shawncal
Just Arrived
Joined: 13 Apr 2008
Posts: 3
Location: Northern Minnesota
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| Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 11:50 pm Post subject: Rain barrels |
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greetings,
We are designing a rainwater collection system for our new house, consisting of several barrels connected in tandem. I am looking for info/advice on larger systems like this (most of the info i've found on the internet is for single rainbarrels). I would like to gravity feed the water to raised bed gardens and install drip systems or soaker hoses, if possible. Anybody doing this?
Also, I have read that you should not use white rain barrels, due to algae growth. I assume this is from light entering the barrel...I have a source for white barrels, so am wondering if I can just paint them a dark color to solve the problem??
Any tips appreciated,
Shawn
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wacomac
Just Arrived
Joined: 26 Apr 2008
Posts: 16
Location: Weatherford, TX (Map)
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| Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 11:15 am Post subject: |
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Shawn, I have been pondering with the same thoughts. I have been reading http://www.rainbarrelguide.com/ and some on gardenweb.com As for as white... I think you might be smart to get some returned paint from Home Depot (usually less than $5. a gallon)and put a dark color on your white barrels. Good luck on this project. Let me know how it comes out.
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Wrennie
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 21 Nov 2007
Posts: 405
Location: Catskill Mountains NY
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| Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 2:37 pm Post subject: |
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| wacomac wrote: | | As for as white... I think you might be smart to get some returned paint from Home Depot (usually less than $5. a gallon)and put a dark color on your white barrels. |
Why is that??
My friend lives in Colorado and it is illegal for her to have a rainwater barrel. CO says the rain is state property.
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Primsong
Flower of the Shire
Joined: 15 Apr 2006
Posts: 1755
Location: Oregon (Map)
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| Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 2:45 pm Post subject: |
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Rain is state property? What the heck?
Sounds like some old water-rights law needs a rewrite.
We've been considering them as well - I hadn't thought about the light entering the barrel that way, though the ones we were looking at are already dark green so maybe it's a moot point - but it's good to consider all aspects. I remember seeing a good handyman's guide to building a series of barrels with a tap, try googling for them with something like "gardener's spouse" - I think that's what he called himself.
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toni
Mistress of Garden Junque
 Moderator
Joined: 07 Jan 2006
Posts: 4172
Location: North Texas (Map)
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| Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 2:53 pm Post subject: |
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As long as the barrel is not transparent it is okay. If the barrel is painted white that would be okay.
Transparent is where you have troubles with algae
| Wrennie wrote: | | wacomac wrote: | | As for as white... I think you might be smart to get some returned paint from Home Depot (usually less than $5. a gallon)and put a dark color on your white barrels. |
Why is that?? |
Wrennie,
Any special order paint that either the customer ends up not liking afterall or the employee messes up when making it, can't be sold for full retail so it goes for really cheap.
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