need some advice on setting up a rain harvesting setup at home

Good points about termites - definitely don't want to roll out the welcome mat for those little guys. A couple quick safety tips I'd add from experience:

- Make sure your swale or trench slopes away from the house consistently (at least 1-2% grade). Standing water can cause more than just termite issues - think mold, foundation cracks, and mosquitoes.
- If you're using gravel trenches, line them with landscape fabric first. Keeps dirt out and helps drainage stay effective longer.

Better safe than sorry...plus, your tomatoes will thank you later.

"Make sure your swale or trench slopes away from the house consistently (at least 1-2% grade). Standing water can cause more than just termite issues - think mold, foundation cracks, and mosquitoes."

That's a really good point about the slope - I hadn't even thought about foundation cracks or mold issues. I'm actually planning my first rain harvesting setup right now, and the slope thing has me a bit nervous. My yard is pretty flat, so I'm not sure how much digging I'll need to do to get that 1-2% grade consistently. Has anyone here dealt with a similar situation? Wondering if it's worth renting equipment to make the job easier or if hand tools are enough for a small yard. Also, curious if there's a specific type of landscape fabric that's best for drainage purposes...I've seen several kinds at the store and wasn't sure if it matters much.

Hand tools can definitely do the trick if your yard isn't huge - I did mine with just a shovel and rake over a weekend. For landscape fabric, I'd suggest woven geotextile; it drains well and holds up nicely. Are you planning to add gravel or mulch on top?

"For landscape fabric, I'd suggest woven geotextile; it drains well and holds up nicely."

Totally agree with this - I used woven geotextile under my rain barrels and it's held up great for over three years now. One thing I'd add: if you're planning gravel on top, go for angular gravel instead of round pebbles. It compacts better, stays put during heavy rains, and makes walking around your setup way easier. Learned that the hard way after chasing loose gravel down my driveway...

Good point about angular gravel - wish I'd known that before I set mine up. Ever tried moving a wheelbarrow full of round pebbles uphill after a storm? Let's just say my neighbors got some unexpected driveway decorations... Anyway, has anyone noticed issues with weeds poking through woven geotextile over time, or does it hold up pretty well long-term? I'm debating between that and doubling up layers.

I've had woven geotextile down for about four years now, and honestly, weeds still find their way through eventually. It's not terrible, but definitely noticeable after a couple seasons. Doubling layers might help short-term, but I wonder if it'd just trap more moisture and debris between layers, creating a cozy spot for weeds to root anyway? Maybe consider a heavier-duty non-woven fabric instead - it's thicker and seems to hold up better long-term in my experience.

- Totally agree on the woven fabric - I've seen weeds poke through mine after just a couple years.
- Doubling layers sounds tempting, but you're right, moisture buildup between layers could actually encourage more weed growth.
- Non-woven fabric is thicker and tougher, but can be pricier upfront...still, probably worth it long-term.

Had similar issues with woven fabric myself - ended up switching to non-woven a few years back. Definitely pricier upfront, but haven't had weeds poking through since. Curious though, anyone notice drainage differences between the two types?

"Definitely pricier upfront, but haven't had weeds poking through since."

Haha, I feel you on the weeds - those little buggers always find a way. I switched to non-woven myself a while back, and honestly, drainage-wise, I haven't noticed a huge difference. Maybe a slight slowdown during heavy rains, but nothing major enough to cause pooling or anything. I did notice that woven fabric seemed to let water through quicker initially, but once it got clogged with dirt and roots... forget about it.

Funny story though - I once had tenants who thought the fabric was some kind of decorative matting and pulled it all up to "clean" underneath. Came home to find my carefully laid setup rolled neatly in the corner and weeds already plotting their comeback tour. Lesson learned: label everything clearly or risk tenant DIY disasters.

Anyway, your rain harvesting project sounds awesome - stick with it, it'll pay off in the long run.

"Funny story though - I once had tenants who thought the fabric was some kind of decorative matting and pulled it all up to 'clean' underneath."

Haha, that's classic. I've seen similar DIY disasters myself. Agree on the woven stuff clogging up eventually - non-woven's definitely less hassle long-term, even if drainage isn't perfect.

Had a similar issue with woven fabric myself - after a year or so it turned into a muddy mess underneath. Switched to non-woven and it's been smoother sailing since. Curious though, has anyone tried layering different materials to balance drainage and durability? Wondering if that might help avoid some of these headaches down the road...

