Water Butt base

[anjer]

I am thinking of buying one of these recycled tanks to use to collect rainwater for the garden. It will need to be about 30 cms off the ground to get a watering can under the tap.
http://www.dvcontainers.co.uk/product.asp?pid=19
What would be the best base to build to put it at the required height, bearing in mind that it will weigh 1500 kg when full.
Cost and effort are important factors.
thanks
Anthony

 

[julianf]

If cost and effort are important, what about sitting the tank on the ground, and just sacrificing the lower 30cm of volume?

Ie put a tap in at the base, but allow the water pressure above to force the water along a hose to your watering can.

Its what id do if i were looking for a simple solution.

 

[julianf]

ps.

Ive just seen the price of the tank on the page you linked to! : /

(a friend has a couple blowing about his field - they seem to be in a different place every time i visit!)

That aside, if cost is an issue, what about just going for a 1000ltr ibc. They come on a pallet (either wooden, plastic, or part of the cage) so they will be 5" or so up, and, more importantly, you can get them for free if you put in some effort, or about £25 (used) or £40 (new, ex vat)

They are clear (you can get black ones, or metal clad, but they will be less common / more expensive) which isnt ideal for water, but im sure there are options.

 

[Paul99]

If you do put it on the ground put it on a good few inches of pea gravel - We were called out to replace one of those barrels that was used as a spring fed catch tank from where it was pumped about 500m uphill to a reservoir at a house. They are pretty thin on the bottom and over time a small stone had actually pushed through the bottom - once tree roots found it the tank was finished. After seeing that I'd personally be wanting to put it up on a concrete pad or maybe at a push a few concrete block pillars with a very flat slabbed top - anything with a remotely sharp edge will go through eventually.

 

[cumbriasteve]

Solid blocks with a paving slab on top would do the trick, you could even make it look nice with a circular slab to match.

Not sure what price I was expecting to see but made me look twice, recycled and plastic made me thing cheap, seems a lot of £££££££'s for what it is.... or perhaps I am just an old skinflint.

 

[Windy Miller]

Mine sits on a neat pile of bricks with a 450mm square paving slap sat on the top. Cheap and cheerful, but does the trick!

 

[Maker]

I would build a 4ft brick square (or circle if your good at bricklaying), fill most of the inside with gravel and then pour a concrete slab in he top,(with plenty of rebar inside)

 

[julianf]

Its aprox 1.5 metric tonnes sitting on 0.94 sq meters of area. That's really not that heavy, and its a static load.

I think its about 160gramms / square cm. A bit of sand, or some polystyrene would certainly achieve that.

If it were me, and i had not just forked out £160 on the thing, id be happy filling it with a non-toxic fluid on bare ground! : )

 

[anjer]

Thanks for all the replies. Noted the comment about a thin base. Now looking at the recycled IBC's for the same supplier. A lot cheaper and I can hide the basket look with fence panels. Just need to sort out with neighbour to get it into my enclosed rear garden. Will need to get help from sons -in-law to help with the lifting. That will be a change since I'm normally helping them with their DIY!.

Anthony