Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I am thinking about installing a rainwater storage system using plastic barrels. There is one fellow here who claims you can store it for a long period of time so long as it does not get sunlight. Has anyone heard of this problem? I know that some bacteria requires light in order to multiply, but I always thought that temp and available oxygen was just as important.

The system I was going to use was 4 55 gallon plastic barrels on the west side of my garage, collecting rainwater off of half of my garage roof. The roof is standard composition shingles, with aluminium guttering and downspouts.

Kevin

Hi Kevin,
If you link the barrels together and get some circulation going with a small pump for aeration it`ll stay fresh indefinitely assuming it doesn`t evaporate

kev, is this for drinking or for AP.

I'm not the best to give advice on rainwater tanks, but a quesrion i have is doesn't the rainwater in tanks stay pretty much still?

people have been storing rainwater here in Oz for ages but i think the key to most of it staying clean enough to drink is the fact size of the huge mass of water stays cool even in summer and as long as you keep the crows from falling in and doing other things its fine

but you idea has lots of rather small masses which would heat up to ideal breeding grounds for bacterias and nasties so you might want to treat it first before drinking

CHeers

so overall temp is the most important factor? makes sense.

im thinking that the temp and the stillness (lack of DO ) would preven much of the problems ,

of course im not a chemist or a biolagist so tis all just theory

Goal was watering plants and AP. I have a good municipal water supply, but I do not want to mess around with dechlorinating the water. Currently my well is not operational, and to make it so will cost me at least $1500 US! (New pump, wiring, pipe and burying the pipe and wiring back to my house.) It might even be more depending on what the pump service guy and the electrician would bill me.