Burying a plastic cistern - Tips?

[bigd-bigm]

When burying a plastic cistern - I see that it is recommended to use pea-gravel to back-fill.

Questions -
What happens if you don't use the Pea-gravel?

Are you supposed to put the pea-gravel down as a base too?

Any ideas how much pea-gravel would be needed (I can figure out how many cubic feet I need - but how does this translate to Tons?)

Any tips from someone who has done this before would be great.

[o&itw]

A cubic foot of pea gravel weighs a bit less than 100 pounds. Ergo, a ton contains about 20 cubic feet.

I suspect that the base is one of the most important places to put it. The tank needs to "settle in" so the weight is equally distributed.. Pea gravel is tends to spread evenly to weight on it and does not usually have sharp corners that might puncture. I would think it would be best to put the tank on a bed of gravel and then run some water in as the sides we being filled and the intake and exit pipes were still in an open ditch, so those pipes could adjust to any change that takes place. I wouldn't cover it, till the tank and the entrance and effluent pipes settled into position.

There are probably some pros on here that could give you exact advice.

[rambler]

Likewise I'm no expert, but be careful burying one in a wet location. If it is empty, and groundwater is around it, can crush it or pop it out of the ground.

The pea gravel helps get the moisture away, in addition to letting it set in as the other person mentioned.

Paul

[farminghandyman]

fill the tank either as you back fill or before or you may very well crush it,

I would use some thing that will compact and retain it shape if it is loose like marbles ever time the tank empties it will be pushed in on, and possibly in time it could cave in on the sides, so dirty gravel with some soil or fines in it on the sides I think would be beneficial,

now my tank is above ground steel but the plastic septic tank I bury-ed I covered with the soil I dug up witch was sandy loam, no rocks, and it has been good for 15 years,

[o&itw]

a cistern might be a bit more trouble than a septic tank, as a septic usually stay full once it is in use. Never drive over or close to a septic tank, even the concrete ones will collapse.

[Cyngbaeld]

Make sure to buy one that is intended to be buried. Some, like the one I have now, say on the side not to bury them.

[meanwhile]

I would not want any type gravel under a plastic tank? Seems like the weight from the water would push the plastic into the gravel and make a hole?

We used a new cement septic tank. Can you find a new cement tank?

[Mary Moon]

A friend of mine put one of those in, buried it nice and pretty, hooked it up to the roof gutters and waited for the rain.

The wind blew the downspout off the gutter and after a few days of hard rain, he went out one morning to find his giant plastic tank had risen from the dead.

Popped right out of the ground. I don't know how to prevent that but I can concur, it happens.

[Gray Wolf]

Put in the gravel and then some perforated pipe at the base of the tank. Then lay pipe as far as you have to in order to drain any water getting into the hole to the surface.

[bigd-bigm]

Thanks for your help - We just got the first spring water in the house this past weekend - Big project but well worth the effort!