Rain barrel now history

[SE18]

about a year and half ago I bought a Fiskars rain barrel from Lowes. Over the winter it developed a 5 inch crack in the bottom even though I followed instructions and disconnected it from the drain spout over the winter.

The drain spout, BTW, connects to the top of the canal system, flowing down and outward through the canal in a maze of canal and aqueduct.

I'm thinking in the future of making my own rain barrel. It isn't really necessary to have one, except in the summer when there is excessive evaporation, I need to hose in water. If I ever decide to get fish, however, the rain barrel would provide distilled or natural water during periods of drought.

Just curious if anyone else ever experienced problems with their rain barrel or perhaps everyone is just loving theirs.

Here it is during happier times (hoses from the spigot (hard to see in the photo) lead to the canal:

 

[koiguy1969]

you'd best be careful of using rain water off your roof in a pond with fish. you never know what harmfull contaminants, chemicals, petroleum products, etc.. (especially with asphalt shingles, tar roofs and the like) may be leached into the water.

 

[Malak]

Obviously if you siphon it out it would probably not crack. Ice expands.

 

[patriciathorney]

well, if it messed up then you can just think of alternative ways of having better rain barrels. Though, those barrels are really not that necessary, they still serve as big helps especially during summer. =)

 

[Bruddaman]

Here is a pic of my rain barrel. Its what shipping companies use to move large quantities of liquids. It holds 175 gallons and I picked it up on Craigslist for $60. They are ugly; I am working on growing jasmine to cover it up, but you can't beat the price or volume. I've let mine freeze with no ill effects.

I haven't used it to fill the pond for the previous stated reasons, but the plants are happy with it.

Oh yea, if you go to purchase one, make sure it wasn't for hauling some funky chemical...olive oil was shipped in the one I purchased.
https://www.gardenpondforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=5946&stc=1&d=1307367080

 

[Malak]

I might look into this because I have high pH issues and my well is pH 8, while the rain is 7... much better!

 

[Len351]

Bruddaman,
I work with those totes that have vinegar and olive oil in them. They hold 1,000 liters or roughly 265 gallons.

 

[Bruddaman]

you right!

 

[fishin4cars]

I wish I could get my hands on about four of them!

 

[Bruddaman]

I wish I could get my hands on about four of them!

Here ya go: http://neworleans.craigslist.org/grd/2417258454.html

 

[sissy]

they sell something like that at tractor supply .I bought a damaged one for 50 dollars .I asked the manager about them and the cost was to high and he said he had damaged ones he could sell for cheap .One I have underground and I just drop a sump pump in it to get the water out .I always add fertilizer to the tank in liquid form from tractor supply .The other tank I use for my pond as a tank for any thing that might go wrong with my pond .It really came in handy when I had to replace the liner after the dog up the street ripped it and it worked great to pick up fish from abandoned ponds here .

 

[fishin4cars]

Here ya go: http://neworleans.craigslist.org/grd/2417258454.html

Thank you,$100 each seems a little steep though.

 

[Bruddaman]

I agree they are a little steep. I picked up 2 in Atlanta for $65 each (I had to do some haggling).

Volume vs. cost of what is for sale in the rain collection market, they are about the best deal going. Maybe if you keep an eye on CL, the sweet deal will come along.

Good luck!

 

[fishin4cars]

Will do, I emailed the listeing you sent and ask if they would take a little less if I bought them both. Waiting on a response. I also talked to the company I used to work for and they are on the lookout for me as well.