Cisterns

[Catman10]

You should give me a call, I have been building fiberglas tanks for 40 years and can definately help you out, many opinions on here and some are partially right, you do need to bury a fiberglass tank properly and use pea gravel but big deal, it takes an hour to properly bed one. So many advantages to fiberglass over concrete and once you get to the 3000 gallon size concrete is way more expensive. I build a 3200 gallon and it is the perfect size for a house, sell tons of them and I have sewer tanks that are in the ground that the old man built pushing 50 years now that still look like new, that would be the 3rd or 4 th concrete tank by now ha ha. Anyways concrete has its place and for certain applications we actually recommend people to go that way and when it come to a water tank fiberglass is definately the way to go, pm me and I will give you my number. I also have a little track hoe and do the odd install for people when I have time, give you a snow and mud discount ha ha.

 

[S.W.A.T.]

My water is high in calcium and sodium, I have lived with it for 9 years. Jacky moved in 2 years ago and we just started talking about this. I am for it, as the water through filtration is still corrosive.
I have completed redone my house plumbing, new shut offs, outside taps, new hot water tank(every 8 years I was told this will happen), bathroom faucets every 5 years, kitchen sink and taps every 4 years, I have replaced my pitless adaptor in January 201?, well pump in 2017, RO filters regularly, charcoal filter every 3 years (I think?), leaves water stain on the house when washed every spring, not good for the grass, plant, trees, can't wash any vehicles or toys.
Every thing that has been replaced, has been done by me and I'm tired of it!!!

So in a nutshell, this is why we want to go to a cistern

We bought a electric device that has helped with ours

 

[rebel]

Big iron drilling may have an answer for you. I'd still pursue a treatment option before I started buying water.

 

[rknight111]

I have a 6000 gal cistern below my garage. It’s all poured 10”” concrete with a concrete top, galvanized metal access lid. I’m my basement I run a grundfos on demand pump so no pressure tank and I have constant pressure and no fluctuations at all. I don’t think these cost much more.
In my cistern I have installed large pond air stones on the bottom that the air pump comes on using a timer on regular intervals, This keeps the water fresher.

 

[Mach1]

Did you have separate tank for rain water.im thinking about doing the same thing

Yes two tanks two pumps two expansion tanks and rain water into a big plastic tank filled with rocks and would fill up and then hole to drain into big tank,

 

[busted2x]

I have a 6000 gal cistern below my garage. It’s all poured 10”” concrete with a concrete top, galvanized metal access lid. I’m my basement I run a grundfos on demand pump so no pressure tank and I have constant pressure and no fluctuations at all. I don’t think these cost much more.
In my cistern I have installed large pond air stones on the bottom that the air pump comes on using a timer on regular intervals, This keeps the water fresher.

Almost the exact same setup I have.

 

[Trashy]

I would stay with concrete, by the time you are done backfilling and compacting the fibre glass tank with pea gravel or similar material it can cost as much or more. Also I have seen a lot of the fibre glass tanks with a bow inside (obviously from poor installation) and one would be reluctant to go inside to clean it properly. Also depending on water table, the fibre glass are more likely to float.
We install 3300 gallon cement Cistern's mostly. I can Help you with diy, or install. PM me if you like or have any questions trashy.

PM sent, as you were the first.

I will reread my thread, and call everyone else who I can get info from.

Thank you

 

[Trashy]

Holy crap, has the price of tanks alone gone up in the last few years!!!

 

[JayT]

What are you getting quoted for a tank? 3300 gallon concrete for me is 9000

Holy crap, has the price of tanks alone gone up in the last few years!!!

 

[Trashy]

What are you getting quoted for a tank? 3300 gallon concrete for me is 9000

Same numbers for me, for just a delivered tank

I was thinking about this about 5 years ago, and they were still 4-5000 for just the tank

 

[Trashy]

You should give me a call, I have been building fiberglas tanks for 40 years and can definately help you out, many opinions on here and some are partially right, you do need to bury a fiberglass tank properly and use pea gravel but big deal, it takes an hour to properly bed one. So many advantages to fiberglass over concrete and once you get to the 3000 gallon size concrete is way more expensive. I build a 3200 gallon and it is the perfect size for a house, sell tons of them and I have sewer tanks that are in the ground that the old man built pushing 50 years now that still look like new, that would be the 3rd or 4 th concrete tank by now ha ha. Anyways concrete has its place and for certain applications we actually recommend people to go that way and when it come to a water tank fiberglass is definately the way to go, pm me and I will give you my number. I also have a little track hoe and do the odd install for people when I have time, give you a snow and mud discount ha ha.

PM sent as I don't have your number

 

[Trashy]

So....... Still going ahead with a cistern, this spring.
Wife asked me about doing an above ground cistern, I never thought of it. So I have looked into it a little, and thinking the cost would be close to 10 grand.
Anyone ever do this, and interested in thoughts and opinions
Thanks

 

[rknight111]

That would be a big ice cube in the winter in our climate. I would do an underground one even if we were in a warm environment as they tend to keep cool. I have installed long air stones in the bottom of mine with air pumps on timers to keep the water from going stagnant as well.

 

[Trashy]

That would be a big ice cube in the winter in our climate. I would do an underground one even if we were in a warm environment as they tend to keep cool. I have installed long air stones in the bottom of mine with air pumps on timers to keep the water from going stagnant as well.

I'd build a shed around it, with 2lbs closed cell spray foam and a thermal barrier. As well I would run a baseboard heater with thermostat to keep the inlet line from freezing. With the foam insul, it would keep cool in the summer.
We probably will still go underground and appreciate your thought.

 

[Greg5658]

I do water and sewer for a living and I don't understand the hardons for concrete tanks here. Pretty much all the fresh water tanks we install are poly shallow bury. Properly installed and with a good hoe operator you don't even need sand/pea stone. We've never had to warranty or repair one yet. I make my living installing these so obviously I won't tell you how to do it but I'd do poly. That way you don't need more than a tractor backhoe to move it. Those big concrete tanks need a big a** hoe to move and fiber ball tanks need a pretty deep hole and a ton of sand. Biggest deal with poly tanks is getting a perfectly flat bottom on the excavation, tethering them down underground, and insulating the top of them. Oh and don't use cheap a$$ chitty fittings either.

 

[Greg5658]

Oh and what you guys are paying for tanks you could ship one out from Manitoba and still save money. That being said we get a he!! Of a discount because of the quantity that we buy.

 

[mclean]

I know next to nothing on this subject but could you find better water deeper? You could drill a decent depth for 15g

 

[JayT]

I know next to nothing on this subject but could you find better water deeper? You could drill a decent depth for 15g

Question is, are you willing to gamble?

 

[mclean]

Question is, are you willing to gamble?

This is true, just didn't know with todays technology if they could be able to have a better idea

 

[Trashy]

I know next to nothing on this subject but could you find better water deeper? You could drill a decent depth for 15g

I have lived here for 10 years and my volume of water is depleting. I have been told by my neighbors, my well was drill in the 60's.
So yes I could drill another well, but I'm not interested in taking that chance.