Looking to make a rain barrel

[Sceffi]

So I want to make a rain barrel for my garden and animals. Anyone know where I can find a barrel?? ive checked craigslist, but found nothing. Any ideas (obviously I need a barrel that had food or something else non-toxic in it).

[Willis]

Via the WVDEP and YOUR Blue Ridge Watershed Coalition
Looky Here (http://www.wvca.us/bay/files/bay_resources_homeowners/61_How_to_Construct_Rain_Barrel.pdf)

[LFE]

Don't forget about a downspout diverter...
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=downspout+diverter&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=3854807211&ref=pd_sl_12jd09o4q8_b

[KatherineA]

I used a trash can - and installed a spout at the bottom. It lasted 3 years - It just needs to be replaced because I left it out all winter and the frozen water split the trash can.

[Pat_13]

Try calling around to the soda bottling companies. I got mine from Pepsi in Hanover MD and they also had them in Baltimore. I am note sure if they have any of them around here.

[Willis]

More Rain Barrel Info
HERE (http://www.potomacriver.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50:rain-barrels&catid=34:restore-enhance-conserve-protect&Itemid=69)
+
More info on the
Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin's Website
(http://www.potomacriver.org/cms/)

[Sceffi]

Thanks guys. I may look for a cheap trashcan until I find a barrel. Kinda funny, Pat, Im from Hanover MD and my mom still lives there so Ill be there Friday (they are actually off Coca-Cola Drive) so Ill call Pepsi!!

[Tony]

Excellent point about building heaters into the things so they don't explode in winter. I suppose any birdbath heater would work? I wonder what it might cost to heat that much water all winter long?

On second thought, maybe better to just drain the things down every winter. Not like the lawn needs a lot of watering in winter.

[KatherineA]

Check this website out - their barrels look great!
http://www.potomacriver.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50:rain-barrels&catid=34:restore-enhance-conserve-protect&Itemid=69

[cindylu]

Check this website out - their barrels look great!
http://www.potomacriver.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50:rain-barrels&catid=34:restore-enhance-conserve-protect&Itemid=69

And they are somewhat local!!

[Sceffi]

AHHHHHHH!!! I totally meant to check Pepsi this weekend while I was in Hanover and I got soo busy that I forgot!! Oh well, Im making it my goal to get the parts together by this next week. My garden is growing and looking great after all this rain :)

[Willis]

AHHHHHHH!!! I totally meant to check Pepsi this weekend while I was in Hanover and I got soo busy that I forgot!! Oh well, Im making it my goal to get the parts together by this next week. My garden is growing and looking great after all this rain :)
Be sure to take some pitchers of your project, Sceffi!

[danid512]

Kind of late to this but my mom has a rain barrel and she uses a fish tank heater for hers. She got one that's I think for 55 gal fish tank and just leaves it on the minimum heat setting to keep things from freezing up in the winter. Works well. Does need to be plugged in though, of course. Don't know if bird bath heaters are better (I don't know anything about 'em) but thought I'd throw out the fish tank heater thing since it works super well for my mom's.

[sidhe]

I just upgraded, got the new fancy store bought ones.. now my old ones are looking for a home. They were/are plastic 55 gal drums that I cut the top off of and installed a faucet near the bottom. I covered them with window screen and a plastic thingy to keep the bugs and other stuff out. They worked fine for 10+ years and will probably be good for 10x that long here after. If you're interested, pm me and we'll go from there.

[Tony]

I would think the main difference between heaters would be that a birdbath unit is designed for outdoor all-weather use. It's been a while since I had an aquarium, but as I recall there was nothing "sturdy" about them. Thin wires, clearly designed for indoor use. Also I think birdbath heaters are designed to be immersed (?) and sit at the bottom of the tank where the heat can rise. Fishtank heaters can't be immersed and I can't imagine they would keep the water below them very warm.

[rooneymom]

I know how you like your links, Tony :) We actually have a submersible aquarium heater.
http://www.aquariumguys.com/submersible-heaters.html
I'd imagine you'd need one that's rated for such a large volume of water though.

