Pile of silage in the tank of slatted house

john123m

A big pile of silage has accumulated on the floor of the tank our slatted house ..
Just wondering does anyone have any ideas on how to get it out ..
It was recently agitated so wondering if we put on proper breathing masks could we go down ourselfves to take out the silage ?

Mad4simmental

john123m wrote: »

A big pile of silage has accumulated on the floor of the tank our slatted house ..
Just wondering does anyone have any ideas on how to get it out ..
It was recently agitated so wondering if we put on proper breathing masks could we go down ourselfves to take out the silage ?

The problem is that the gases in the tank are heavier than air and stay there a long time. You would need full oxygen gear to go in. I would get sum powerfull fan of one of the hire crowds and crank it up down twords the tank to try disperse the gas then leave it for a few months untill summer to go in. Full harness and atleast 3 strong lads on top to pull you out. It might sound like overkill but don't take it lightly.

moy83

I would rather not going in at all .
Could you not put something like slurry wizard or pig slurry in on top of it to break it down and agitate it when its half full again to get the silage off the bottom ?

We feed single chop pit silage and never had a problem like that , is there much down there ?

Kovu

This thread crops up every year :P
Some replies on similar thread here- http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056635052&page=2

Maybe PM the original OP and see what he did. Just please do not enter the tank, something can always go wrong and the farming industry loses enough lives every year.

milkprofit

Mad4simmental wrote: »

The problem is that the gases in the tank are heavier than air and stay there a long time. You would need full oxygen gear to go in. I would get sum powerfull fan of one of the hire crowds and crank it up down twords the tank to try disperse the gas then leave it for a few months untill summer to go in. Full harness and atleast 3 strong lads on top to pull you out. It might sound like overkill but don't take it lightly.

cOMPLETE MADNESS

rangler1

john123m wrote: »

A big pile of silage has accumulated on the floor of the tank our slatted house ..
Just wondering does anyone have any ideas on how to get it out ..
It was recently agitated so wondering if we put on proper breathing masks could we go down ourselfves to take out the silage ?

Can you take up the slats and use a digger.
Maybe you're taking the p..s,but you'd want to have a death wish to get down in a tank these days

49801

Let water in and re agitate. Should be able to suck it out fine as the agitator should chop it up.

john123m

moy83 wrote: »

I would rather not going in at all .
Could you not put something like slurry wizard or pig slurry in on top of it to break it down and agitate it when its half full again to get the silage off the bottom ?

We feed single chop pit silage and never had a problem like that , is there much down there ?

Its the first year it's ever happened to us ..
I'd say about 3-4 transport boxes full anyway ..
Thanks for the advice everyone!

moy83

john123m wrote: »

Its the first year it's ever happened to us ..
I'd say about 3-4 transport boxes full anyway ..
Thanks for the advice everyone!

I wouldn't worry about 3/4 transport boxes . They will break up with time

893bet

Mad4simmental wrote: »

The problem is that the gases in the tank are heavier than air and stay there a long time. You would need full oxygen gear to go in. I would get sum powerfull fan of one of the hire crowds and crank it up down twords the tank to try disperse the gas then leave it for a few months untill summer to go in. Full harness and atleast 3 strong lads on top to pull you out. It might sound like overkill but don't take it lightly.

Not sure if serious even?

Rovi

893bet wrote: »

Not sure if serious even?

In fairness to Mad4simmental, that sort of procedure is what would have been recommended by 'responsible adults' up to a few years ago.
Some tragedies in recent times have moved the recommendations to where it's now very strongly advised to not enter an underground tank under any circumstances.

OP: would a 2 or 3 meter long lance on a powerwasher fit down through the slats?
A turbo-nozzle or pencil jet would carve the lump up pretty effectively.

john123m

Rovi wrote: »

In fairness to Mad4simmental, that sort of procedure is what would have been recommended by 'responsible adults' up to a few years ago.
Some tragedies in recent times have moved the recommendations to where it's now very strongly advised to not enter an underground tank under any circumstances.

OP: would a 2 or 3 meter long lance on a powerwasher fit down through the slats?
A turbo-nozzle or pencil jet would carve the lump up pretty effectively.

Acutally we just let the cattle out and are were washing down the slats today so maybe thats an idea

onyerbikepat

You could make up a small gripping tool, like a very small silage grap fork. Work it from above the tank then by hand. You'd be a long time at it though.:rolleyes:
It will break up itself though over time.

Bactidiaryl

Plenty of lime down through the slats. It will break down the silage. Just like if you spread like in a sprayed off field.

moy83

Bactidiaryl wrote: »

Plenty of lime down through the slats. It will break down the silage. Just like if you spread like in a sprayed off field.

Yup I started liming the cubicles and slats this year after we got a couple of cases of mastitis . I reckon it was good for breaking stuff up like that aswell

visatorro

Is Pig slurry any good for breaking up stuff like that?

J.O. Farmer

Any kind of agitation point or access at the opposite end of the tank to where you agitate. If you suck out a load of slurry and let the pipe in at the opposite end of the tank aimed at the silage and pump the slurry back in it should shift it. Water might work too but slurry is thicker and so should push better. After that the agitator should break it up or you might get it pulled out some way without going in.

Oldtree

onyerbikepat wrote: »

You could make up a small gripping tool, like a very small silage grap fork. Work it from above the tank then by hand. You'd be a long time at it though.:rolleyes:
It will break up itself though over time.

Would something like this hand saw with a 5m adjustable telescopic pole attachment be helpful to cut it up from above the slats, (maby take off the tang at the front end of the saw)



there are cheaper ones available than this one with shorter poles in local hardwear stores

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wolf-Garten-Professional-Telescopic-Handle/dp/B002DFLWFM

allbuiz

visatorro wrote: »

Is Pig slurry any good for breaking up stuff like that?

Yeah and leave agitator on for an hour.

jus_tin4

rangler1 wrote: »

Can you take up the slats and use a digger.
Maybe you're taking the p..s,but you'd want to have a death wish to get down in a tank these days

This is what we do anyways! works a treat and less danger!

Farmer Pudsey

If you know any lad that dose a bit of diving borrow the kit wet suit in all ( you will not need the flippers). Oxygen mask, breading apparatus find out how long the tank lasts and away you go. Flippers will omly get in the way they are not suitable in a slurry tank.

All joking a side do not go into the tank. maybe some cubicle or gran lime will help break it down but I would not worry by the end of the summer it will be like dung and will come out next year. Most fellas that have an issue have tractor loads in it in tank. Have seen a few fellas lift slats, but not sure if I would bother. No point in ventilating either as gas reforms again.

The disadvantage of using lime is that it will reduce nitrogen content of slurry next year.

mf240

Leave it there and forget about it. It will eventually rot and make its way into an agitator.

I wouldnt get into a slatted tank for any reason.

red bull

Don't worry about it I have a 5 bay shed that can only be agitated from one end. I let in a few foot of water during summer and agitate in September it clears the tank completely . seems to be good stuff too just watch the grass grow where you spread it