Ideas needed

mlpii66 4/28/2017, 10:02 am

I inherited an old water softener in my basement. Can't get parts to fix it so I dragged the holding tank out to the garage. Looking at it I'm struck by an unshakeable re-purposing urge. I just cant settle on what purpose. It's about a 30 gallon tank, slightly larger around than a five gallon bucket and four foot tall. Best I can come up with is a strawberry/tomato planter or a vermi-culture/composter. The problem I see with using it as a giant worm tube is having to up-end every time to get to the compost. The problem with using it as a strawberry planter is I have no heated place to store it in the winter and it gets cold enough here to freeze solid through and through.

Anyone have any thoughts?

**camprn** 4/28/2017, 10:16 am

A cistern, if you are the rainwater collecting sort. What a Face

mlpii66 4/28/2017, 12:31 pm

camprn wrote:A cistern, if you are the rainwater collecting sort.

Good one! I'm on a water well so this wet winter and spring replenishing the aquifer make me happy as the local farmers suck water from it like it's going out of style. But I like the idea of using it as a tank for a drip irrigation system for the beds! It's a little deep and not as round as I am Rolling Eyes

so it would be a chore putting a tap near the bottom. I envision a Three Stooges skit with my two grown sons trying to extricate me from the tube! What could go wrong? I have a 55 gallon plastic food grade barrel I'm pressing into irrigation services too. When I bought this place, I also inherited a couple hundred feet of irrigation hose. I just need to buy the various fittings and drip/mister nozzles.

**camprn** 4/28/2017, 12:41 pm

Perhaps try horizontal vs. vertical placement, in a cradle? thinking

bigdogrock 4/29/2017, 9:35 am

I am of the same thought as Camprn, but if you were to take a quick pic of it I might have a few more thoughts. I think it is an interesting idea to re-purpose things, being the ultimate frugal,l penny pinching, otherwise known as cheap kinda guy Smile

CitizenKate 4/29/2017, 10:35 am

mlpii66 wrote:
I envision a Three Stooges skit with my two grown sons trying to extricate me from the tube! What could go wrong?

newbeone 4/29/2017, 2:24 pm

What was in the tank? Was it the one where You add the salt?

mlpii66 4/29/2017, 7:43 pm

newbeone wrote:What was in the tank? Was it the one where You add the salt?

No it was the holding tank. Either that or there hasn't been salt in it in ages, it's clean as a whistle.

mlpii66 4/29/2017, 7:48 pm

bigdogrock wrote:I am of the same thought as Camprn, but if you were to take a quick pic of it I might have a few more thoughts. I think it is an interesting idea to re-purpose things, being the ultimate frugal,l penny pinching, otherwise known as cheap kinda guy

There's an aging population here in Idaho Falls, I've hit a lot of estate sales and have a few things I'm trying to find purpose for. I got a nice stack of the translucent corrugated fiberglass panels for 10 bucks, they'll be cold frames here before long. I picked up 7 15 gallon plastic barrels, they'll go in the greenhouse for thermal mass. I also have some great double pane windows for cold frames. Now I just need TIME!

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