20 ft slats

visatorro

Anyone using 20ft slats?

Basically going to be an outdoor slatted tank. Maybe a few heifers on it during the winter and in the summer I'll be parking machinery on without reversing tractor onto.

16ft seems to be a common size. Just I think iv room for 20ft and want to maximise storage.

yewdairy

Not using them here but Priced them before for a tank here, it's a while ago now. Thought they were mad money. Ended up putting in an double 12'6 slat, it worked out better value at the time.

visatorro

Probably easier mixed aswell

GrasstoMilk

have them here on a 150 ft tank. Cows eat along one side and a double row of cubicles are on the other side. Very happy with them

Going with them again on the slatted tank we’re doing atm. Purely to maximise storage. Cows have great space on them

We have a double 10 ft 6 tank aswell with a 1ft spin wall down the middle. Pain in the arse to mix because you have to mix it at the 4 corners instead of just the 2 ends like I do on the the 20ft 6 tank

I’ve driven on them from time to time and no issue.

grass10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122542688#Comment_122542688

What height are the 20 ft slats and always remember you can drive on anything its the day down the line that they break that the issue arises

GrasstoMilk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122542841#Comment_122542841

I’ll measure them later. Yes, I know that

patsy_mccabe

When you double the length of any beam, the deflection at the center increase 8 times. The stresses on the underside also increase 4 times. Worth bearing in mind. I'm sure they add extra steel to counteract this, but still.

Info here from the HSA.

Construction Work on Farms and Use of Concrete Slats - Health and Safety Authority (hsa.ie)

visatorro

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122542688#Comment_122542688

How long is the 10.6 tank?

Where did you buy the slats?

GrasstoMilk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122543689#Comment_122543689

120 ft. Drumderry slats

visatorro

This tank will be approx 120ft, that's interesting about not mixing with the wall in the middle of the tank. I thought it would be handier mixed.

GrasstoMilk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122544542#Comment_122544542

I have 4 scraper passages coming down onto mine, approx 170 odd cubicles. I reckon all the shite stays at the cubicle side and the liquid flows around to the other side

mr.stonewall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122545503#Comment_122545503

You are right. I have a u shaped tank and 4 passages scraped to one side. It's always harder to get the cubicles side of the tank moving. The other side just mixes so quick

awaywithyou

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122542932#Comment_122542932

i hear that all the time… but if the likes of Banagher can build concrete beams for road bridges for cars tractors and trucks to drive on.. Banagher did 50metre long W beams for Macroom bypass.. dont understand how they cant make slats 6metres long that you can safely drive a tractor on…

visatorro

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122546955#Comment_122546955

I'd imagine they could but the price wouldn't be viable for farmers

GrasstoMilk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122546999#Comment_122546999

my 120 ft tank with the 2 x10 ft 6 slats cost 380€ a ft in 2018 , the new tank im doing atm is going to cost about 430€/ft with a 20 ft 6 slat. Not much more considering the price increase on concrete

awaywithyou

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122547101#Comment_122547101

is this your 3rd tank your doing??

GrasstoMilk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122547172#Comment_122547172

yes. We only had minimal slurry storage up to 2018 due to being all straw bedded. All cubicles now since then

locha

is the tank to grant spec?

GrasstoMilk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122547248#Comment_122547248

no. 12inch spacing on the rebar

Grueller

II wouldn't use grant spec as the be all and end all. It is a catch all for all types of subsoil etc. My nephew is an engineer and by his calculations rebar every 14" is more than enough for a 16'6" tank I have just done. Grant specs stated every 7".

There are block tanks all over the country still not leaking 40 years later.

GrasstoMilk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122547398#Comment_122547398

the water bar is just as important as the steel the lads here say.

grass10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122547398#Comment_122547398

It's not the length of slat that determines the rebar It's the wall height you also have to have a longer floor leg the higher the wall also for 8 and 9 ft tanks you'd have to use 16mm steel

awaywithyou

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122547216#Comment_122547216

are the tanks separate from each other or are joined up?? 2 tanks here very near each other but not connected.. a small PITA when drawing slurry.. would be handier if the 2 tanks were connected they could be emptied from one agitating point…

grant spec is overkill… no need for the volume of steel used…

visatorro

Presume it would have to be 16mm or greater for 11ft deep tank

GrasstoMilk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122547590#Comment_122547590

Atm the 2 tanks around the cubicles are in an L and aren’t connected. New tank is going around the back of the cubicles and will make the tanks into a U shape.

Wouldn’t take muck to connect them

Not really sure do I want them connected or not. Be a pain agitating and spreading slurry I thought because if you only agitated on the other tanks would start flowing into the one being emptied ?

lmk123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122547591#Comment_122547591

10 foot is as deep as you can go for grant jobs, anything deeper and you need an engineer to do the calcs for you. Haven’t heard of anyone going that deep, would be hard to agitate I’d say anyway

mr.stonewall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122547675#Comment_122547675

Having big thanks joined is a pain in the backside for spreading I have the equivalent of a 230ft tank 9ft deep and 12ft 6 slats on top. Once you agitate it after 2ft is out you are committed to emptying it. Very hard to make good use of slurry then.

Would you have the option of joining them with a slurry passage for the top foot. Could save the hassle of pumping from tank to tank in the spring

Havenowt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058366142/20-ft-slats

Will you build walls around it for a bit of shelter? Do they require planning?

Jack98

Has anyone here extended a tank is it an awkward job or straight forward? How much could you add onto a 5 bay 78/79ft tank before agitating would become an issue?

grass10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549964#Comment_122549964

Very awkward and slow and expensive if done properly I'd say you are long enough already depending on the breath of slat unless slurry is very watery

Bass Reeves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549964#Comment_122549964

One more bay woukd be the most. There is a reason you always agitate a 4 bay from both sides.