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

[LFE]

Don't forget about a downspout diverter...
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&key...l_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
+
More info on the
Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin's Website

[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/inde...tect&Itemid=69

[cindylu]

Check this website out - their barrels look great!
http://www.potomacriver.org/cms/inde...tect&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.