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 05:55:51 · 5 answers · asked by pauln49337 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
cleaning the water tanks were always the best part of summer as a kid for me. putting on my suit and getting in there with a brush and water hose and getting the job done. The lastly, "swimming" while the tanks refill.
So basically what I am saying is no, there is no better way of cleaning the tank. have fun and enjoy the job.
2007-03-19 06:01:05 · answer #1 · answered by jbenishmlt 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do not agree with just letting the tank go and skimming it off the top like the last person said. Rivers and streams don't just sit, the water moves. Some types of algae that grows in tanks with sitting water can be very bad for your horse. Putting goldfish in might help a little, but I think a good scrubbing is what it needs. I just take a stiff brush and scrub the sides. I do it when the tank gets low. That way I don't waste the water and I can turn it over and give it a rinse after I am done. Then refill it. It doesn't take much if you keep up on it. I do mine about every week. I doesn't take long if you do it often.
2007-03-20 08:08:35 · answer #2 · answered by De 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
We keep a goldfish in ours.. it wont eliminate the alge but it will cut down on it. 1 Fish is enough as he will get quite huge over time... and you dont have to feed the fish either.. the alge will sustain him...
Alge is pretty much naturally occuring in water.. even if you set out a capped gallon jug it will eventually start to grow alge.. so its not comming from the food bits
The alge wont hurt the horse anyway to tell the truth.. havent cleaned ours in years.. but they are set up with an auto water system too on a float
Moving to the shade as some have suggested wont work.. alge grows quite well in the shade.. (some strains grow even better in the shade LOL)
2007-03-19 06:56:51 · answer #3 · answered by darchangel_3 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Animals drinks from streams and ponds and the algae does not hurt them then. Let it fill to the top and skim it off.
2007-03-19 07:29:13 · answer #4 · answered by Thomas S 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Another easy suggestion is to move it into the shade, unless it's already in the shade.
2007-03-19 07:04:37 · answer #5 · answered by saaanen 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