I'm with arla looking to go every other day collection so I'm after a 15000-16000 litre tank which I think is big enough for 4 robots once the 4th goes in. I'm struggling to find a used tank so I'm pricing new tanks up. I'm getting quotes for mueller, fabdec and roka. Roka is chunk cheaper so I'm wondering why? I've also heard fabdec have had issues with some tanks, has anyone else heard this? So far I'm favouring mueller tank because of the compatibility with robots and ability to link it to the CRS to call me if tank isn't working properly. Lely are also apparently pushing the mueller tanks to be sold with there robots.
Which bulk tank?
- Thread starter Chippy
- Start date
rusty
Member
- Location
- Buxton Derbyshire
I put a 20,000 litre Muller in 13 years ago. They only had 4 in this country at the time and I asked for contact details of the owners. Second one I spoke to was shutting his dairy down so I bought his 3 year old tank. By the time it had been moved and reinstalled I don't think I saved a lot. It only had one wash nozzle at the front of the tank and a 120 litre hot water tank for the wash. It was never any good and my local parlour man got a guy down from Lancashire to put 2 spinning dishwasher type spinning heads in it which has worked very well.
I am now trying to shoe horn a 5000 litre Fabdec into the dairy so I can claim the 0.2ppl flexible collection bonus.
My tank has the hi-perform fridge units(3) ,don't know if they are better than any other. We have also had the electronic box that controls everything swapped for a generic bulk tank control panel due to its unreliability and cost to fix.
I am now trying to shoe horn a 5000 litre Fabdec into the dairy so I can claim the 0.2ppl flexible collection bonus.
My tank has the hi-perform fridge units(3) ,don't know if they are better than any other. We have also had the electronic box that controls everything swapped for a generic bulk tank control panel due to its unreliability and cost to fix.
farmerbill
Member
I took out a 16000l fabdec last year and replaced it with a 28,500l Mueller. The mueller has been fine, a couple of issues with a one way valve but nothing serious. The computer tells you if there's anything wrong at all, even low chemical etc.
Would probably have gone for another fabdec but they are the wrong shape for our tank room- could only get a 22,000 in the same space as our mueller 28,500.
Anyway the point is that Caswell refrigeration in wiltshire have probably still got our old 16,000 fabdec.
Would probably have gone for another fabdec but they are the wrong shape for our tank room- could only get a 22,000 in the same space as our mueller 28,500.
Anyway the point is that Caswell refrigeration in wiltshire have probably still got our old 16,000 fabdec.
Cowski
Member
- Location
- South West
Have you spoken to any Roka owners? We're looking to change our 14000 Fabdec outdoor tank (which would be for sale) for a 28-30ish. The Fabdec has been no trouble at all- very good tank. Have had experience of a Mueller 10000 which also didn't wash well- only 1 jetter which didn't clean the back wall properly.
Ballygreenan
Member
- Location
- Tyrone NI
Take a look at Packo. I put in a 5000 litre Ice Bank tank and it's a great job. I also managed to source a two stage tube cooler (similar to the ones Lely use) it runs on mains water and ice water milk is cooled in no time and I'm told it should all work perfectly with the robot IF I ever put one in IF milk price ever goes above COP and stays there!
Cows 'n grass
Member
- Location
- Modbury, South Devon
We have a 5/6 year old fabdec outdoor 11000l that has been no trouble at all except it has really crap sample taps, but they are just a feature of it being an outdoor tank rather than an issue with the tank itself. This spring we added a 16000l Roka, it was a bit cheaper that the Serap and a lot cheaper than the Muller. We've had a few teething issues with the wash system but nothing major. The only thing I really don't like about it is it has a mat finish on the stainless on the outside. You can see your reflection in my Fabdec tank but the Roka is really hard to keep the outside looking at all clean.
What sort of prices are you looking at?
I got a price on a 18000litre last year and I'm still in shock.
What age was your fabdec?
farmerbill
Member
2005
jimmer
Member
- Location
- East Devon
I personally wouldn't consider anything other than an outdoor silo
Cowski
Member
- Location
- South West
Can you elaborate... vertical silo in particular or just outdoor tanks in general?
Are you on edc or eodc? I have a fullwood packo and it was always fine on eodc but now I am filling it every day it's working hard. I am also looking to upgrade, something around 6000-8000 if anyone knows of anything
Cows 'n grass
Member
- Location
- Modbury, South Devon
jimmer
Member
- Location
- East Devon
outdoor in general
no building to keep clean is the major benefit
ours is a crown (NZ made) 20,000l upright , more cooling plates than you can shake a cows tail at , takes up very little room , and self cleans on the outside
sample taps are the only down side
Will Blackburn
Member
- Location
- Cheshire
Another +1 for an outdoor silo, we would have had to do loads of alterations to fit a 10k+ litre tank inside. All we had to do was knock the wall out and put a plinth of concrete in. Its well worth pricing a GEA tank, they even put a secondary control board in case the primary one gets spiked.
Cowski
Member
- Location
- South West
That sounds ideal
Ballygreenan
Member
- Location
- Tyrone NI
- Tags
- dairy