We are looking to collect some rainwater for gardening/emergency use. I was thinking maybe 250gal or so. Any suggestions on tanks and where to look for them around Denton County? Have considered just the black water storage tanks at the ag supply stores like TSC, Orscheln's or Atwood's.

Looks like some pretty good prices in Fairfield if one feels like making a drive.

How would something like these do? I know that ideally that you'd probably like a darker color to mitigate algae growth?

I use a 1550 gallon black tank to catch rainwater at my fishing cabin. It is painted white so it looks good and does not get too hot. I think those tanks you posted would be too small. I calculated that 1.5" of rain would completely fill my 1550 gallon tank.

I am considering a similar setup at the house where I could run a sprinkler system off of it for the lawn. That way when the watering restrictions hit, I could still water whenever I wanted.

Food grade 275 gal totes. Craigslist for $75-$100

Just something to think about, with smaller tanks you have limited storage. It also makes it more difficult to get the water out of the bottom of the tank if the tanks are on the ground.

For these type of applications, I've preferred to have narrower-taller tanks. This creates a higher water head that makes it easier to gravity flow the water without having to build a really tall stand for the tank.

Remember it takes 2.31 ft of elevation to create 1 PSI by gravity. As a personal rule, i like to have my tanks tall enough to at least put a 5 gallon bucket underneath.

Would one be able to get a pump into those in order to pump water out for sprinklers, etc? I'd rather not always have to drain them via a hose.

AgySkeet06 said:

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Just something to think about, with smaller tanks you have limited storage. It also makes it more difficult to get the water out of the bottom of the tank if the tanks are on the ground.

For these type of applications, I've preferred to have narrower-taller tanks. This creates a higher water head that makes it easier to gravity flow the water without having to build a really tall stand for the tank.

Remember it takes 2.31 ft of elevation to create 1 PSI by gravity. As a personal rule, i like to have my tanks tall enough to at least put a 5 gallon bucket underneath.

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Something like this? This seems like a solid price if I felt like taking a 2.5hr drive with a trailer to pick up.

500 Gallon Vertical Tank

Vertical tanks have more head pressure when full if that's a concern.

Player To Be Named Later said:

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Would one be able to get a pump into those in order to pump water out for sprinklers, etc? I'd rather not always have to drain them via a hose.

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Use the valve at the bottom to plumb into the suction of a positive displacement or diaphragm pump. You will always have a flooded suction this way and your pump will run way more efficiently.

I intend to use a couple of these at my cabin at the deer lease one of these days for toilet and shower water. Will plumb two of them together to a tee fitting, then to the suction of my pump. That way i will draw on both tanks equally and they will have the ability to achieve equilibrium between the two of them as they fill during rain storms.

That's a really good idea. Now if I can get over having two of those things in the back yard up against my house and not feel like it's overly redneck looking......

Player To Be Named Later said:

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That's a really good idea. Now if I can get over having two of those things in the back yard up against my house and not feel like it's overly redneck looking......

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Build some trellis around them with some honesuckle vine or what not growing on it

Can't remember the name of the outfit right now, but there is a company just south of Gainesville that manufactures tanks like the one you have pictured. I know they did make larger ones at one time, as we bought a 2500 gal green one there for our windmill storage tank. Think it is right at the Fm 1307 exit.

Yeah that should be fine, I've actually bought multiple tanks from NTO in the past and the tanks have been good quality and held up well.

If you dont want the tank to stand out, you can always put some type of decorative fence around them that helps them blend in with the landscape/surroundings.

Cen-Tex said:

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Food grade 275 gal totes. Craigslist for $75-$100

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I have 5-10 of these in Karnack, Tx that are free to anyone that wants to go pick them up. They held food grade emulsified vegetable oil.