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Just How Big Can I Get?

18 years ago

Hello,

I am interested in making a very large trough (to store rain water beneath the down-spout of a gutter). It would need to be about 5' x 5'. Is this size practical or even possible to do with hypertufa? Frankly, I've never done a 'tufa project before so this would be a big start, but is it even possible?

Thank you for your time, I hope to get some advice BEFORE making a big mess!

Robert

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Comments (3)

tango88
18 years ago
If you are planning on storing rain water (as in a cistern?), you'd be better off using something that remains less porous like plain old concrete. In fact, a good non-toxic sealer or a liner coating of neat cement on the inside is in order if you want to keep it for long. Wouldn't think you'd want the peatmoss decomposing into the water supply either.
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butterflybush
18 years ago
You could purchase one of those galvanized or rubber stock watering tanks, and then decorate the outside of it with 'tufa to get a nice look. Don't quite know what you intend to do with the water? but I agree with tango, hypertufa alone is not for water storage. It will have dedaying peat moss, and will not be water tight and will not have the strength for that much water. You would have to use a lot of reinforcement, and then put a coat of waterproof neat concrete into the inside.
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ownroot
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks for the advice! I will be using the rain water to water plants on my porch, so the decomposing peat wouldn't be a problem, but I know I would need something very strong to hold that much water. Maybe I'll try the inside-lining-of-concrete idea.

Robert
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