My Ice handling set up

[Shortgrass]

This is not a good set up. I have struggled for 3 weeks to keep a hole open for the bulls. I have an old 8 foot tank that leaks, and for next year, if I still rent this pasture, I may set it inside the big tank so that all the fresh water stays in one place. Has anyone tried that? What sucess?

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This is where the cows water. A float is in the stack of tires in the foreground, and the tire in the distance is a tire tank. If the ground has adequate slope, just bury a barrel with a float that has an equalizer pipe to the stock tank.

Float stays ice free
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The inside barrel is surrounded by earth filled tires

The lid has a barrell with the center filled with insulation.

That is the ice pile, after severl days of ice building weather.

Soapweed, I like your set up if the mill pumps. I had never seen the double lead pipe arrangement. Does it take a mill that pumps a lot of water to make it work?

The bigest problem with mine is that the water equalizes slowly. I probably should have a shorter equalizer pipe. Otherwise this is a satisfactory set up.

 

[jigs]

how does the line to the float come into the tank? a few pics of that would be helpful.... I may try to build one of these! and patent on it?? I would hate to steal your rights! :wink:

 

[Shortgrass]

A riser on the pipeline comes into the bottom of the barrel with a valve controled by the float, the the other pipe is just open and is beside the supply line so water will go to the stock tank. Be careful how long you make the equalizer line. 30 feet would be plenty. My tank is too far away - more like 30 yards.

 

[John SD]

Shortgrass, what do you mean your equalizer pipe is "too long" and that 30 ft would be better than 30 yards? Is it because of too much resistance/pressure drop from the storage to the drinker?

Could some of that problem be resolved by using larger equalizer pipe? If doing it again there is nothing to stop you (except extra cost) from using 4" PVC or similar for your equalizer pipe and put the appropriate reducers on the very end in your drinker tank to install the float valve?

Larger pipe in itself would add a bit to water storage capacity also. I hope I understand the setup correctly.

 

[Shortgrass]

You bet. 4" pipe would surely stop the problem, and allow water to flow more freely.