21 February 2022
How can I Hide my Rainwater Tank?
Our Top #5 Tips
We get it: rainwater tanks are a necessity, but not always pretty to look at. And you don’t generally want them front and center of your landscaping design. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways and means to conceal your rainwater tanks (or at least make them less obvious) and to give you some ideas, we’ve listed out our top #5 tips right here:
1. Colour is Key
It’s a bit of a no brainer, but colour plays a huge part in how conspicuous your tanks are. Think about where your tank is going to be positioned, and how you can use colour as a camouflage.
For example, it goes without saying that white rainwater tanks against a red brick wall will be a total eyesore, whereas choosing a colour that is as close as possible to the colour of the brickwork will go a long way towards blending the tank in with the home.
Monument Grey and Woodland Grey are two of the most popular Orion water tank colours, and for a good reason: they’re a great choice for shadowy areas, or if your tank is to be positioned where there’s dappled sunlight.
Another colour our customers commonly pick is Pale Eucalypt - again, it’s nature-inspired shade that blends well into most domestic, commercial, and rural settings.
2. Pick a Profile
There are plenty of situations where the corrugated profile of Orion water tanks can be turned to your advantage. For example, if your home or shed is clad in horizontal corrugated colorbond, the colour can be matched, and the tank will blend perfectly.
The flat sides of the smooth slimline tank or the smooth walled round tank are ideal for a more contemporary, modern aesthetic, and again, the colour can be chosen to compliment the surroundings.
3. Out of Sight, Out of Mind
Most homes have a ‘blind’ side, so why not pop your tank around there? Or if you have a raised deck area, this might be the perfect out-of-the-way place to position your rainwater tanks.
But if space is at a premium or you just want them to be totally hidden, it’s worth considering an underground installation. Obviously, installing an underground tank is going to require a bit more preparation and cost, but it allows you to enjoy the best of both worlds: fresh rainwater + lots more free space! Poly tanks are commonly installed under driveways, paths, or lawn areas, allowing homeowners to landscape their properties perfectly.
4. Behind the Shed
If the rainwater you harvest is to be used for your garden or swimming pool, you might consider installing it behind the garden shed or man cave, rather than beside the main house. Of course, you will need to consider the surface area of the roof and ensure that it’s sufficient to feed the size of the tank. Calculate the catchment area of your shed roof here.
5. Set up a Screen
Have you considered erecting some sort of a screen to keep your rainwater tanks out of sight? Here are a few ideas to get you thinking:
- lattice - timber or plastic
- bamboo fencing
- slatted timber or steel
- laser-cut metal panels
- freestanding walls
- low hedges
If you’re blessed with green fingers, why not grow a vine or creeper up a trellis and screen your tank that way? Tall flax plants and other low maintenance grasses are another great, modern option which can be turned into a fantastic visual barrier.
So, get your creative hat on and use turn your screen into a landscaping feature! (And don’t forget to send us a picture of the finished result)!
How Can I Hide my Tank Pump?
Covering your tank pump is super important. As you well know, quality tank pumps don’t come cheap, and keeping them out of the reach of pets, children, thieves and the weather is essential.
Welcome the Orion pump Cover! It’s easy to install. It doesn’t have any tricky fittings. And measuring a generous 500 x 330 x 620mm high, it fits a large range of common pumps.
Will you need to get access to the pump cover? Yes. Like any other piece of working equipment, your pump will require regular maintenance, so it’s important to position it accordingly.
Can I plant trees around my rainwater tanks?
This is a common question, and we’re glad you asked!
While planting a gorgeous garden of trees and tall bushes might seem an easy and cost-effective way to hide your water tanks, it’ll probably end up costing you in the long run. Here are a few of the common issues with trees near tanks:
Leaves and debris
It’s inevitable that leaves, bark, and other rubbish from trees will end up on top of your tank. All this mess will clog up the tank’s leaf strainer (and the gutters on your home) and when it rains, the water will just overflow down the side of the tank rather than going into it!
Buildup inside the tank
A certain amount of organic matter will always find its way into your rainwater tanks, but you can help to reduce it by keeping your gutters clean and your garden plantings low. The sludge that accumulates in the bottom of your tank is the perfect breeding ground for algae and a host of other nasties, so it’s important to do anything you can to minimize this buildup.
Tree Roots
Many common garden trees have invasive root systems which can wreak
havoc with your tank base. While some of the more obvious ones such as
willows, eucalypts and liquidambars are known to cause plumbing damage,
many Aussies don’t realize that even the innocent looking magnolia could
cause you a lot of headaches.
If yours is an underground tank, invasive tree roots could snake their way into the pipework and cause a real mess. And because it’s out of sight, the problem is likely to be quite advanced before you realize what’s going on.
Pipework Damage
As your trees or bushes grow, they may damage or even dislodge the pipes leading to and from your tank. Water flowing down the side of the tank is a downright waste, but worse than that, it could erode the gravel base under your tank.
Tap Access
It’s important to remember that you’ll need to get access to your tank taps, so don’t cover them up with shrubs and bushes!
Will I Need to have Easy Access to my Rainwater Tanks?
Yes! And this is another thing to think about when you’re deciding where to place your tank and how to hide it.
However you decide to screen your tank, it’s important to remember that you’ll need to be able to access it for regular maintenance (every 6 months or so). This will involve being able to access the gutters above the tank, the top of the tank itself and the pipework leading to and from the tank.
