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We have a 100-gallon Rubbermaid stock tank for our horse. Lately, algae has been growing in the tank -- probably due to the hay, grass, and feed bits the horse drops in when he drinks. How can we control the algae? Is there a better way than draining and cleaning (which seems to waste a lot of water)

2007-03-19 05:55:13 · 8 answers · asked by pauln49337 1 in Pets Other - Pets

8 answers

check w/other horse/cattle owners, your ocal feed stores.
we always had our stock tanks somewhat shaded so they didn't need to be cleaned so often.

2007-03-19 06:00:09 · answer #1 · answered by bearfox_traders 3 · 1 1

All water troughs should be cleaned frequently. Livestock should never be forced to drink dirty or contaminated water. Stale water can cause reduced water consumption. Even when clean water is available, animals may continue to consume dirty water if it is available.

Dirty water is a host for disease organisms. Disease can spread rapidly if animals drink from the same trough, so sick animals should be isolated from the trough and the trough cleaned and disinfected. A good disinfectant is dilute bleach solution after the trough has been thoroughly cleaned. Sprinkling baking soda into the fountain periodically may reduce algae growth. Tip tanks are sometimes installed in larger barns to simplify cleaning.

Have an elevated base around automatic waterers. Make the base wide enough so animals can easily put their front legs on it when they are drinking, but not their hind legs. Animals will not normally place only their hind legs on this base and therefore will not defecate in the water. Placement and height of the base are the key to avoiding fecal contamination. Make the surface rough so animals will not slip. You can also place the trough in a somewhat shady place to discourage growth of algae.

2007-03-19 09:07:01 · answer #2 · answered by Sarah C- Equine Help 101 5 · 0 0

Actually algae does not need anything except water and sunlight to grow. Put the tank in the shade if you don't want algae. I would not recommend any additives that prevent algae if any animal is drinking out of it.
Keep in mind that algae itself is not harmful to the water or the animal drinking from the tank (most ponds that people allow their animals to drink out of have algae in it. I'd be more concerned with turbid water (opaque due to floating sediments) than with algae. Some people keep plecostamus or other algae eaters in their tank, however, i'd be more concerned about the fish waste in the tank than the algae growing in there.

2007-03-19 06:26:20 · answer #3 · answered by SC 6 · 1 0

Go to a local bait shop and buy a few common gold fish. Make sure your tank has no chemicals or anything else that might harm the fish. Make sure to let them adjust to the temp. of the tank before releasing them into the tank. The fish will eat all of the debris that fall into the tank, the horses may take a few days to adjust, it might be a good idea to keep another water source available for a day or two. Good luck!

2007-03-19 06:12:09 · answer #4 · answered by barrelracer20x 1 · 3 0

Keeping the water cool will disourage the growth. and other than just cleaing it you could think about using a non toxic filtering system. Other than this, maby keep your water levels down so your filling the tank more often. The quicker turn over will keep the water fresh, not giving the algea time to grow.

2007-03-19 06:04:23 · answer #5 · answered by Doe 2 · 0 0

We use the method barrleracer reccommended... We figure one fish for every two gallons....don't let your water level get to low for too long....Gold fish can survive chlorine... but it is hard on them.. as is a sudden drop in water temp..

Algae is better than a bunch of dead Goldfish.

2007-03-19 08:50:01 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Having a stock tank means cleaning a stock tank. there are a few things that help but over all the fastest and easiest thing is to dump and scrub.

2007-03-19 07:29:51 · answer #7 · answered by tlctreecare 7 · 0 0

put it in the shade

2007-03-19 06:01:34 · answer #8 · answered by Skittles 4 · 1 0

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