Posted 2005-07-22 5:20 PM (#28463) Subject: How do you control algae in a horse water trough
Member
Posts: 17
Location: Vail, Arizona
The weather has been over a 100 degrees for the last 38 days. The algae in my horse's 100 gallon water trough really grows fast. I am getting tired of dumping the tank and scraping and scrubbing every few weeks. There must be an easier way.
Posted 2005-07-22 9:15 PM (#28470 - in reply to #28463) Subject: RE: How do you control algae in a horse water trough
Veteran
Posts: 114 Location: Mobile, AL
There was an article in John Lyons Perfect Horse Magazine this month that talked about this. Some of the things they talked about were using Baking soda as a scrubbing agent. This supposedly has some algae inhibitive properties and does not leave a bad taste in the water. The other thing was adding Copper Sulfate to larger water tanks at a rate of 1/2 teaspoon per 750 gallons. Check to see if your local hay typically has a high or low amount of copper before doing this, you certainly don't want too much in their diet. Most areas copper does run low. Another option you could check would be algae eating fish like you could get at a pet store for smaller fish tanks, although it's hard to say how they would fare in the high heat you are having.
Posted 2005-07-23 8:37 PM (#28493 - in reply to #28463) Subject: RE: How do you control algae in a horse water trough
Member
Posts: 40 Location: Sullivan NY
I am originally from england and when I was living there we used a certian fish I think catfish and they feed of the algae, worked great when I was there and thought about doing it over here, but I am not sure what the barn cats would think of them, just make sure there is plenty of water and watch the horses, my horse hated anything that was smaller than him and moved cats, dogs, children and FISH
Posted 2005-07-23 8:56 PM (#28494 - in reply to #28463) Subject: RE: How do you control algae in a horse water trough
Regular
Posts: 97 Location: Middle Tennessee
You should feel lucky your only scrubbing your tank every few weeks. With the humidity and heat in Tennessee, I have to do mine every other day. If someone out there has a miricle cure, let me know. My spoiled horses need their fresh water.
Posted 2005-07-24 10:16 AM (#28505 - in reply to #28463) Subject: RE: How do you control algae in a horse water trough
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
I've used several methods and I find a few goldfish work about as well as anything to date. I used to use sunfish aka "flippers" from the neighbors pond but the horses would dive in after them adn I found dead fish near the water.
Koi also work well but are more expensive. Or you could go ultra cheap and get a fishing friend to give you some small catch one day and then when it grows big you can release it back into a local lake/pond.
Posted 2005-07-25 12:21 PM (#28531 - in reply to #28463) Subject: RE: How do you control algae in a horse water trough
Regular
Posts: 81
I once had a lay-up in Flagstaff, AZ at an old time cowboy's ranch.
He put bluing in his too-big-to-constantly-clean steel tanks. Trouble is I don't know how many parts bluing to how many parts water. When I asked, he just chuckled and said "til it looks right". Well, that's according to whomever's doing the interpreting
That would be the same bluing that Grandma got her white's clean with, before clorox came along.
I'm also in Tennessee and am changing water every day or every other day. I use four, 20 gallon plastic muck buckets. That way there isn't so much waste. The Boys seem to prefer drinking from the plastic tubs over the rubber or steel ones.
Posted 2005-07-25 5:53 PM (#28553 - in reply to #28531) Subject: RE: How do you control algae in a horse water trough
Expert
Posts: 1391 Location: North of Detroit, MI
One thing is to keep the tank in as shaded an area as possible. Second, cover as much of the tank as you can. Horse only needs a 12" diameter or so (think of their 5 gallon pail) opening.
I use a long-handled carwash brush - it's softer than a toilet bowl one - and scrub the sides, rinse, and then a splash of bleach before refilling.
My solar tank (to keep it from freezing in the winter) works VERY well in the summer as it also keeps the water cooler since it's insulated AND has a floating, insulated lid on it that the horse pushes down to get to the water.
Posted 2005-07-29 12:57 AM (#28670 - in reply to #28463) Subject: RE: How do you control algae in a horse water trough
Member
Posts: 39 Location: Covington, Louisiana
I found this on the internet. I've never tried it but seriously considering it because of the problem keeping water troughs clean here in Louisiana in the summer.
