Using a syphon to move water from cattle tank, to a lower sheep trough

[steveR]

One of the collective please, as I know someone here will be up to speed on syphons.

I have a 1000l water tank, filled from an adjacent watercourse using a solar powered 12v pump, with a float switch in the tank. Works just fine.

However, I want to use a much lower tank or container for the ewes and lambs who will be going on there shortly. I am reluctant to simply drill a low level hole in the side of the galv tank and put in an outlet fitting and then connect to a 3/4 float valve (low pressure!) in the sheep tank, as it starts the rusting process in the tank straight away! Plan A

So I wondered if a syphon could somehow work between the taller galv tank, and a much lower plastic sheep tank? Thakns maybe 2m apart.Plan B

Plan C would be to fit a new float valve switch in the sheep tank but is again not my preferred option as the existing feed to teh big tank is semi permanent now.

Any ideas please?

 

[milkloss]

Have tried a few bodges in the past but it nearly always worked out better to plumb it in to its own float valve.

have soldered some copper so it hooks over the main tank and runs into the other but you still have to fix it to both tanks somehow or else it gets knocked out and drains one of the tanks.

Also tried linking drain bungs but something will knock a tank or stand on the pipe and BOTH tanks drain out!

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

Why not t in to the supply for the main tank to supply the sheep?

 

[Al R]

I usually put a few breeze blocks alongside the tank, I have before used some close slatted pallets to

 

[Agrivator]

I usually put a few breeze blocks alongside the tank, I have before used some close slatted pallets to

How do you stop lambs jumping into the tank and drowning?

You don't want them to do that, unless they are Lleyns.

 

[Jerry]

unless they are Lleyns.

Oi!!!

 

[Al R]

How do you stop lambs jumping into the tank and drowning?

You don't want them to do that, unless they are Lleyns.

Only use 1 block, or 1 place I’ve got we cut pallets in half so they can stand on them if they went into the tank, never seen one in those ones though, I’ve got 1 which I built up with Earth either side and it’s now a 6” side so I put a hurdle over the top and ewes drink through it

 

[steveR]

Why not t in to the supply for the main tank to supply the sheep?

Interesting idea. Control off the ball valve... Sounds very feasible, but unless something is drinking from big tank as well, the pump will stay off.

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

Interesting idea. Control off the ball valve... Sounds very feasible, but unless something is drinking from big tank as well, the pump will stay off.

What switches the pump on? If it's a drop in pressure, why not put a ball valve on the sheep trough.

 

[Alchad]

Back to your original idea, don't see why a syphon wouldn't work, usual pain in starting the syphon but you can normally get it to syphon in the end, weigh down one end of the pipe in the main tank, get syphon going, connect lower end of pipe to a ball valve at the sheep tank end and should work??

Alchad

 

[steveR]

I usually put a few breeze blocks alongside the tank, I have before used some close slatted pallets to

The cattle trough is rather high!

 

[steveR]

What switches the pump on? If it's a drop in pressure, why not put a ball valve on the sheep trough.

Float switch.

 

[Al R]

The cattle trough is rather high!

If their 3’ high, a breeze block takes 10” out of the equation leaving 26”, most sheep can reach into the tank, I have a pile of welsh with only water source is cattle tanks and their teaching it fine

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

Float switch.

Ah, so in that case, why not tee in as I suggested and rely on the cattle supply filling up the sheep tank on the basis that the cattle will probably drink more and the sheep trough should fill up first because it's lower?

 

[steveR]

If their 3’ high, a breeze block takes 10” out of the equation leaving 26”, most sheep can reach into the tank, I have a pile of welsh with only water source is cattle tanks and their teaching it fine

The lanky easycares will have no issues, it's more their lambs I have concerns about, who are taking some water I see on the other field....

I will have a look and ponder. Cheers.

 

[steveR]

Ah, so in that case, why not tee in as I suggested and rely on the cattle supply filling up the sheep tank on the basis that the cattle will probably drink more and the sheep trough should fill up first because it's lower?

No cattle in the field at present... Hence the head scratcher

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

Don't fall into the once in a lifetime mistake of pulling your best lamb out of the cattle trough drowned because they can't reach the bottom to jump out.

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

No cattle in the field at present... Hence the head scratcher

Put the float switch on the sheep trough?

Edit, we should have discussed this earlier in the week...

 

[steveR]

Put the float switch on the sheep trough?

Edit, we should have discussed this earlier in the week...

Plan C.

Having seen some of the creative ways a lamb can kill itself and your gentle hint.... I do prefer a really low tank too...

Got several about 30cm (1ft) about the place now....

 

[Al R]

Plan C.

Having seen some of the creative ways a lamb can kill itself and your gentle hint.... I do prefer a really low tank too...

Got several about 30cm (1ft) about the place now....

How many sheep you talking? I have quite a few groups on mineral tubs, I used to put mineral tubs next to the cattle tanks but then I saw them drinking so don’t bother now. Didn’t take long to fill 10 tubs out of a cattle tank