Cleaning IBC tank

[paddi22]

We have an IBC tank we use to collect water from the roof of a block of stables. during the heatwave it looks a bit gunky and seems to have tiny worms in it now. We have a politer on it to stop stuff getting it, but the heatwave seems to have done weird stuff to it! I was hoping to totally clean it out totally, disinfect it and have not safe for using for drinking water for the horses again.

So I was wondering
- are there any safe disinfecting liquids or tablets I can use to sterilise it and then refill
- would putting a cover over it stop that age forming? if so, what is best colour?

 

[Lintel]

Just a thought as I know I would worry if i used disinfectant that it would never really wash away and they would ejd up drinking it but how about Milton? Baby sterilising tablets?

 

[paddi22]

Just a thought as I know I would worry if i used disinfectant that it would never really wash away and they would ejd up drinking it but how about Milton? Baby sterilising tablets?

yeah I was thinking something like that might be safer?

 

[Horseysheepy]

We've got an IBC which had molasses in it.
In your situation I'd pressure washer it out and then fill it with water with Milton liquid in it.

 

[Palindrome]

You could look into tablets for campervan/caravan water tanks.

 

[dorsetladette]

I use milton sterilising tablets or liquid. You have to left it dry completely before refilling it.

Also a tip for getting the 'gunk through the 'tap' hole - I use an electric fence post with the spike bent at 90 degrees.

 

[paddi22]

Handy tips! Thanks a mil

 

[Burnttoast]

I've used a loo brush duct-taped to a broom handle for scrubbing stubborn stuff off the inside and sprayed with Virkon S but keeping the light out is the best solution. You can get IBC covers but all the ones I've seen are ruinously expensive - a tarp would work as a cover and I'd use one if the ponies didn't rip them to shreds as entertainment.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Load of sterilising tablets does the job

 

[ElvisandTilly]

For a cover look at the garden furniture set covers on Amazon. I got a round table set cover which fits a round haylage bale for £16! Much cheaper than the haylage bale covers and there will be one for the size of you IBC.

 

[ponynutz]

If it was me I just wouldn't disinfect and would just give it a really good few scrubs with washing up liquid as well as getting the power washer on it.

Others suggesting sterilising tablets sounds like a shout tho!