I have 4 stacked 2 high and used a nipple drilled into the lids of the three totes that were receiving from the main intake tote. I used commin garden hose to vent and found this didnt allow as much air out as water in and have since upgraded to 2" pipe vents. Im still in the process of getting it all put back together after pouring a slab for it all to set on. I had used cement blocks that sank and almost broke my flow piping due to it. Firm foundation, venting, filter intake and have an over flow that takes excess water away so you dont flood your foundation.
Aren't you afraid of the ibc one over another? I would like to do same but I always think that if earthquake comes the one on top could fall and destroy something...
Good to see your expansion. I'm curious how the lower IBC will do as far as venting goes, both for filling and draining. Guessing it'll be burping occasionally? Good idea just painting those totes vs. trying to get black tanks.
That’s a great question and one I didn’t consider all that much. The top tote is vented but I guess we will see how the system performs. I think you’re right though. There will be some burping happening.
So it has been several months, how did the "burping" work? Air isn't going to burp up through the connecting pipe once the mouth of the pipe is covered on the bottom tote. It will pressurize the air in the lower tote, just like a pressure tank just w/o a bladder. But I can't see how it would come anywhere near filling the lower tank. And I care because I'd like to do stacked IBC totes too! Is there some kind of air release mechanism on the top fill of the lower tote? Then the lower tote would burp when the upper tank is empty and air can bubble in through the outlet unless that mechanism is a 2 way air [but not water] inlet.
There may be better ways of handling it, but if/when I set up this kind of layout, I'd run a small pvc pipe out of the lower tank's cap, across the top of it, and then up the back side of the upper tank so that it terminates at a higher point than the upper tank itself. This would allow the lower tank to fill completely without any burping issue.
I just did this setup. Are you able to fill both fully? My bottom tank looks like it wants to burst?! the bottom tank isnt filling with anymore water now and is only halfway full of water (other half air) but has alot of pressure.
It needs to vent. I have a shutoff valve between the two tanks so I shut the valve off when the bottom is full. Make sure the lid on the bottom tank is basically off and that is your vent. You could tie the two tanks together with piping and have one vent bit this is the easy way of doing it... the downside is a little manual work
Did you have any problems with the weight of the double stacked totes crushing the cement blocks? I want to do this by my shop building, but I’m concerned about the block failing and damaging my building.
Each cinder block can hold 1700 lbs, the weight is spread load across 4, so theoretically 6800lbs. That’s (2) 275 gallon totes. When full that would be 4400lbs. Ours have been double stacked on those blocks for 7 years without problem but that’s a valid concern.
No, not really (as long as the collection surface doesn’t have contaminants) other than you could have some more debris... if you are watering out of a hose it’s probably not a problem.
fter working with this system for a few years I have found the easiest way to vent it is to control the flow to the top container which is vented on top. I shut it off when the bottom is getting full. I leave the bottom container lid slightly loose. This works fine. I’m sure there’s a better way but it’s simple and works for me.
it didn't. However, since then, I have added a shutoff valve in between and that is how I control it. It's working great. I'm sure there's a better way but this has been good enough
There’s a valve on both tanks that I manually control. When the bottom is full, I close the valve on top. The lid on the bottom tank is not sealed but loose. I would design it differently if doing it over but it works well enough for now.
I bought totes that had previously had syrup or something like that. They were already rinsed. I spent a little time further rinsing but that’s about it.
The system would be more more automated if you just put them side-by-side on the ground. Stacking them makes them less efficient because now you've got to go out there and manage valves when the bottom is full. The system is just not complete. Put them on the ground side by side at the same height and now you can take advantage of both tanks automatically without being a tank manager.
I have 4 stacked 2 high and used a nipple drilled into the lids of the three totes that were receiving from the main intake tote. I used commin garden hose to vent and found this didnt allow as much air out as water in and have since upgraded to 2" pipe vents. Im still in the process of getting it all put back together after pouring a slab for it all to set on. I had used cement blocks that sank and almost broke my flow piping due to it. Firm foundation, venting, filter intake and have an over flow that takes excess water away so you dont flood your foundation.
Sounds like a nice setup.
@@ThePreparedHomestead I'm confused, did you put a vent on the bottom tank?
@@rclewis01yes, the bottom tank is vented. When the bottom is full we close the valve in between. Not the best set up in hindsight but it works.
Nice setup ... cool to see you stack them!
Thanks, it does work out pretty well
Great video I was looking how to stack my two tanks thank you
Went to Home Depot couldn't find the fittings. Any idea where and a parts list?
I have a? Have you had any issues with venting or suction collapse on the IBC water tank.
No, I have not. It’s worked out really well for our situation.
Aren't you afraid of the ibc one over another? I would like to do same but I always think that if earthquake comes the one on top could fall and destroy something...