"Curious though, has anyone tried layering different materials to balance drainage and durability?"

Funny you mention layering - I actually experimented with something similar last spring. Had a client whose rain harvesting setup kept clogging up, and the woven fabric underneath was a disaster after just one rainy season. We ended up layering non-woven geotextile fabric over a thin gravel bed, then added a layer of coarse sand before placing the tank base. The idea was to improve drainage without sacrificing stability.

Honestly, it worked better than I expected. The gravel and sand combo seemed to keep things from getting muddy or compacted, and the non-woven fabric prevented finer particles from washing down and clogging everything up. It's only been about eight months now, but so far it's holding up nicely - no muddy messes yet.

Still, I'm curious how it'll hold up long-term... Has anyone else tried something similar for longer periods? Would love to hear if this is sustainable or if we just got lucky this time around.

Interesting approach - I haven't tried exactly that combo, but I've seen similar layering setups hold up pretty well over a couple years. Seems like you're on the right track... fingers crossed it stays solid long-term.

I've seen setups similar to yours hold up pretty decently, too - though I always get a bit cautious about long-term reliability, especially with rain harvesting. One thing I'd suggest is keeping an eye on the layering materials every few months. Sometimes settling or shifting happens over time, and catching it early can save you headaches later. But yeah, sounds like you're thinking it through pretty well... good luck with it!

Had a similar setup at one of my rentals a while back, and honestly, I didn't find the layering to be the main issue. For me, it was more about algae buildup - especially in warmer months. Curious if you've thought about shading or UV filters at all?

Had algae issues myself when I first set mine up. UV filters definitely helped, but I found shading to be the real game changer. A few things I noticed:

- UV filters are effective, but they do require regular maintenance and bulb replacements. Not a huge hassle, but something to keep in mind if you're aiming for low-maintenance.
- Shading the tank made a noticeable difference almost immediately. I just built a simple wooden enclosure around mine - nothing fancy, just enough to block direct sunlight. Algae growth slowed down significantly.
- Also, consider tank color/material. Darker tanks or opaque materials seem to discourage algae better than clear or translucent ones.

One thing I'm still curious about though... has anyone experimented with natural algae control methods like barley straw or aquatic plants? I've read mixed reviews online and haven't tried it myself yet. Would love to hear if anyone's had success (or failures) with those methods.

Interesting points about shading and UV filters. I've had mixed results with shading myself - worked great initially, but over time algae still crept back in. Might depend on your local climate or tank placement, I guess.

As for barley straw, I gave it a shot last summer. Honestly, didn't notice much difference. Maybe I didn't use enough or didn't give it enough time, but it just seemed like another thing to manage without clear benefits. On the other hand, adding aquatic plants did help a bit. I threw in some floating plants (water lettuce, I think?), and they seemed to compete with algae for nutrients. Didn't completely solve the issue, but definitely slowed it down.

One thing I'd add is to check your gutters and downspouts regularly. I found that debris buildup there was feeding nutrients into my tank, making algae worse. Keeping those clean made a noticeable difference for me.

Good call on the gutters - I overlooked that initially and had similar algae issues. Cleaning them out definitely helped reduce nutrient runoff. Also found that a simple mesh screen over the tank inlet kept larger debris from getting in. Not perfect, but it cut down maintenance noticeably. Haven't tried barley straw yet, but floating plants like duckweed did seem to slow algae growth for me too...though duckweed spreads like crazy, so keep an eye on it.

Good tips on the mesh screen - been using something similar myself, and it definitely saves time. One thing I'd add is a first-flush diverter if you haven't got one yet. Basically, it diverts that initial runoff (which usually has most contaminants) away from your tank. Installed one at my uncle's place last year, and he's had way fewer algae blooms since.

Duckweed worked well for me too, but man, you're not kidding about how fast it spreads... spent more weekends than I'd like scooping it out. If you're open to alternatives, water lettuce or water hyacinth might be worth a shot - they're easier to control and still help shade out the algae.

Good call on the first-flush diverter, definitely worth the extra effort. Installed a few myself, and the difference in water quality is night and day - less gunk, fewer headaches. Duckweed though...ugh, learned my lesson the hard way. Water hyacinth is decent, but keep an eye on it too; it can get a bit ambitious if you let it. Water lettuce has been my go-to lately - easy to manage, looks nice, and does the job without taking over your weekends.