Stock tank
Encyclopedia
A stock tank is used to provide drinking water
for animals such as cattle
or horses. Stock tanks can range in size from 30 to over 1500 gallons and typically are made of galvanized steel
. These tanks are filled either by a pump, windmill
, creek, spring, or even rely on runoff water from rain or melting snow.
There are thousands of water ponds in Texas
rangelands
that locals call a 'tank'. When the weather is hot some people use them for swimming.
or other event where they are filled with ice to keep canned and bottled beverages, or even perishables such as watermelons cold. Tackle shops are known to store minnows for fishing in them. A cowboy church
commonly uses a stock tank for water baptisms.
Metal stock tanks have also been used as a cheap alternative for a hot tub. Various heating methods are possible, including a submersible wood stove such as the one made by Snorkel Stoves. Another innovative heating solution (using a salvaged drip coffee maker) can be seen here
Drinking water
Drinking water or potable water is water pure enough to be consumed or used with low risk of immediate or long term harm. In most developed countries, the water supplied to households, commerce and industry is all of drinking water standard, even though only a very small proportion is actually...
for animals such as cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
or horses. Stock tanks can range in size from 30 to over 1500 gallons and typically are made of galvanized steel
Hot-dip galvanizing
Hot-dip galvanizing is a form of galvanization. It is the process of coating iron, steel, or aluminum with a thin zinc layer, by passing the metal through a molten bath of zinc at a temperature of around 860 °F...
. These tanks are filled either by a pump, windmill
Windpump
A windpump is a windmill used for pumping water, either as a source of fresh water from wells, or for draining low-lying areas of land. Once a common fixture on farms in semi-arid areas, windpumps are still used today where electric power is not available or too expensive.-History:Windmills were...
, creek, spring, or even rely on runoff water from rain or melting snow.
There are thousands of water ponds in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
rangelands
Rangeland
Rangelands are vast natural landscapes in the form of grasslands, shrublands, woodlands, wetlands, and deserts. Types of rangelands include tallgrass and shortgrass prairies, desert grasslands and shrublands, woodlands, savannas, chaparrals, steppes, and tundras...
that locals call a 'tank'. When the weather is hot some people use them for swimming.
Other uses
Another use of a metal (or plastic) stock tank is at a fairFair
A fair or fayre is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary; some last only an afternoon while others may ten weeks. ...
or other event where they are filled with ice to keep canned and bottled beverages, or even perishables such as watermelons cold. Tackle shops are known to store minnows for fishing in them. A cowboy church
Cowboy church
Cowboy churches are local Christian churches within the cowboy culture that are distinctively Western heritage in character. A typical cowboy church may meet in a rural setting in a barn, metal building, arena, sale barn, or old western building, have its own rodeo arena, and a country gospel band....
commonly uses a stock tank for water baptisms.
Metal stock tanks have also been used as a cheap alternative for a hot tub. Various heating methods are possible, including a submersible wood stove such as the one made by Snorkel Stoves. Another innovative heating solution (using a salvaged drip coffee maker) can be seen here