Preparation of the Base for Your Water Tank.

Preparation of the Base for Your Water Tank.


It is very important that you have the correct type of foundation on to which you are going to place your water tank, if you don’t want your tank to become damaged and leak for example. This would cause great inconvenience and negate any warranty.
There are three types of bases onto which you can place your water tank –
  1. a concrete base or a concrete paver base;
  2. a stand as a base; and
  3. a crusher dust base.
Concrete or Concrete-Paver Base

By far the most preferred base is one made of concrete whether it be of straight concrete or concrete with pavers on top. Either way the concrete must be placed on firm ground or it will subside over time.

For a concrete base, the concrete/sand/small gravel mix should be at least 100 mm thick incorporating a F62 mesh for strength and be completely level. For the concrete paver base the concrete and sand mix needs to be least 75mm thick and level. After the pavers are laid, they need to be watered to set the mix off. If the original ground is sloping then a thicker base and an even stronger mesh is recommended.

The concrete or concrete-paver base needs to larger than the size of the water tank to fully support it. It is recommended that the base be wider (and longer) than the water tank by at least 100mm. Concrete slabs should be allowed to cure properly (a minimum of five days is recommended.)

Select Water Tanks will provide a fabric to place on the concrete or pavers to cushion the bottom of the water tank from any minute irregularities in the surface.

Constructed Stand as the Base

If you are going to place the water tank on a stand then the construction of the stand needs to certified by an appropriate engineer that the footings and materials used are of sufficient standard to take the weight of a full water tank on it. When a water tank is full of water its weight can be much heavier than expected. The top of the stand must be flat, smooth and level.

Select Water Tanks will provide a fabric to place on the concrete or pavers to cushion the bottom of the water tank from any minute irregularities in the surface.

Crusher Dust Base

Bases made from crusher dust are not preferred but if crusher dust must be used then there are a couple of rules to follow to make the base safe.

The crusher dust must consist of particles less than 5mms in diameter and the base must be at least 100mm thick and smooth and level. The base needs to larger than the tank (over 100mm wider and longer) and should be contained by some type of border and protection to stop the edge from deteriorating and causing the base to be unstable and uneven over time.

Select Water Tanks will provide a fabric to place on the crusher dust base to cushion the bottom of the water tank from any minute irregularities in the surface.

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