What to do with bleach solution after cure.

[Laird]

What is the best decolorinator? Can I put it in the bleach solution with my rock before I pump it out or do I need to pump it out, add water again and then add the becolor?

 

[wesman42]

In my city, the storm drains all lead to the same treatment facility because they recycle water (farming area). I'd get a definitive answer as to whether or not they're separate before deciding.

 

[KrisReef]

How is it going down the drain of your house any different than it going down the drain the street?
They both go the same place, at least around here

My storm water drains empty into the San Luis Rey River. If I wash my car in the driveway the soapy water goes into the river. If I dump saltwater into the gutter, or if a dog eliminates on the gutter it all goes down the drain and is out of site. From their if flows past the raccoon family and what ever else lives in our street drains to the river. Our code enforcement folks with charge dumpers to clean the drain if they allow waste oil or other illegaly dumped stuff to enter the storm water system.

When I dump into the toilet, that water goes to the San Luis Rey Waste Water Treatment plant where it is screen for particulates and then biologically digested to remove nitrates and phosphates, (just like a live rock system in a reef tank).

If I dump 5 gallons of paint in the toilet the City of Oceanside has a truck with cameras that they can pop manholes and trace the paint flow to the outflow of our house drain into the sewer main. They could fine me piles of dough if they want to, and the will if my dumping impacts their biological filtration system.

They use chlorine in their treatment process, and having a little higher salinity in the 17 million gallons a day they process isn't going to cause any noticeable damage to the digestive process. I have seen them using the cameras in our drain system to try and discover sources of problematic dumping.

I do emergency response for the state for oil spill incidents and have a few years of experience doing these kinds of incident investigations. If a local municipality doesn't care in your town then I guess it can't be a problem for you. It is not that way everywhere, so being safe to avoid engagements and warning folks of potential liabilities was all I was trying to accomplish.

 

[MnFish1]

In my city, the storm drains all lead to the same treatment facility because they recycle water (farming area). I'd get a definitive answer as to whether or not they're separate before deciding.

Right - I once got 'in trouble' for draining the hot tub water 'onto the driveway' - a neighbor 'happened to see the hose' - and complained - and the city (its a small city lol) paid a visit.

Just for the sake of interest - I checked online - Swimming pool water can only be discharged into the street if its been dechlorinated (let sit without chlorine) for 7 days.

 

[AZMSGT]

So it sounds like I need to figure out how to get it into an inside drain and not into the storm drain. This is getting a bit tricky.

Is it ok during the cure to have a lid on the garbage can?

Pump the water using a cheap powerhead pump. And enough 3/4” clear hose to stretch from your barrel to a drain.

Maxi-Jet Powerhead 1200 - Marineland

The Marineland Maxi-Jet aquarium powerhead (pump) is ideal for creating internal water movement from its fully rotational output. The Maxi-Jet incorporates a venturi aeration device to provide optimal aeration and gas exchange in the aquarium. A silencer keeps the venturi aeration device...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Yes, you can cover it with a lid. But remember your only doing it for a short time.

What is the best decolorinator? Can I put it in the bleach solution with my rock before I pump it out or do I need to pump it out, add water again and then add the becolor?

Dechlorinate with fresh water. I used Brightwell, got it at the LFS. Also when I was done with that, I let the rock sit in the sun for a few days to off gas if anything was missed.

Erase-CL Dechlorinator

Erase-CL is an all purpose Chlorine, Chloramine and Ammonia remover. If city water is used for any type of aquarium a dechlorinator should be used to neutralize any chlorine or ammonia that may be in the water supply. The best case scenario would be to use RODI water for your aquarium, however...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[KrisReef]

What is the best decolorinator? Can I put it in the bleach solution with my rock before I pump it out or do I need to pump it out, add water again and then add the becolor?

It won't harm the rock. DeClor reacts with the cholrine and becomes harmless to dump into a reef tank or a storm drain.

I keep a quart bottle of DeClor on hand, but what ever is the cheapest it is probably all the same, harmless when you are done mixing.

EDIT:
As others noted, there may be a time limit for dumping pool (chlorinated) water. I think that you would slide for a 55 gallon drum if you don't smell chlorine in the discharge and have the declor on hand to show you were being careful.

Also, I presumed that you were doing the bleach treatment in fresh water? There is no need to do this treatment in salt water. Fresh water should be better for eliminating marine pests if any were still somehow present>

 

[Frysize]

Right - I once got 'in trouble' for draining the hot tub water 'onto the driveway' - a neighbor 'happened to see the hose' - and complained - and the city (its a small city lol) paid a visit.

Just for the sake of interest - I checked online - Swimming pool water can only be discharged into the street if its been dechlorinated (let sit without chlorine) for 7 days.

Because it has CYA in it. The sodium hypochlorite or bleach that he used does not have a stabilizing agent. The Uv rays of the sun will breakdown the bleach. Leave it in the sun for awhile the bleach smell will go away, then dump it.

 

[MrsBugmaster]

You can alway use prime or something like that to take out the chlorine.

 

[Clownfish2]

So it sounds like I need to figure out how to get it into an inside drain and not into the storm drain. This is getting a bit tricky.

Is it ok during the cure to have a lid on the garbage can?

I have bleached mine in a trashcan on a plant dolly in the bathroom. Sealed the top with plastic wrap and duct tape. No fumes. Then siphoned the water directly into toilet.

I wouldn’t drain down driveway. Storm drains drain to lakes and rivers.

 

[MnFish1]

Because it has CYA in it. The sodium hypochlorite or bleach that he used does not have a stabilizing agent. The Uv rays of the sun will breakdown the bleach. Leave it in the sun for awhile the bleach smell will go away, then dump it.

