Propane tank for gas fireplace

OK, so I got my lightly used stove (freestanding fireplace, whatever you want to call it) and I now need to set it up. Looking for a tank... I plan to start with a 120 gallon tank and probably add a second 120 gallon at some future date as I convert more of the house to gas. A pair of 120 gallon tanks has an advantage over a single 250 or larger because they can be located closer to the house. Looking for any advice in general (and if anybody knows of an affordable tank, new or used, in or near Connecticut...).

The local gas company, of course, would like to rent me a tank for around $100/year, but then I'm locked to that particular gas company. They'll sell me a tank for around $1000. Home Depot sells what looks to be the right tank for under $500 but the guy at the gas company says it might not have the right valve for them to fill it from the truck.. I'm trying to get an answer from the manufacturer on that.. Then I'd have to buy a regulator, too, which I've found for sale no place but ebay.

We sell the 420# tanks here for about $600, so $500 at the HD sounds about right. You will need probably a small twin regulator. I'd try a different gas company. They should be able to sell you the right tank for less than 1K. I'm also 99% sure that any 420 can be filled from a bobtail truck.

I'm looking to buy a tank, too, to unshackle myself from buying from just one company. Was looking for a 250 gallon tank, but I didn't realize there might be regulations regarding how close you can put it to the house. Can anyone elaborate on those?

We currently have a 120-gallon tank butted right up to the house.

I can't speak from authority, but one of the suppliers told me that anything larger than a 120 gallon tank had to be located at least [I think] 15 feet from the house, but you could have any number of 120s right against the house

Here is the link to the Home Depot tank.

That's my experience. We have two 120's against the house, but I was told anything bigger than a 120 would have to be moved. Can't figure that one out either.

It may not make sense, but you can put 3 420# tanks right up against a house. the 320 and 500 gallons 10' from house, important structure or property line, 1000 gallons 25'

Any decent LP company should be able to fill that tank

Do you have to then bury the hose to the house?

That might be a problem for me, because my septic tank is right below where the propane tank would have to go.

I got a confirmation from Worthington (the manufacturer of the Home Depot tank) that it has a standard fill valve... he said it's the same tank they supply to the propane companies.

Some good information on tank placement (10' from the house for anything larger than 120 gallon) and lots of other LP stuff including pipe sizing here.

BTW, my local building inspector told me that code says lines should be buried 18" but as far as he was concerned less is acceptable as long as it's protected. He suggested running the copper line through a piece of 3/4" plastic well pipe for the underground run.

I picked up the tank at HD yesterday. Only hitch was the dome cap (rain cover, whatever you call it) was missing from the two tanks they have in stock. I took it home anyway, and as it's clearly shown in the picture on their website, they assure me they'll get it for me.

coaly (or anybody else)... most of what I've read says ACR (refrigeration) tubing is OK for LP. Or is it a restriction on burying ACR tubing? I actually bought 1/2" L tubing to bury, and 3/8" ACR beyond the first tee, but I haven't run it yet (today was installing the vent through the wall).

Just an update in case anyone is interested:

I went out and bought my own 120-gallon tank the other day. Called around to four or five companies before I found any that sold tanks. All told, I found three companies out of the eight or nine that I called that sold tanks.

Ended up costing me $729 for the tank, the regulator, the fittiings, the installation and the permit. Spent another $276 on propane at $2.33 a gallon. That's a whopping $1.17 less per gallon than what I was paying from my existing company this past winter. Those bastards also were hitting me with a $60 annual tank rental fee. I realize prices in the summer are much lower, but I expect the new tank will have paid for itself in 4-5 years.

Total price for new tank filled with propane: $1,005.