After reading that, I'm sure a lot of us feel that our own septic issues are much more minor than we had thought. I don't know enough to address the tubing issue, or whether the system has more problems than simply a tank being located too high. Have you measured the soil temperature? Depending what the temperature is, it may not be the heat that's killing the grass. The raised temperature may simply be causing the soil mosture to evaporate more quickly, to the point that grass can't survive. You might be able to grow grass (or xeric plants) if you water the area significantly more than you're watering the rest of the lawn. It would help to know your USDA zone (that tells us winter lows) and the general area where you live (so we have an idea of summer temps). If you don't know your zone, you can enter your zip code here: http://www.garden.org/zipzone/index.php As far as what to do to hide the problem, my reaction would be to make a landscaping feature there anyway. We don't know how large the area is or exactly where, other than the middle of the yard -- but that shouldn't be an issue. It's quite possible to have a bed in the middle of the yard (I have one in the middle of the sunny part of the front lawn). You can add a bed most anywhere, though depending on exactly where in the yard this is, you may need to make the bed larger so it's a more pleasing shape. Can you post photos? Spread mulch over the area. (Since nothing grows there, the mulch only has to be deep enough to conceal the bare ground.) Maybe edge it with bricks or pavers to keep the mulch from washing into the grass. Then add the easy stuff: A birdbath, either on a pedestal or simply a large saucer on the ground. You have the room and the birds will appreciate it. You can add a feeder on a pole as well (the fact that spilled seed won't grow is a plus!). A good-sized rock or three (odd numbers will look better). Bury them a few inches, rather than simply plopping them on top of the soil. I'd have at least one that sticks up 1-2'. Add some smaller rocks to keep the big ones company. Then add plants in containers. Make sure the pots are large enough, and water regularly. I know nothing about your zone, your current landscaping, or what plants you prefer, so I can only say what I'd do. I'd go to a good nursery (not a big-box store) and ask for advice about plants that do well in pots. I'd use at least one evergreen shrub, something relatively low and spreading: prostrate juniper, very dwarf mugo pine, cotoneaster dammeri ... my aim seems to be to grow something that will conceal the pot to some degree, but ymmv. In the warm season, add your favorite flowering annuals in additional containers.

Hippy, propane is a liquid inside the tank. Doesn't matter if it's 1lb or 1000lbs, it's always a liquid. The pressure inside the tank, while it is full of liquid, is always the same in every tank as long as they are the same temperature. In the 50 or so degrees in my garage, the vapor pressure in the propane is 78 PSI. Doesn't matter if the tank is 1lb or 1000lbs, if it's 50 degrees, it's 78 PSI. Look up "propane vapor pressure" in google. If anything, I would guess it's getting LESS pressure with the adapter hose, because everything I hook up to it seems to have a slightly decreased output. That makes complete sense, because with any compressed gasses longer hose = less pressure. As for refilling the tanks, that's probably what I will be doing if I don't get the adapter to work. It is most definately safe and not illegal. If it was as dangerous as you make it sound credible companies like Mr. Heater would NOT be selling them to the general public. Of course coleman tries to trick you into thinking they are illegal to refill - they want you to throw it away and buy another! If you refill the tank before it is completely empty the pressure never changes, thus, there are no metal fatigue issues. Sure, they'll wear out eventually, but they will easily last 10 or more fills. Under no circumstances will I continue to pay $2.50 for a QUART of propane.

first of all the chances of this actually working are pretty slim. Have you considered the very high humidity that will be present inside the tank? Not all plants can tolerate this...the moss will but I doubt the other plants you mention can.Second do pillbugs actually cannibalize one another..not all animals do this you know....third it sounds to me that you would fancy the idea of a dart frog vivarium....thats if you have the money of course....fourth I would just try it anyway and then post some pics and your results so that future people can learn from your success or failures.

The rules in our subdivision require that a tank over a certain size (maybe 20 gallons) be buried. Our is over 300 gallons and it is buried. It was no big deal. Excavated the hole when digging the foundation. Poured a concrete pad and inserted bolts. Propane company dropped tank (with sacrificial anodes) into place and chained it down. Hole was backfilled with sand when the house was backfilled. The line runs underground (with safety tape over it so it doesn't get dug up) and there is a very small metal box where the line comes out of the ground and it connect to the back of the house. It's no big deal, a small shrub would completely hide it. The propane company owns the tank (so they say, I never signed anything) and they don't charge for it, but I am only supposed to use them for fills (it's only been filled once in two years). Our utilities are underground and our phone and power meters are on the side of the garage, not highly visible. The transformer is in the woods. The meters and boxes on the house are not bad looking at all. A small metal box for phone and cable, a meter mounted on another metal box with the shutoff for the electrical. They are barely noticeable, but we carely planned where they would go.