[danid512]

Yep yep there are some flimsy ones. My mom's is submersible as well. It's pretty hardcore, and water down at the bottom is of equal temp just about, oddly enough.

[SeanEpperson]

Make sure and add some cheap gold fish if you have an open top ( the gold fish eat the mosquito larve).

[Sceffi]

So an awesome member of the forum gave us her old rain barrell (which is still in great condition) a couple of weeks ago, and would someone please tell me why we haven't had a drop of rain yet!!??? Figures, doesnt it. Rained all around us yesterday, even in Frederick, but missed us.

[KatherineA]

Those are awesome barrels from an awesome member :). But I got some rain last Sat. night. So hopefully, we have not completely jinxed the rain by having them.

[Sceffi]

I know, the week before I had it it rained about every day!! AAHHHHHHH :)

[ShosMeister]

Excellent point about building heaters into the things so they don't explode in winter. I suppose any birdbath heater would work? I wonder what it might cost to heat that much water all winter long?

On second thought, maybe better to just drain the things down every winter. Not like the lawn needs a lot of watering in winter.

I drain mine to prevent freezing. Just open the valve and remove your hose - GTG.

[ShosMeister]

Check this website out - their barrels look great!
http://www.potomacriver.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50:rain-barrels&catid=34:restore-enhance-conserve-protect&Itemid=69

I think that's where I got mine. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend the workshop but I had called them and they said they did have some to purchase. Just had to go pick it up.

[SeanEpperson]

http://www.diggerslist.com/sale/outdoor-lawn/55-gallon-plastic-barrels-dirty/57416/

Thought this might help some find a rain barrel.

[Sceffi]

Suppose to rain today!! I know, its been saying that and nothing, but my barrel is empty and my fingers are crossed :)

[cjb]

I have multiple rain barrels from multiple sources.

2 - open top 55 gal barrels received free - just drilled and added a spigot near the bottom
1 - from PotomacRiver.org $50 or so & assembled/built it myself
1 - from Criagslist - a guy that has 250 gal square 'tanks' Have this, do not have it on a downspout yet.
here is the BEST source
5 - from McCutcheon's in downtown Frederick!! They receive juices in 50 gal drums that they pay a deposit on. So they are willing to sell them for $15. They are food grade - because they had food IN THEM!! YAY They also will sell you a spigot (plastic or brass) and for a few $ they will even install it for you.

ABSOLUTELY get a few goldfish to keep in each barrel to eat mosquito larvae. REMEMBER to build a sturdy, flat, platform for them at least 6 inches off the ground so that you can get a hose on, or bucket under, the spigot.

We do NOT drain over the winter - usually because I forget until after the first deep freeze. Have not had a problem with any of these - none have split after 2 hard winters. Have even had fish freeze in them and revive in the spring. :-)

[Tony]

Have even had fish freeze in them and revive in the spring.That would be something to see! We should write Mythbusters.

[cjb]

That would be something to see! We should write Mythbusters.

:-) the water is as frozen as you can tell from tapping on the top... and the fish start swimming around again in the spring. They can take it down to very darned cold. Am sure there was a pocket of fluid water for them to hang in, but not much.

[SeanEpperson]

Tony needs to go out to the great Google and learn about Goldfish hibernation. Of course a follower of the perfect liberal Nancy Pelosi could never be wrong about anything.

[Tony]

Tony needs to go out to the great Google and learn about Goldfish hibernation. Of course a follower of the perfect liberal Nancy Pelosi could never be wrong about anything.Nothing I could find using that search term says fish should be able to survive a hard freeze. Koi will hibernate by becoming inactive and settling to the bottom of the pond. But I couldn't find anything saying they would survive in a frozen barrel of water.

I'm not sure what Nancy Pelosi has to do with this. Does she keep Koi? Or does some follower of hers keep Koi? Does she even have "followers"?

[Sceffi]

My mom has a tiny pond with goldfish and koi that have all been in there for a few years. The pond freezes over every winter.

[Steveo]

Just letting people know that Aouthern states in Purceville has blue 55's for 50.00. I do not know if the ranson store has them