IBC water containers ???

Discussion in 'Tools And Equipment' started by chitting kaz, Feb 3, 2012.

  1. chitting kaz

    chitting kaz Total Gardener

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    I am thinking of getting one of these instead of my many water butts ( ice has split another one today)


    eBay - The UK's Online Marketplace

    price is £35 but they want another £25 to deliver
    having never bought one before i just dont know if this is good value

    so Advice please good idea or not ?
     
  2. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    That's about the same price/delivery when I bought mine about 5 years ago. Yes they are good, I've got two linked together to catch water off my shed roof:
    [​IMG]

    I know Eddie J has a much better set up with 6 or so IBCs linked togethr and much neater than mine.

    I catch enough water from one side of my shed roof over winter to last me through to mid summer (last year they never ran dry). The water does get a bit smelly inside, mainly because a few leaves get washed into it from the gutter.

    If you can try and get it raised at least 18" off ground level, so it is easier to fill a watering can. The water whooses out and fills a can in a matter of seconds.
     
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    • chitting kaz

      chitting kaz Total Gardener

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      thanks John

      another question what are the dimentions of yours ?
      they seem huge but i have 7 butts now and various bins and tubs so i figure it would save floor space really

      i think i have seen pic's on here of Eddie's if i am not mistaken, did he had them stacked and all linked together ?
       
    • chitting kaz

      chitting kaz Total Gardener

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      John

      i have found the thread of eddie's tanks MY goodness that is impressive !!! thanks for the reminder that it was there :dbgrtmb:

      kaz
       
    • JWK

      JWK Gardener Staff Member

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      From memory they measure just over 1m each side, maybe slightly more in height. I can measure it up exactly tomorrow if you want.


      After I got them I mentioned to my brother I'd bought two IBCs on ebay cheap, thinking he'd be impressed, he then told me they couldn't get rid of them in his business and I could have had as many as I wanted for free :DOH:
       
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      • lazydog

        lazydog Know nothing but willing to learn

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        I am playing with an idea in my head of sinking 1 of these inside the polytunnel and just having a small access hatch and using a pump to water the veg,only an idea yet but a wondering if it might retain heat as well.
        this is the pump I thought of,or 1 like it.
        SUBMERSIBLE WATER PUMP 400W FLOAT SWITCH 9000ltr/hr | eBay
         
      • chitting kaz

        chitting kaz Total Gardener

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        yours looks bigger than that



        I wish i knew who used them locally as i would go and ask :WINK1: dont supose he is any where near me any time soon :heehee:
         
      • chitting kaz

        chitting kaz Total Gardener

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        MMmm dont ask me where i have read it as i have just spend 4 hrs reading up different things about them but i did read somewhere that the dont hold up well to being burried us less you encase them with something other than their cage :scratch: sorry i cant remember where ?
         
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        • JWK

          JWK Gardener Staff Member

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          I've mulled over similar ideas lazydog. Do you recall that Dick Strawbridge greenhouse heat sink (on "It's Not Easy Being Green") made out of glass bottles under his greenhouse. I think water would make a much better heat sink and an IBC would be perfect. But it's a lot of digging, and you'd need to construct a solid floor over the top and then all the pump/control electrics, not a simple job.
           
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          • JWK

            JWK Gardener Staff Member

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            I will go and measure it tomorrow then :dbgrtmb:



            Sorry, my brother retired last year and stupidly left behind all his IBCs on his old farm. Now he's getting into allotmenteering and needs ... an IBC or two :heehee:
             
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            • chitting kaz

              chitting kaz Total Gardener

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              Oh john you dont have to do that its fine :thumbsup:

              who would originally use these then ?
               
            • Kristen

              Kristen Under gardener

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              Juice, cooking oil, wood-glue, pretty much any liquid which companies need in "industrial quantities". Try to get ones where the original material isn't going to be a problem for you. I suppose one that held a tonne of weed-killer originally is not the best choice !!
               
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              • JWK

                JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                Thats a good question. I think they are used for a variety of things. Mine had traces of food dye in them. As I understand they are also used to transport fruit concentrate. My brother had a spray business, so they contained agro-chemicals. So you do need to be careful, I'd forgotten I'd spent a coupe of hours flushing mine out before using it. You don't want any nasty residuals in there.

                Ask your ebayer/supplier I'm sure they will tell you what it contained.
                 
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                • clueless1

                  clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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                  My dad has a couple of these on his allotment. He's had them for years and years. Eventually they get a film of algae inside them, but there's a hatch at the top big enough to get a stiff sweeping brush in to clean them. They need to be on a good solid surface though because I'm sure you can imagine, they weigh a collosal weight when full. 1000 litres of water = 1 metric tonne.
                   
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                  • chitting kaz

                    chitting kaz Total Gardener

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                    am planning to put on to a concrete base :thumbsup:
                     
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