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[omega3000]

So i made a system to collect water from the shed gutter yesterday , all done but not a drop of rain any where now  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 ?

 

[albitz]

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.

[aaronjb]

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

[tigers_gonads]

So i made a system to collect water from the shed gutter yesterday , all done but not a drop of rain any where now  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 ?

 

Ultra violet light 

[omega3000]

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  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 ?

 

Ultra violet light 

That would be expensive though wouldn't it  would clorine tablets do it 

[aaronjb]

I decided to google your concern so much conflicting advice out there..

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..

[omega3000]

I decided to google your concern so much conflicting advice out there..

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..

  an idea but for the goldfish poo 

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 

[Mr Skrunts]

So i made a system to collect water from the shed gutter yesterday , all done but not a drop of rain any where now  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 ?

 

Ultra violet light 

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.

[albitz]

Yep,got lids on all 4 water butts and never have algae in any of them.
Also true about raising the height.If you can possibly have it high up that will definitely help the pressure.

[omega3000]

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  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 

[Kevin Wood]

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.

[omega3000]

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.

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  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 

[markrnorton]

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.

[omega3000]

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 

[Sir Tigger KC]

I've had water butts for years, have never put any additives in and never had problems with algae!