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Small Cabin Forum / Off-Grid Living / Aquatank bladders
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Nobadays
Member
# Posted: 2 Nov 2021 17:52
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Does anyone have experience using the Aquatank II potable water bladders? We are thinking of putting a bladder under the cabin for winter use and are finding most 300 gallon bladders are in the $600-$800 range. I found the 300 gallon Aquatank on ebay for $470 with free shipping.

Specifically wondering if they hold up well? Maybe more importantly do rodents find them delectable or detestable?

They are a polyurethane coated nylon so fairly light weight but advertised as highly puncture resistant.

We have other neighbors with the heavy duty (rubber/polyvinyl? ) bladders.... one has it in a sealed crawlspace so no rodents the other not so much. The one with rodent access has not had any trouble yet.

Thanks!

Nobadays
Member
# Posted: 2 Nov 2021 17:58
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Oops!... I asked about bladders last fall... not this specific one but just read through that thread.... probably not much more to add unless someone has experience with the Aquatank... sorry for the clutter

gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 2 Nov 2021 23:04
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How about a waterbed?

darz5150
Member
# Posted: 2 Nov 2021 23:14
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Quoting: gcrank1
How about a waterbed?

Good thought. You know those things were durable. LOL. Don't remember how many gallons.

gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 2 Nov 2021 23:25
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They work best if surrounded by a framework to take the stress off the seams.
We cut one up to make some small pond liners outside, it was tough cutting, pretty thick stuff.

Nobadays
Member
# Posted: 3 Nov 2021 08:39 - Edited by: Nobadays
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Thanks.... I am curious about the Aquatank as it looks like a nylon rather than rubber/vinyl tank. Wondering if rodents would leave it alone. Of course... in the instructions it says "keep all animals away," so covering their tails for any warranty issues.

I do have just enough room, just inside the side access door for a 305 gallon low profile pickup tank.... just enough room, it will be tight. Unfortunately that would put the rank on the opposite side of the cabin where I can fill it from and where it can be connected to the water system. So more plumbing for fill tube and feed lines. The feed line would likely end up being an RV water hose, covered with foam pipe insulation. I was hoping to keep that short but if I use a ridged tank it will be a 25' run.

My quandary now is how will I know when the tank is full? The idea is to put it under the cabin, shut/seal the door so I maintain above freezing temperatures under there. If I have to open the door to check the tank level, that kind of defeats the purpose. A bladder would be no different in that respect.

Guess I got more thinking to do!

Edit.... just looking on Amazon and there are a couple tank level monitors starting at about $80.....

gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 3 Nov 2021 12:20
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Livestock water tank control?

Nobadays
Member
# Posted: 3 Nov 2021 14:44
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Quoting: gcrank1
Livestock water tank control?


I fill manually out of my haul tank... we haul water 2 miles from the spring.

I am envisioning a 2" pvc pipe from the far side of the cabin plumbed into the top of the tank as the fill, the other end - the input end - sticking out of the skirting and capped. This pipe sloping to the tank so it doesn't hold water.

The issue is how to know when it is full/empty without opening the door.... it is a large door, 10'w x 3'h. Opening the door would let a lot of cold air under the cabin.

I'm leaning toward RV tank sensors and display. I will have a 12vdc source near the tank to run the Shurflo pump so this could power the level sensor unit as well. Just trying to find one that is for 1 tank and not power, gray, black and fresh.

NorthRick
Member
# Posted: 3 Nov 2021 15:19
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A friend of mine keeps it pretty simple on the full/empty issue. The tank has an air vent that is plumbed to the out side of his cabin where he can see it when filling the tank. He fills it until water starts coming out the vent. Full.

They use water until water stops coming out of the faucet. Empty. Then he fills it up again.

Nobadays
Member
# Posted: 3 Nov 2021 16:31
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Quoting: NorthRick
fills it until water starts coming out the vent. Full.They use water until water stops coming out of the faucet. Empty. Then he fills it up again.


The filling part would work, the running out of water, naw... We watch the weather closely during the winter months and try to fill before storms or really cold weather hits. But the overflow vent for judging full is a good idea and would work... kind of how I fill my big tank, take the access lid off and fill until it starts to run out! We have a stick with marks on it for the big tank so we know approximately how many loads to haul.

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