Totally agree about insulation—makes a huge difference. Have you tried adding a small floating object like a tennis ball or plastic bottle to help prevent ice pressure? Seems weird, but it actually helped mine survive last winter...might be worth a shot.
Interesting idea with the floating object—never heard of that before. Does it really make a noticeable difference? I'm just worried about plastic bottles cracking in extreme cold or tennis balls getting waterlogged and sinking...or am I overthinking this? Last thing I want is fishing out random stuff from a frozen tank in mid-January. Has anyone had issues with debris or contamination from doing this? Just trying to cover all bases before winter hits.
I've wondered about that too—plastic bottles do get brittle in freezing temps, so cracking might be an issue. Maybe try something sturdier like a pool noodle? Haven't had contamination problems myself, but debris can definitely sneak in...maybe a simple mesh cover could help?
Pool noodles can work, but keep in mind they're not really designed for long-term outdoor exposure—they can degrade and flake off bits into your water over time. Mesh covers are definitely helpful, but make sure the mesh is fine enough to keep mosquitoes out too. I've seen setups where people use window screen material secured with bungee cords—cheap and effective. Have you thought about how you'll handle overflow during heavy rains? That's something that often gets overlooked...
Good points raised here—mesh screens do work great, especially window screen material. One thing I'd add about overflow handling: consider installing a simple overflow pipe near the top of your rain barrel or tank, leading excess water safely away from your home's foundation. I've seen setups where homeowners overlooked this detail, and heavy rains ended up causing pooling around their foundation, which isn't ideal. Also, periodically inspect whatever overflow system you choose—debris can clog things up surprisingly fast...