Good to see your expansion. I'm curious how the lower IBC will do as far as venting goes, both for filling and draining. Guessing it'll be burping occasionally?
Good idea just painting those totes vs. trying to get black tanks.
That’s a great question and one I didn’t consider all that much. The top tote is vented but I guess we will see how the system performs. I think you’re right though. There will be some burping happening.
So it has been several months, how did the "burping" work? Air isn't going to burp up through the connecting pipe once the mouth of the pipe is covered on the bottom tote. It will pressurize the air in the lower tote, just like a pressure tank just w/o a bladder. But I can't see how it would come anywhere near filling the lower tank. And I care because I'd like to do stacked IBC totes too! Is there some kind of air release mechanism on the top fill of the lower tote? Then the lower tote would burp when the upper tank is empty and air can bubble in through the outlet unless that mechanism is a 2 way air [but not water] inlet.
There may be better ways of handling it, but if/when I set up this kind of layout, I'd run a small pvc pipe out of the lower tank's cap, across the top of it, and then up the back side of the upper tank so that it terminates at a higher point than the upper tank itself. This would allow the lower tank to fill completely without any burping issue.
@@ben-andyhein7497 i am considering to stack up my ibc tank too. Wondering how would the air get out from the bottom tank.
@@chrisanddorie have you installed the pipe at the bottom tank to release the trapped air?
I just did this setup. Are you able to fill both fully? My bottom tank looks like it wants to burst?! the bottom tank isnt filling with anymore water now and is only halfway full of water (other half air) but has alot of pressure.
It needs to vent. I have a shutoff valve between the two tanks so I shut the valve off when the bottom is full. Make sure the lid on the bottom tank is basically off and that is your vent. You could tie the two tanks together with piping and have one vent bit this is the easy way of doing it... the downside is a little manual work
Did you have any problems with the weight of the double stacked totes crushing the cement blocks? I want to do this by my shop building, but I’m concerned about the block failing and damaging my building.
Each cinder block can hold 1700 lbs, the weight is spread load across 4, so theoretically 6800lbs. That’s (2) 275 gallon totes. When full that would be 4400lbs. Ours have been double stacked on those blocks for 7 years without problem but that’s a valid concern.
What did you use to connect the pvc pipe to the tank ?
Great video, will definitely be something I look into.
I love your land area. I miss my 2 acres I had in NC. Now I'm in Tennessee on a lot one third of an acre.
You can do an incredible amount on 1/3 acre!
do I really need a first flush system if I am only going to use the water for the garden?
No, not really (as long as the collection surface doesn’t have contaminants) other than you could have some more debris... if you are watering out of a hose it’s probably not a problem.
Did you buy them black or were they painted. I couldn't tell.
I painted them.
Great job.
I saw that one of the ibc tank was not painted, do you see any algea growing in it? As compared to those that you have painted black?
Yes, algae will grow more if light is able to penetrate
Does it not get an air lock in the bottom tank? Doesn’t it need a high vent like a snorkel in the bottom tank?
fter working with this system for a few years I have found the easiest way to vent it is to control the flow to the top container which is vented on top. I shut it off when the bottom is getting full. I leave the bottom container lid slightly loose. This works fine. I’m sure there’s a better way but it’s simple and works for me.
how did bottom cage vent out air with out leaking water?
it didn't. However, since then, I have added a shutoff valve in between and that is how I control it. It's working great. I'm sure there's a better way but this has been good enough
How does the air above the inlet of the bottom tote escape?
There’s a valve on both tanks that I manually control. When the bottom is full, I close the valve on top. The lid on the bottom tank is not sealed but loose. I would design it differently if doing it over but it works well enough for now.
Did you vent the totes?
Yes, the totes are vented.
I thought they were 1000-1100L I have two high in my garden, and they can sure fill up quickly in a thunderstorm/heavy shower!!! 🌧️😮
Awesome! The resiliency and peace of mind that comes from full tanks is :)
What size pvc pipe did you use?
1"
how or what did you do to clean the totes out when you got them?
I bought totes that had previously had syrup or something like that. They were already rinsed. I spent a little time further rinsing but that’s about it.
You're gonna clamp them together right? You don't want 1000kg+ sliding off the bottom one...
That’s not a bad idea but in over three years, including wind storms, they have not budged. These totes are designed to stack while they are loaded.
The system would be more more automated if you just put them side-by-side on the ground. Stacking them makes them less efficient because now you've got to go out there and manage valves when the bottom is full. The system is just not complete. Put them on the ground side by side at the same height and now you can take advantage of both tanks automatically without being a tank manager.
No over flow pipe.
Do you have more pressure with two tanks?
Basically wherever the water level is at, determines the pressure so yes, if both tanks are full then we get a touch more.