Posted 2005-07-29 8:56 AM (#28675 - in reply to #28463) Subject: RE: How do you control algae in a horse water trough
Expert
Posts: 2689
Shade (and/or cover),
flow (don't let it stagnate, overflow but not enough to make the paddock a bog),
fish (bottom feeders, or the horses will bob for them)
Posted 2005-07-29 12:21 PM (#28689 - in reply to #28463) Subject: RE: How do you control algae in a horse water trough
Expert
Posts: 2828 Location: Southern New Mexico
I use algae eaters and guppies. The algae eaters, well, eat the algae. And the guppies are for the misquitoes. My tank is deep enough that the cats and birds don't have much of a chance, and guppies breed pretty quick, and small enough (about 30 gal)so when I clean it it's not a huge waste.
Posted 2005-08-03 10:36 PM (#28859 - in reply to #28463) Subject: RE: How do you control algae in a horse water trough
Regular
Posts: 71 Location: Franklin, TN
In a 100 gallon poly tank, I place 1/4 of a standard swimming pool bleach shock tablet. Water stays clear, horses actually seem to like that water better than their stall water. I have an automatic float that keeps it continually full.
Posted 2005-08-03 11:07 PM (#28861 - in reply to #28463) Subject: RE: How do you control algae in a horse water trough
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
Fox, goldfish (not Pleco's, algae eaters, not guppies, but real goldfish) can live in water as long as it doesn't freeze more than the top few inches. That's why Koi (carp like goldfish) don't have to be taken out of their ponds in the winter (in most places.)
Posted 2005-08-11 8:06 AM (#29121 - in reply to #28463) Subject: RE: How do you control algae in a horse water trough
Member
Posts: 14
Location: Nichols, Iowa
WE solved this problem by putting about a 1/2 cup of common household chlorine bleach in 100 gal. water tank. It kills the algae and makes it easy to clean the tank. We have 5 horses and have to put the chlorine beach in about every 3 to 4 weeks in hot weather. The horses don't mind the chlorine taste. We also use the chlorine bleach when we sanitize our water in our horse trailer living quarters. Hope this solves your problem. We have an automatic float system that keeps the tank full all the time.
Posted 2005-08-11 10:52 AM (#29133 - in reply to #28463) Subject: RE: How do you control algae in a horse water trough
Expert
Posts: 1723 Location: michigan
We have dairy cattle, they drink ALOT of water in a day. We use bleach to clean the well in the spring- despite the smell of the bleach, they drink the water with no ill effects. The same water is used for the horses and again they drink it up and no problems.
Posted 2005-08-11 2:05 PM (#29144 - in reply to #28463) Subject: RE: How do you control algae in a horse water trough
Member
Posts: 5
we have 2 60 gallon metal tanks in the pasture one has the calf feeder on the side. We just go to Wal-Mart every so offten and get 5 $1.29 gold fish per tank. They last about a year then we clean the tanks and refill them. The tank closest to the barn has three left and they are about 5 inches long last time I looked.
people ask me why so much land? my answer is so i have a place to bury the bodies of those that ask
Posted 2005-08-11 8:47 PM (#29172 - in reply to #28463) Subject: RE: How do you control algae in a horse water trough
I have Richie automatic waterers for my horses and was constantly fighting algae. I went and bought some chlorine tablets that you use for swimming pools. They are the 1" size. I then break them up in small pieces and put one or two little pieces in the center of the waterer. Keeps the algae at bay, and the water isn't strong with chlorine smell or taste. JP
Posted 2005-08-30 7:39 PM (#29803 - in reply to #28463) Subject: RE: How do you control algae in a horse water trough
Member
Posts: 19
Location: Blanchard, OK
My wife and I have a 100 gallon trough and we put gold fish in it. They eat the mosquito larvae and keep the algae down to a minimum. They even made it through the winter last season.
Posted 2005-08-31 8:18 PM (#29854 - in reply to #28463) Subject: RE: How do you control algae in a horse water trough
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 378 Location: Nebraska
Have you checked your water lately? Phosphate is a food for algae, and when the P is high can cause population explosions. Dead algae puts more P back into the water and more food for algae. Best solution is to treat the water.
Posted 2005-11-11 5:02 PM (#32924 - in reply to #28463) Subject: RE: How do you control algae in a horse water trough
We go to the local pet store and buy feeder fish that are 12 for $1. They are baby gold fish and will turn orange. We put about 8 in a tank. They do a real good job. I have also been told to put a cup of apple cider vinegar in the water and that will keep algae from growing. I have never tried this though.
How do you control algae in a horse water trough
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