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Stanwood, Washington

I am thinking of getting a 275 gallon water tote so that I can let the sun warm my water a bit before it hits the drip irrigation. I know many of you do this. I am just curious if you use a pump or is gravity enough to push the water through the drip tape? I have about 1200 SF of patch and the bottom of the tank would be about 3-4 feet above the patch.

4/5/2022 1:56:24 PM

South Dakota

I use two and painted them black with spray paint. Helps warm the water faster and also helps keep down algae. I have a small diaphram pump that I use. I have to divide up the area into little subsections that I irrigate individually. I have mine set up to catch rain water. In my set up, an inch of rain will fill one IBC tote. If you have drip tape designed for gravity feed, you should be fine.

4/5/2022 3:33:36 PM

Wisconsin

2.31 feet of height eqauls 1 psi of pressure, so you will have less than 2 psi of pressure......youll have to determine if thats enough for you.

4/5/2022 6:16:12 PM

Grittyville, WA

I've used black 55 gallon drums. They will warm the water by 20 degrees on an average day. I have an 12 volt pump that puts out about 40 psi. Car battery deliers a full barrel of water without draining the battery completely (which is bad for the battery apparently). I know that is only enough for a 150 sq ft patch, but its a good little "off grid" setup! I'm sure you can make a bigger setup somehow.

4/5/2022 10:51:03 PM

Anchorage Alaska

Mike is right on , since most drip tapes need at least 4 psi to operate within specs, I put my IBC tank on a 10 ft tower, over 2000lbs of water , so be careful

4/6/2022 12:26:47 AM

Stanwood, Washington

I have a hill on the back side of my property that could get me an easy 15-20 feet of elevation above the patch. Unfortunately, that area is covered in large trees and the sun wouldn't get to the tank. I don't want to build a big water tower so it looks like I will need a pump. I am thinking this one should be adequate. It doesn't have an on off switch or a float switch or anything so that means I would need to be out there all the time while watering so that I can shut it off when its done.


https://www.harborfreight.com/plumbing/pumps/transfer-pumps/110-hp-transfer-pump-320-gph-63317.html

4/6/2022 12:48:23 AM

Syracuse, NY

Just curious as to where the water comes from and, even though 320 GPH, how many PSI are to be available; Probably enough, but I didn't see THAT specification. Ummm, if deemed NOT enough, maybe the supply line OF the H2O, if it were in-the-sun, black garden hose, would have the same effect, (like, open slow, slow valve at dawn and by the end of the day, nice, warm wawa, ready to go? Hose would be loosely coiled wherEVER there is ANY sun) AND allow for the height needed to run the tape with no pump? Just...musing at 5:37 AM, lol---eric g

4/6/2022 5:46:00 AM

Kutztown, PA

I have two that I wrapped up like Christmas presents with black plastic and duct tape instead of painting. I plan to use a shallow well pump but I'm pushing overhead irrigation for foliar feeding only. It rains so much around here I don't think drip tape is necessary for my patch.

4/19/2022 11:01:13 AM