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Re: ferrocrete tank



Lining a pond needn't be as expensive as the figure you quote ($465) if
you use old, off-gassed carpets and cheap builder's plastic as we
describe in the article cited above.

Back issues of the activist can be ordered by sending the appropriate
amount (check or money order in US funds) to: The Permaculture Activist,
PO Box 1209, Black Mountain, NC 28711 The issues mentioned are $6 each,
p&h included. For more details on back issues go to
http://www.permacultureactivist.net/backissues.html
Keith

Paul A Cross wrote:

> Keith, thanks for the info on the tank. In looking at your costs, I
> wonder if it would have been cheaper to dig a hole, line it with pond
> liner, and then pump out of that. Since I'm in a cold semi arid
> climate at 7400 feet, I figure the tank would need to be indoors so
> the water wasn't frozen when we started needing it in January. I
> figured we'd get a backhoe to dig us a hole 22 feet square by 6 feet
> deep. We'd line with a pond liner at a cost of $465, then build a top
> for it. We'd erect the greenhouse over the covered hole, and route the
> water appropriately. The backhoe will cost perhaps $1000. If we can
> cover the pond with a walkable top for $500, then I've got a 20K
> gallon tank at $2000 plus the cost of a pump. That's cheaper than your
> tank, less labor, and twice the capacity. I would like to order the
> Activist #37, so send me the details on how to order and I'll follow
> through. And please let me know once the video is available. I might
> do above-ground tanks for transferring from the main house to the
> greenhouse tank. Thanks again for all your help. Paul
>
>      ----- Original Message -----
>      From: Keith Johnson
>      To: Paul A Cross
>      Sent: Sunday, December 30, 2001 9:48 PM
>      Subject: Re: ferrocrete tank
>       Paul,
>      The cost in materials was about $2400.00. Labor was all
>      volunteer. I don't have all the figures, but it took about 8
>      days with an average of 5 people per day.  We plan to build
>      at least 3 more tanks this size. Now that we're pretty good
>      at it (this is my third, though the first two were much
>      smaller), we will make a video of the next tank-building
>      process and offer it to prospective builders. It's really
>      not that difficult and the larger tanks are actually cheaper
>      per gallon of water than the small ones. The 1,600 tank we
>      built for our house was about $500 in materials and took
>      about 12 days to finish. On that tank we used chicken wire
>      as the armature for the mortar plaster. On the new tank we
>      used expanded metal lathe, a MUCH superior material. We
>      published an article on ferrocement tanks in the Activist a
>      while back (#37, Sept '97). Back issues are still available
>      for $6.
>
>      A fast and cheap tank (not permanent) can be made with heavy
>      duty rebar mesh or heavy gauge stock fencing panels formed
>      into a cylinder (probably not much larger than 5 or 6 ft
>      high and 8ft in diameter) The joint in the side of the
>      cylinder should be overlapped or even double lapped over the
>      whole cylinder and wired VERY securely (Water is heavy.
>      Don't underengineer). Attach used carpeting to the interior
>      (and floor) of the cylinder (pile toward the inside) with
>      wire ties (tied on the outside) and line with two layers of
>      cheap 6 mil builders plastic. The carpeting (which could
>      also be double thickness) prevents the plastic from sagging
>      through the holes in the cylinder and also protects against
>      punctures. If you've built it under a rain gutter, just wait
>      for rain or fill with a hose.
>
>      Keith
>
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