Aqua Anchors are either 14m or 16m long and 75mm or 65mm sections of lie-flat hoses hermetically sealed at both ends and filled with water.
They lie over and around the edges of silage stacks to hold the cover in place and keep the crop from the elements. They replace traditional tyres. A patent is pending.
“I am only 48kg soaking wet so lugging tyres and getting splashed by all the vile accumulated water and debris, like everyone else who has covered stacks, got me thinking,” said Toni.
Working with her Dad, Alan, who has a mobile carpentry business and his friend Dave Saunderson, another builder, they came up with Aqua Anchors.
They are laid across the stack empty then filled with water. “We believe 14m or 16m lengths will cover most stacks and if the stacks are smaller the hoses can be doubled around. And they are UV treated,” said Dave.
Using a flexible hose (12mm garden) with a Hansen 25mm trough fitting, the water goes through a socket with a non-return valve into the Aqua Anchor. With a manifold several anchors can be filled simultaneously depending on water supply. Normal supply should fill each Aqua Anchor in five minutes or less. The fitting pops from the socket when the Aqua Anchor is filled.
“We recommend that after filling a little water is removed to allow for expansion in the heat of the day,” said Alan.
If the Aqua Anchors are accidently run over by a tractor or vehicle the socket will pop out and is easily replaced.
After the entire crop has been fed out the Aqua Anchors are drained by holding the non-return valve open with a stick or small bolt. They can then be rolled and stored.
One Aqua Anchor roll 75mm x 16m weighs 9kg empty and 88kg full (or, full, the same as 10 tyres and empty, one tyre).
Price: 14m rolls of 75mm and 65mm, $29.95+GST and freight; 16m rolls of 75mm and 65mm, $34.95+GST and freight.
Tel. 0800 NO TYRES
www.lagoonltd.com
