Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: omega3000 on 02 September 2012, 09:36:45

Title: Water for free .
Post by: omega3000 on 02 September 2012, 09:36:45
So i made a system to collect water from the shed gutter yesterday , all done but not a drop of rain any where now  >:( ::) ;D made a filter thing to stop all crud getting into the holding tank and blocking the drain tap . Two questions though .

1. How do i stop algae forming " can i buy tablets to put in the tank "

2. Can i run my pressure washer off it ..... just wondering if it needs to be a pressurised line like from a tap ?

 :y
Title: Re: Water for free .
Post by: albitz on 02 September 2012, 10:27:18
My karcher will run from a water butt,but its a bit marginal tbh. My drive has a bit of a slope,and if I have the karcher near the top of the slope it really struggles.Best to try and find out I suppose. :y
Title: Re: Water for free .
Post by: aaronjb on 02 September 2012, 10:43:15
I'd like to put a big tank in here - the only trouble is the only real choice of downpipe (the back of the house) is still an old metal (cast iron? steel?) downpipe; bit hard to break into that to insert the fittings!

The garage would be a good choice but some pillock (me) told them to put the downpipes at the back where I can't get to them :-[
Title: Re: Water for free .
Post by: tigers_gonads on 02 September 2012, 10:58:41
So i made a system to collect water from the shed gutter yesterday , all done but not a drop of rain any where now  >:( ::) ;D made a filter thing to stop all crud getting into the holding tank and blocking the drain tap . Two questions though .

1. How do i stop algae forming " can i buy tablets to put in the tank "

2. Can i run my pressure washer off it ..... just wondering if it needs to be a pressurised line like from a tap ?

 :y


Ultra violet light  :y
Title: Re: Water for free .
Post by: omega3000 on 02 September 2012, 11:07:12
I acquired a fairly big plastic holding tank , we use quite a bit of water for the plants and washing the car , been meaning to get something sorted out to cut down on using the mains water . Just the algae issue really that would need to be kept on top of but the tank is sealed and no light source can enter  :)

So i made a system to collect water from the shed gutter yesterday , all done but not a drop of rain any where now  >:( ::) ;D made a filter thing to stop all crud getting into the holding tank and blocking the drain tap . Two questions though .

1. How do i stop algae forming " can i buy tablets to put in the tank "

2. Can i run my pressure washer off it ..... just wondering if it needs to be a pressurised line like from a tap ?

 :y


Ultra violet light  :y

That would be expensive though wouldn't it  :-\ would clorine tablets do it  :-\
Title: Re: Water for free .
Post by: aaronjb on 02 September 2012, 11:21:25
I decided to google your concern ;) so much conflicting advice out there.. ;D

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/grapevine/vegging-out/algae-my-waterbutt_49076.html - says put a few goldfish in there to eat any larvae and algae..

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/3350574/RHS-advice-for-the-garden.html - says use "Biotal Refresh Rain Water Butt Treatment"

http://mygarden.rhs.org.uk/forums/t/7732.aspx - suggests all sorts of things.. ;D
Title: Re: Water for free .
Post by: omega3000 on 02 September 2012, 11:25:16
I decided to google your concern ;) so much conflicting advice out there.. ;D

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/grapevine/vegging-out/algae-my-waterbutt_49076.html - says put a few goldfish in there to eat any larvae and algae..

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/3350574/RHS-advice-for-the-garden.html - says use "Biotal Refresh Rain Water Butt Treatment"

http://mygarden.rhs.org.uk/forums/t/7732.aspx - suggests all sorts of things.. ;D

 ;D an idea but for the goldfish poo  :( ;D

I have a home made particle filter inline , one of those sites says to put charcoal in the filter and providing no light source the algae will be minimal  :)
Title: Re: Water for free .
Post by: Mr Skrunts on 02 September 2012, 14:23:55
So i made a system to collect water from the shed gutter yesterday , all done but not a drop of rain any where now  >:( ::) ;D made a filter thing to stop all crud getting into the holding tank and blocking the drain tap . Two questions though .

