Old paint buckets OK?

[Streetracer]

I'm a home remodeler and I have 5 gal buckets all over the place. Are clean empty latex paint buckets OK to use for water changes? How about joint compound buckets?

 

[gale]

Personally I would not use those. I don't know if I would be confident that I got it completely clean. You can buy new 5 gallon buckets at home depot for pretty cheap.

 

[Streetracer]

I can't live with that annoying Home Depot orange so I may need to buy mine at Lowe's.

 

[gale]

Lowe's works. We only have orange home depot, lowe's is an hour's drive away so we don't shop there much.

 

[-cAtFiSh-]

i wouldnt use them if i were you.
i think it would be safer to just buy new buckets

 

[FishDan]

Sure you can use them. For water that is removed from the tank only. Not for any water that is being returned to the tank. So, I agree, it's just best to get new buckets and either get rid of the old ones or save them for future home improvement projects. Any bucket that has had any household (basically, any non-fish) chemical in it should never be used to add water to your tank(s).

\Dan

 

[enchanted]

Also, home depot sells white 5 gallons unlabeled along side the orange ones.