Thats not completely correct - it also is the rule for 'hot tubs' - which usually do not have CYA in it. In any case - The key point is that every municipality has rules about 'what is allowed' and 'what is not allowed'.

No offense - the human nose - is not the determinant as to whether there is enough bleach in water to be a problem - and 2. leave it in the sun 'awhile' is not really specific.

There are numerous 'for sure' ways to know 'what to do with this' - BTW - the amount of 'degassing' of chlorine is much different on a flat piece of rock as compared to a 4 foot deep brute trash can.

FWIW - another possible solution - if you're going to do the 'wait until its degassed' route - get a chlorine test - they are cheap and a simple solution.

PS - I'm not saying that municipalities that are so picky about chlorinated water are right or wrong - only that its their rules - not mine.

 

[Terry Mattson]

What is the best decolorinator? Can I put it in the bleach solution with my rock before I pump it out or do I need to pump it out, add water again and then add the becolor?

A great product is "safe". I use it after washing aquarium socks. Powerful and cheap. A little goes a long way. Will help declorinate rock. In fact, after first treatment. Empty, refill and then treat again. Allow time to soak.

 

[MnFish1]

A great product is "safe". I use it after washing aquarium socks. Powerful and cheap. A little goes a long way. Will help declorinate rock. In fact, after first treatment. Empty, refill and then treat again. Allow time to soak.

The instructions for 'safe' to regenerate perigean is 16 grams per cup of 1:1 bleach. 80 gallons of water is 1280 cups since a 1:10 dilution is 1/5 as much as a 1:1 dilution - you would need 16/5 grams of 'safe' per cup of solution.

That means - 1280 x 16/5 = 4096 grams (or 4 kilograms) of safe to detoxify this amount of bleach. (unless I mead a mistake in math)

 

[Frysize]

Thats not completely correct - it also is the rule for 'hot tubs' - which usually do not have CYA in it. In any case - The key point is that every municipality has rules about 'what is allowed' and 'what is not allowed'.

No offense - the human nose - is not the determinant as to whether there is enough bleach in water to be a problem - and 2. leave it in the sun 'awhile' is not really specific.

There are numerous 'for sure' ways to know 'what to do with this' - BTW - the amount of 'degassing' of chlorine is much different on a flat piece of rock as compared to a 4 foot deep brute trash can.

FWIW - another possible solution - if you're going to do the 'wait until its degassed' route - get a chlorine test - they are cheap and a simple solution.

PS - I'm not saying that municipalities that are so picky about chlorinated water are right or wrong - only that its their rules - not mine.

I agree with not encouraging dumping into storm drains, it’s not legal here either. I’m not offended, you are right awhile is not specific and I can’t smell how many parts per million the chlorine level is, I was just trying to save someone some $. Hey I learned hot tubs don’t use cya.

 

[Double monti 61]

I think using bleach is bad for everything I do not use bleach at all use the old rock for a border around your flower bed

 

[Jay Z]

- Dump peroxide in it when your done. Will neutralize the bleach or anti chlor, bleach stop, or vitamin c. Peroxide is the safest.

- pump out side. Bleach water won’t kill the lawn or plants

- pump into driveway. By the time it get 50 feet down the storm it will be neutralized.

- pump to shower, bathtub, basement floor drain, or utility tub.

 

[Frysize]

I’ve backwashed many, many gallons of pool water with chlorine levels between 20-30 on to my lawn with no ill effects. You don’t have a patch of dirt or gravel anywhere in your yard to dump? I have a hard time spending money to reduce chlorine when it’s going to happen anyway and probably quicker then you think.

 

[Frysize]

- Dump peroxide in it when your done. Will neutralize the bleach or anti chlor, bleach stop, or vitamin c. Peroxide is the safest.

- pump out side. Bleach water won’t kill the lawn or plants

- pump into driveway. By the time it get 50 feet down the storm it will be neutralized.

- pump to shower, bathtub, basement floor drain, or utility tub.

Thank you, I’ve been trying to say just this.

 

[Jay Z]

Thank you, I’ve been trying to say just this.

Just bleach water. We had to drink it in the military. Not like it’s muratic acid. Lol. That does however work wonders on flowers and bushes.

 

[Adventures In Reefing]

my outside drain goes straight into a river that feeds the gulf. My inside drain goes to the city. That being said I would dilute it out and pour it outside it wont hurt anything if its highly diluted.

 

[MnFish1]

Just bleach water. We had to drink it in the military. Not like it’s muratic acid. Lol. That does however work wonders on flowers and bushes.

bleach water (the kind you drink) has 1/8 of a teaspoon to 1 gallon of water.
This solution (a 1:10 dilution) meaning 1 teaspoon to 10 teaspoons of water is FAR more concentrated - and certainly not drinkable.

- Dump peroxide in it when your done. Will neutralize the bleach or anti chlor, bleach stop, or vitamin c. Peroxide is the safest.

- pump out side. Bleach water won’t kill the lawn or plants

- pump into driveway. By the time it get 50 feet down the storm it will be neutralized.

- pump to shower, bathtub, basement floor drain, or utility tub.

Its not recommended to mix more than several tablespoons of bleach and peroxide. I dont think this will work well for 80 gallons of bleach water.

Bleach water is not the same as 1:10 diluted bleach (unless you can give a reference) - there are reasons why municipalities dont allow it.

I’ve backwashed many, many gallons of pool water with chlorine levels between 20-30 on to my lawn with no ill effects. You don’t have a patch of dirt or gravel anywhere in your yard to dump? I have a hard time spending money to reduce chlorine when it’s going to happen anyway and probably quicker then you think.

I agree with you - this solution is far higher than 20-30 ppm lol. 8.5% bleach (standard) is 85000 ppm. Diluted 1:10 ITS 8500 PPM - It would definitely kill grass, etc