Why did my water turn hard?

[humblehillsfarm]

Several years ago someone posted directions for making a heater to put under your water pan using a cookie tin and lightbulb. Maybe it's still on here somewhere...

I tried this but I keep the water outside and I guess a small bit of water from the ground touched the lightbulb. It shattered after a day or two of using it I’ve just not got around to making a more secure system.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

High D'Haran is a fictional language from the Wizard's Rules, Goodkind, not Moddesitt, Jr. Talga Vassterich is Rule Eight, I think. "Deserve Victory"

 

[AntiqueB]

This thread is hilarious, but I also send good wishes and prayers for all seriously affected down in Texas.

 

[Swivelhip]

Just tried this out in below zero temperature.
5 gallon bucket cut in half, 3/4” piece of plywood, double light fixture with two 40watt bulbs and a hot glue gun. The tin inside is optional.

After reading on BYC forums I plan on replacing this with a new design with horizontal nipples in a five gallon bucket to keep the moisture down, but this got me through the last couple of weeks of freezing weather.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Its truly a tragedy, though one playing out all over the nation, not just in TX where the news coverage is heaviest. I moved from there about 18 months ago, still in contact with friends in Austin and parts of east TX. Its bad. Had they not begun upgrades on the system (and made a lot of them) after 2001, it would be MUCH worse.

Depending upon source, TX lost about 46 MW of power generation during the peak of the outages. That's more than the TOTAL summer net generation capacity of every state in the union, except CA, FL, and PA. PA, for what its worth, has a net summer generation capacity of 47 MW. NY only 41. FL is 60.5 and California 75MW.

TX summer net is 125MW - they lost roughly 40% of their theoretical maximum capacity, and had never previously needed more than 69MW at peak.

As context to put things in better perspective.

 

[mr-fancy feet]

I’m voting for Witchcraft- this is lasting for far too long- or we are cursed! I had to wrap my entire roost area in styrofoam boards and I was able to put a chick warming lamp in there to keep them from freezing solid... poor girls!! But they all made it through this!!!

 

[skygoddess11]

I live in SE TX. What is this white stuff and why is their water hard like a rock? Witchcraft no doubt.View attachment 2532328

 

[skygoddess11]

I live in SE TX. What is this white stuff and why is their water hard like a rock? Witchcraft no doubt.View attachment 2532328

 

[Kellow1]

Witchcraft indeed. Someone has cast an evil spell on Texas.

Not really a laughing matter. Best wishes to everyone in all the states hit by this blizzard.

 

[SwampFlock]

I'm so sorry for what you all are going through!!! We had the below 0 temps but thankfully didn't loose power or have frozen pipes. If only there were a way to store the cold and release it a little at a time in July and August....my daughter claims to have a magic box on her wall that can release cold air into her house in the summer - maybe someday I can get one of those....

That box must be full of North pole elves!