1. How do i stop algae forming " can i buy tablets to put in the tank "

2. Can i run my pressure washer off it ..... just wondering if it needs to be a pressurised line like from a tap ?

 :y


Ultra violet light  :y

Once met a guy whose koi pond was bulit as a rather large wishing well, no UV filter was used, he recckoned the roof over the pond kept the sun off so I would have thought keeping a lid on the barrel may have woked (stops birds sitting on the getter and s*(pooping)** ing in the barrel.

As for pressure washer, raise the barrel, the more height it has above the supply pipe then adds pressure.
Title: Re: Water for free .
Post by: albitz on 02 September 2012, 14:36:18
Yep,got lids on all 4 water butts and never have algae in any of them. :y
Also true about raising the height.If you can possibly have it high up that will definitely help the pressure. :y
Title: Re: Water for free .
Post by: omega3000 on 02 September 2012, 17:51:57
I made a stand for the water tank to sit on , not that high say about 2ft . It has the lid on but think i will seal a bit better than it is , i have removed the filter housing mesh and placed some charcoal in in it as well ... did a trial run of water through it and all is well  :y Added bonus was i found the tap that i fixed to the bottom will allow me to clip on one of those fast click hose connections ready for the pressure washer  :)

Just need some rain now  ::)...wont have to wait long  :P :y
Title: Re: Water for free .
Post by: Kevin Wood on 02 September 2012, 23:17:28
My pressure washer works fine off the water butt. The trick is to ensure the fittings don't allow any air in.

Rain water does a much better job of cleaning a car than the hard tap water we have, and it's free.

Regarding algae, I just chuck some bleach in every so often. :-X
Title: Re: Water for free .
Post by: omega3000 on 03 September 2012, 10:14:32
My pressure washer works fine off the water butt. The trick is to ensure the fittings don't allow any air in.

Rain water does a much better job of cleaning a car than the hard tap water we have, and it's free.

Regarding algae, I just chuck some bleach in every so often. :-X

I fixed the tap connection with the correct seals then for extra bond used tiger seal , should be stuck pretty good  :) Still no rain and sept is going to be a lovely dry month apparently  ;D Off to the garden center to see what they have for an additive ... seen something online for a couple of quid that treatment for the tank  :y
Title: Re: Water for free .
Post by: markrnorton on 03 September 2012, 13:06:30
One thing to remember when using re-cycled water for washing/spraying - it can be dangerous to health.

This comes up in meetings i have at work,time and again from clients. I would not recommend it. If the water lays and goes stagnant and you spray it, there is a possibility of legionella via aspiration.

If you go down this route, check the water tank on a regular basis and keep it very clean.
Title: Re: Water for free .
Post by: omega3000 on 03 September 2012, 13:27:52
One thing to remember when using re-cycled water for washing/spraying - it can be dangerous to health.

This comes up in meetings i have at work,time and again from clients. I would not recommend it. If the water lays and goes stagnant and you spray it, there is a possibility of legionella via aspiration.

If you go down this route, check the water tank on a regular basis and keep it very clean.

 :( will bear that in mind ... had a detour today so no additive of yet but no water in it anyway  ;) the water will come in very handy in the winter for washing the salt off the car . Only other thing i have not considered is what to do about frost and it icing up  :-\
Title: Re: Water for free .
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 03 September 2012, 21:09:25
I've had water butts for years, have never put any additives in and never had problems with algae!  :)
Title: Re: Water for free .
Post by: omega3000 on 04 September 2012, 07:29:52
I've had water butts for years, have never put any additives in and never had problems with algae!  :)

Now you tell me   :(::)    ;D ;D ;D ok i will monitor it  :y
Title: Re: Water for free .
Post by: F1 9LFG on 05 September 2012, 00:18:19
One thing to remember when using re-cycled water for washing/spraying - it can be dangerous to health.

