17 Jan 2012
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Sorry for the late reply, my water pump kind of packed up, but then Ron at Wims Holland House in Addis managed to rescue it for me.

"and can never drink from it again, you can't get rid of the taste"

Sadly that is what I have now - I put in too much Miltons and now it tastes awful even after filtering....

Any suggestions how to get rid of the taste? Lemon Juice maybe?

Will try baking soda also - how much per 10 litres etc mate?
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Old 17 Jan 2012
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