Galvanized tank water feature.

by Bill Banker
(Indianapolis IN)

Hi Doug
I would like to utilized the ground water pumped from my basement sump in a water feature containing aquatic plants and maybe some Koi. My ideal is to use a galvanized horse trough 2'x2'x6' to hold the water. I would divert the ground water being pumped from the house into the tank which would have a drain overflow tube at the depth I want to maintain in the tank. The intent is to maintain a constant supply of fresh water to the container, since it's just going out the drainage ditch beside my house it may as well serve a purpose. Can a galvanized tank be used to maintain plants and fish over a long period of time without any ill effects? And do you see any problem with using the ground water in such a way?


Doug says - 1) the galvanized tank won't be a major problem to plants. I can't speak to fish and the condition of the tank.

2) Water from basement sump - it depends on the quality of your ground water. If it's salty/lime because of exposure to concrete, then you may have issues. But the easiest thing is to take a sample to a local pond supplier and get it water-tested for plants. That will tell you right away what you're looking at and if you can do what you want to do

3) Galvanized tanks were sometimes used in commercial production (mostly plastic now) so that's not a problem. You may have a "landscaping" issue though as they're not necessarily the most scenic of items in the garden. But that - as always - means beauty is in the eye of the beholder. :-)