This comes up in meetings i have at work,time and again from clients. I would not recommend it. If the water lays and goes stagnant and you spray it, there is a possibility of legionella via aspiration.

If you go down this route, check the water tank on a regular basis and keep it very clean.

So often overlooked - but as with you, I have to manage L8 risks as part of my job too.

Everyone will think 'what are the odds' but you don't want to suffer from it!

Keep it clean and treated or ensure the water doesn't stay sitting in the butt for long periods of time.

 :y
Title: Re: Water for free .
Post by: Vamps on 05 September 2012, 00:26:16
What have I missed??? Water for free....? I just turn on the tap, even more than loads of it up here after our long spring......summers coming........ :y :y
Title: Re: Water for free .
Post by: markrnorton on 06 September 2012, 16:28:52
One thing to remember when using re-cycled water for washing/spraying - it can be dangerous to health.

This comes up in meetings i have at work,time and again from clients. I would not recommend it. If the water lays and goes stagnant and you spray it, there is a possibility of legionella via aspiration.

If you go down this route, check the water tank on a regular basis and keep it very clean.

So often overlooked - but as with you, I have to manage L8 risks as part of my job too.

Everyone will think 'what are the odds' but you don't want to suffer from it!

Keep it clean and treated or ensure the water doesn't stay sitting in the butt for long periods of time.

 :y

Its true, can be a nasty business
Title: Re: Water for free .
Post by: omega3000 on 12 September 2012, 19:22:06
Hurraaahhh !!!! Loads of rain today so loads of free water  :) The water pouring into the tank could be a slight nuisance at night , its sounding like someone peeing into a toilet  :-[ ;D
Title: Re: Water for free .
Post by: stewart000 on 12 September 2012, 21:49:23
depends on the size of the tank, if its in the region of 10,000 - 15,000 gallons with a solid lid alge wont be a prob' (no light, no alge
Title: Re: Water for free .
Post by: 05omegav6 on 13 September 2012, 03:31:25
depends on the size of the tank, if its in the region of 10,000 - 15,000 gallons with a solid lid alge wont be a prob' (no light, no alge

That's a really big pool, not a water butt :o
Title: Re: Water for free .
Post by: omega3000 on 13 September 2012, 09:57:12
Mine is about 200 litres which does have a lid ...... someone sais put a tennis ball in to stop it freezing through the winter  :-\ :-\ :-\ :-\
Title: Re: Water for free .
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 13 September 2012, 10:01:19
Yes and you should install an immersion heater and then insulate it! That'll keep it nice and toasty!!  ;)  Trouble is the algae will grow quicker if the water's warm!!!  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Water for free .
Post by: omega3000 on 13 September 2012, 10:04:10
Yes and you should install an immersion heater and then insulate it! That'll keep it nice and toasty!!  ;)  Trouble is the algae will grow quicker if the water's warm!!!  ;D ;D ;D

Im going to be washing the car a lot in the winter trying to keep it empty  ;D
Title: Re: Water for free .
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 13 September 2012, 13:17:34
Aaah your Mig will love you for that!!  :y :y :y  Have you not fitted an overflow?  ???
Title: Re: Water for free .
Post by: omega3000 on 13 September 2012, 13:55:06
Aaah your Mig will love you for that!!  :y :y :y  Have you not fitted an overflow? ???

Yes i drilled a hole and fitted another hoselock connection to it , so once it becomes overflowing it will be fed into another tank "no overflow tank yet though"  ::) I checked the tank this morning and found the tap half open  ::) so ive lost some water  :-[
Title: Re: Water for free .
Post by: stewart000 on 13 September 2012, 13:58:17
depends on the size of the tank, if its in the region of 10,000 - 15,000 gallons with a solid lid alge wont be a prob' (no light, no alge

That's a really big pool, not a water butt :o

woops, i was remembering the sizes of big water tanks in Aus :D