From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Indiana

Have found a 55 Gallon Tank and want to know how to go about cleaning it so it won't harm my plants this spring. It came from a car wash and had soap in it. Should I use a bleach solution? Any suggestions on this would be greatly appreciated. Also would like to know from those out there that use the 55 gallon tanks or any size tank for that matter what type of pump you use and how the water pressure is with the pump you use. Thanks in advance,
Todd

3/8/2004 6:54:16 PM

Indiana

Rinse it many times and fill it with water and let it sit for a day or two then rinse it again. I am using gravity feed no pump.
Steve

3/8/2004 9:22:14 PM

Walkerton Ont

Im glad to here that people besides me uses 50 - 55 gallon drums. I got like 8 of them. I rinced them out just as moondog stated. I use them for watering my plants, i put a 3/4 inch tap on the bottom. I have to cut the top off to do it but if can manage dont cut the top off as mosquitoes will lay there lava and eggs in it, but on the other hand its so easy to fill up.
I dont have enought drums so now i am resorting to old oil tanks that are empty. I rince them out lots of times until the water becomes clear. They make good water tanks and will last a couple of days, so less watering. All i do is i set it at a slow pace. I use qravity feed as well. I just set the plastic barrels on cement blocks

3/9/2004 4:54:38 PM

Vermont Green MTN State

I am also useing 55 gallon drums, with gravity feed. I will need to build something to put them on. How high do they need to be????

3/10/2004 10:15:26 AM

Montoursville, PA

Doeski.........ask the supplier of your T-tape or other weaping hoses. The answer has to have their knowledge. No one out here can really help you without basic calculations provided.

Most gravity systems will operate between five and ten pounds of pressure. If a barrell is 2.3ft off the ground it will generate one pound of pressure at the bottom. If the water in the barrel is 2.3ft deep that will generate another pound of water pressure. Therefore a rule of thumb would say that a barrell sitting on an eight foot tower would deliver four pounds of pressure and the full barrel another pound or a total of five pounds.

Many sales outlets do not test low pressure systems. One company that does test and deliver what they say they can deliver is DRIPWORKS, IN CALIF. Their T-Tape is the only product with tested flow ratings at very low pressures (2psi). It might be wise to go with a company that is proven and avoid possilble disappointment. 800-522-3747
They are also on line but they really do like to talk to you first. Guess you could order a catalog online but time is getting short for this year.

I like DRIPWORKS because they were right the first time helping me design my patch. The savings of being right the first time are sometimes forgotten for a few pennies that look like a better buy.

3/10/2004 11:39:44 AM

Vermont Green MTN State

Yes I did get the catolog. Is that a picture of your tower on the drip gravity page?

3/10/2004 1:39:28 PM

Montoursville, PA

Yes that is my tower. You can see it better in my diary in this site...with comments too. I saw and spoke with Joe Pukos who also has a great tower in his growing set up. His picture is withing his diary. The two are similar. If you send me an E that I can reply to you easily I can fill your screen with that pix if you like. :)

3/10/2004 3:47:20 PM

Eugene, OR

Doc's numbers are right on for the gravity fed pressure. Him speaking so highly of the product has been the main reason I decided to go with a T-tape system myself. I've welded up an all steel tower 10 feet high that will be placed on foundation blocks sometime this weekend. The tower will hold around 240 gallons of water. I'll upload a pic or two this weekend and put them in my diary if you're interested.

As Dwaine said, your main concerns are the manufacturer's recommended pressures and tower height. T-tape is definitely the way to go considering how low the working pressure is.

3/10/2004 4:13:45 PM

Montoursville, PA

Brian....I visit Portland every other year for a week or so with the one set of grandchildren. Ceiss is out there, so is Bret and you. Keep on my butt if you are near Portland. Sure would like to see that patcth in the summer of 2005.

3/10/2004 5:06:01 PM

Long Island,New York

Anyone know the working pressure of those 10 dollar home depot soaker hoses?

3/10/2004 6:42:18 PM

Eugene, OR

LOL, This sounds awfully familiar there G. Just don't ask any more relativity questions! :-)

I have no clue what pressure is required to make them "soak." I bet it's higher than what would be practical for a gravity fed system though. Someone else may know, but I sure don't.

Dwaine, I would be honored to have you visit my little pumpkin patch. Two years just may be enough time to get it in decent shape. I'm about a 4 hour drive from Portland though. If you're planning a patch tour in '05, count me in. It would be a good opportunity for me to learn from the more experienced growers like yourself that are in my area.

3/10/2004 7:15:15 PM

Montoursville, PA

gLENN..........Get one hooked to your water source. Get a pressure regulator and back of your system pressure until you like what you see. I don't know any other way to do it.
...I'm pretty sure K-Mart help will not know. Your manufacturer may know if you call them.

3/10/2004 10:07:04 PM

mcminnville oregon

I WORK AT A RENTAL YARD??? I BRINNG HOME A TRENCHER TO INSTALL NEW WATER ETC. IVE INCORPERATED USING 3" PERF PIPE ALONG PROJECTED PATH OF TREE??? 18" BELOW PLANNNT?? MY BARRELS FEED THE PIPE WITH WARM WATER?? THIS METHOD STARTS IN JUNNE?? SO IM GOING TO SLIDE HEAT TAPE DOWN TUBES TILL THEN??? $$$$$$$ NOT EVERYONE WILL GET THIS TREATMENT??

3/10/2004 11:49:09 PM

Salt Lake City, UT

I only have municipal chlorinated water for my patch. How long would I have to let water sit in a barrel for the chlorine to dissipate?

Thanks, Jim

3/24/2004 12:58:52 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

It depends on surface area & temperature. But for our purposes, an open drum would disipate most chlorine in several hours. All the chlorine would be gone in 24 hours.

3/24/2004 5:41:32 AM

Indiana

If you can put a aerator (fish pump) in the tank it will help dissapate the chlorine faster.
Steve

3/24/2004 9:31:04 AM