Slurry towers, roofs & mixers

[rc mx110]

Is there any real difference between makes of tank?
Or does it just come down to local suppliers?
And if/when I do invest I'd want a roof on it. But...
It would be out in the fields so no nearby electric. For like bubbles mixing.
And I don't like the through the wall mixers.
So is it possible to still use a "over the top" mixer on a tower with a roof? Like an opening??

 

[miniconnect]

could your bubbler be run by a small petrol/diesel engine compressor on a timer with 12v electric start etc?

 

[MickMoor]

You could have the compressor(s) at the farm and run a pipe to the tower. The rotary valves which distribute the air to different outets are usually mounted on the side of the tank, at the top. You do get mixing hatches in a tension cover, but an over the top mixer would take a bit of careful manoevring to get in.

 

[rc mx110]

I like the sound of the mixing hatch in the cover

 

[MickMoor]

I deal with Dutch manufacturers. A leaflet here: http://www.stefos.nl/files/downloads/SFS-Tensioned_cover_5.pdf
The smalltank has the first cover we ever fitted, coincidentally, he contacted me this morning about stirring the contents.
The large tank is for digestate, we installed an Ameram Aeromixer in this.

 

[rc mx110]

I deal with Dutch manufacturers. A leaflet here: http://www.stefos.nl/files/downloads/SFS-Tensioned_cover_5.pdf
The smalltank has the first cover we ever fitted, coincidentally, he contacted me this morning about stirring the contents.
The large tank is for digestate, we installed an Ameram Aeromixer in this.

Ideal thanks for that
Not keen on a wall mixer as I fear it would stress the sides? Or am I being paranoid

 

[Blue.]

Ideal thanks for that
Not keen on a wall mixer as I fear it would stress the sides? Or am I being paranoid

Biggest problem with side mixers is the seal failing and slurry running into the bearings and also leaking,they also need to be used often,although if you have a cover you shouldn't get weeds and grass growing on the crust.

I would only ever have a tower if it was concrete or stainless,ours lasted 27 years,not enough!

 

[MickMoor]

Wall mixers get the slurry going round, but don't mix the top with the bottom until the store is almost empty. The mixer sits on a concrete plinth which should be tied to the foundation andaborbs any thrust fro the mixer. Having said all this, Aeromixers work best if everything in the store has passed through an animal. A lot of bedding or silage will end up forming a crust. The compressor only operates at night on cheap rate electricity, but there could be some smell when it does so.

 

[rc mx110]

What is the expected life of a new tank bought today?
Currently we bed cubicles with straw and get very thick crusts which is why I feel an over the top is best, but am seriously considering changing to mats + sawdust for next yr

 

[MickMoor]

Biggest problem with side mixers is the seal failing and slurry running into the bearings and also leaking,they also need to be used often,although if you have a cover you shouldn't get weeds and grass growing on the crust.

I would only ever have a tower if it was concrete or stainless,ours lasted 27 years,not enough!

Like your first comment, can't agree with the second one though. Stainess is expensive, so to keep costs down, the sheets are thin with lots of bracing to add strength. If concrete was any good at containing liquid, you wouldn't need to put a damp-proof course under your house floor.
There were some very poorly made towers sold until about 1995, plus the assembly methods have moved on a lot since then as well. I have dismantled 30 year old stores and used some of the sheets for something else; if they are to contain slurry, I have to certify that it is designed to last 20 years. 25 years is the normal design life, and in fact Severn Trent renew their equipment at this sort of interval.

 

[MickMoor]

What is the expected life of a new tank bought today?
Currently we bed cubicles with straw and get very thick crusts which is why I feel an over the top is best, but am seriously considering changing to mats + sawdust for next yr

The design life, as above, is 25 years, with maintenance. I would expect a store I put up to last far longer. When taking down old stores, we have noticed that the concrete floor has eroded, and in one instance, I scabbled the floor and poured more concrete on top.

 

[Blue.]

Like your first comment, can't agree with the second one though. Stainess is expensive, so to keep costs down, the sheets are thin with lots of bracing to add strength. If concrete was any good at containing liquid, you wouldn't need to put a damp-proof course under your house floor.
There were some very poorly made towers sold until about 1995, plus the assembly methods have moved on a lot since then as well. I have dismantled 30 year old stores and used some of the sheets for something else; if they are to contain slurry, I have to certify that it is designed to last 20 years. 25 years is the normal design life, and in fact Severn Trent renew their equipment at this sort of interval.

You have to champion tin stores as you sell them,simple fact a good concrete store will out live any tin can store.

I can live with a bit of damp coming through concrete,not rust holes in tin panels.

 

[MickMoor]

You have to champion tin stores as you sell them,simple fact a good concrete store will out live any tin can store.

I can live with a bit of damp coming through concrete,not rust holes in tin panels.

Of course you can't see what the damp is doing to the reinforcing.........
That is why the depth of concrete cover over the reinforcing is specified, and why the concrete has a high cement content, so that it slows down the attack from acids in slurry and effluent.
Nobody forced me to sell glass fused to steel stores, I chose this design because in the light of my experience, I believe it is the best for my customers. If you or anybody else disagrees, you are perfectly free to buy elsewhere.
However, each to his own. I can't be bothered to argue the case further.

 

[MickMoor]

could your bubbler be run by a small petrol/diesel engine compressor on a timer with 12v electric start etc?

Possible, but when I looked into it the cost was too high.

 

[rc mx110]

The design life, as above, is 25 years, with maintenance. I would expect a store I put up to last far longer. When taking down old stores, we have noticed that the concrete floor has eroded, and in one instance, I scabbled the floor and poured more concrete on top.

Sorry for my ignorance. But what maintenance is there on a tower?

 

[MickMoor]

Sorry for my ignorance. But what maintenance is there on a tower?

Mainly inspection for damage, for example from stones in the slurry when the jetter plays against the sheet surface or collision with scraper tractors; faults can also develop for various reasons such as water accumulating against the foundation, causing settlement, UV degradation of the plastic coating on bolt heads, particularly in the top ring, after around 15+ years, erosion of the mastic fillet covering the sheet edges. If the tower has been put up carelessly, inspection after about ten years can reveal this, and correct any errors before they are serious. Some insurers or the EA may request an inspection and any faults or damage be corrected. I would suggest inspection after 10 years, and then according to what it revealed.

 

[davedb]

Is a lagoon not an option @rc mx110

 

[rc mx110]

Is a lagoon not an option @rc mx110

Is but, finding somewhere dry enough with no raising water as well

 

[rc mx110]

Biggest problem with side mixers is the seal failing and slurry running into the bearings and also leaking,they also need to be used often,although if you have a cover you shouldn't get weeds and grass growing on the crust.

I would only ever have a tower if it was concrete or stainless,ours lasted 27 years,not enough!

How much difference price wise would there be between concrete and steel

 

[davedb]

Is but, finding somewhere dry enough with no raising water as well

Could allways build a rectangular concrete store half buried in the ground that way it would be a lot easier to roof over if you wanted too in the future and probably a lot cheep than a tower?