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Barnyard Buddies:  Keeping water trough clean  |
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Mnhorsemom
Farmgirl in Training
44 Posts
Kathy
Battle Lake
minnesota
USA
44 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 27 2007 : 06:51:40 AM
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I am looking for suggestions on how to keep my horse's water trough from getting so green and yucky. I have a 150 gallon rubbermaid trough, and I clean it out about once a week and try to scrape the crud out of it. I know some people put fish in their troughs but I really don't want to do that. Anyone else have any ideas? Thanks
Farm House Formulas Battle Lake, MN |
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MsCwick
True Blue Farmgirl
775 Posts
Cristine
Farmville
Virginia
USA
775 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2007 : 07:56:34 AM
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| I have used a very very small amount of bleach. So little that you can't smell it at all. When you scrub it, do you use anything. Nowadays, I just scrub mine with water, but bleaching it may kill the bacteria living deeper in the plastic.... |
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Huckelberrywine
True Blue Farmgirl
1607 Posts
Michelle
Rosalia
1607 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2007 : 3:28:42 PM
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There are tablets you could buy. I know they sell them to keep koi ponds clear. I don't use them myself (I like a natural pond look), but you could look anywhere pond supplies are sold. Just be sure to ask if they are okay for your land critters. I would think so, since they don't affect fish, dogs, cats, etc. that drink from hobby ponds. But I'd be sure to read the labels and ask.
We make a difference. |
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goneriding
True Blue Farmgirl
1599 Posts
Winona
Central Oregon
USA
1599 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2007 : 5:48:07 PM
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Actually, the green crud is beneficial to horses for iron (well, I think it's iron or it might be some other mineral...I haven't thought about this in so long I can't remember), even tho it looks ooky. If it sits in the sun, seems like it is worse so you might try putting it in the shade. I have heard of adding a drop of bleach and it won't hurt the horse but jsut the sound of that bothers me so have used a smidgen of Absorbine but the horse has to be used to the smell or they WILL avoid the water...been there, done that.
Other than that, scrubbing is the key.
Winona :-)
Don't sweat the small stuff...
http://goneridingagain.bravehost.com |
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Marybeth
True Blue Farmgirl
6418 Posts
Mary Beth
Stanwood
Wa 98292
USA
6418 Posts |
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MariaAZ
True Blue Farmgirl
203 Posts
Phoenix
AZ
203 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2007 : 6:16:23 PM
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If you have a water line to the trough, what about a smaller trough with a float that fills the trough when the water level drops to a certain point? It may not change the frequency of the cleaning, but it would be a smaller trough to clean.
Visit my blog at www.craftyfool.net |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2007 : 6:27:22 PM
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At the ranch I worked at they had goldfish in all their troughs and when one did need cleaning we would just use salt to scrub it down. A little algae is okay but watch out if it blooms reddish, the ranch I worked at had some goats die after a red algae moved into their water tank. It could have been a coincidence or a local variety- but it doesn't hurt to be cautious!
Alee
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goneriding
True Blue Farmgirl
1599 Posts
Winona
Central Oregon
USA
1599 Posts |
Posted - Apr 28 2007 : 06:18:36 AM
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Sorry, it's not iron, it's iodine...I knew something was wrong and thought about it all evening. I've always used goldfish too. Go to Walmart, buy 10 for $1 and let them adjust to the new water temp (set the bag in the water till the temp is the same) and let them loose. Of the ten, about 6 will die (or so it goes by my averages) and the stronger ones will party on. They are great for keeping the sides shipshape!!
Winona ;-)
Don't sweat the small stuff...
http://goneridingagain.bravehost.com |
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Horseyrider
True Blue Farmgirl
1045 Posts
Mary Ann
Illinois
1045 Posts |
Posted - Apr 28 2007 : 07:22:04 AM
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| I've heard in the past from some people who are big into fish that goldfish aren't really into eating mosquito larvae, but they'll do the algae. We buy Mosquito Dunks and throw those in for the mosquitoes. We even put whole ones or pieces of dunks in any standing water that might be around. It's just compressed Bt, and is safe for everyone. |
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MsCwick
True Blue Farmgirl
775 Posts
Cristine
Farmville
Virginia
USA
775 Posts |
Posted - Apr 28 2007 : 08:03:32 AM
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I still think the bleach although it sounds bad, but it will also cut mosquito larvae to zero, just like in a pool. I have a 40 gallon and add about 1/8 cup at each filling. If that smells too strong, cut back, but I think my horses drink from the creek anyways...
Cristine |
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faithmarie
True Blue Farmgirl
143 Posts
faith
wappingers falls
new york
USA
143 Posts |
Posted - Apr 28 2007 : 08:10:57 AM
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Hi where do you get mosquito dunks from.? Is there a website you can buy them from. And will they help with the reddish algae?
Thanks Faith
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven |
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goneriding
True Blue Farmgirl
1599 Posts
Winona
Central Oregon
USA
1599 Posts |
Posted - Apr 28 2007 : 08:33:54 AM
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I googled 'mosquito dunks' and came up with a lot of websites. I checked one out but I'm sure you could get them from the local feed store.
Winona :-)
Don't sweat the small stuff...
http://goneridingagain.bravehost.com |
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faithmarie
True Blue Farmgirl
143 Posts
faith
wappingers falls
new york
USA
143 Posts |
Posted - Apr 28 2007 : 08:38:23 AM
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Thanks so much Winona. I am gona go right now. I like shopping on line. I like having stuff come right to my door. hee hee
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven |
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Libbie
Farmgirl Connection Cultivator
3579 Posts
Anne E.
Elsinore
Utah
USA
3579 Posts |
Posted - Apr 28 2007 : 09:17:38 AM
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I have never heard of goldfish! Where have I been?!?!?! I'm going to try that one, as I just know my little boy would love to see them, too. I just told him about it, and he said, "Mama, what if the cat tries to go fishing?" All I could say is that I didn't think the cat had a fishing pole, and he laughed and sort of forgot about it....
Our troughs get the green algae or whatever it is, and I scrub them down with baking soda, but I'm game for the goldfish. Do you have to feed them anything additionally? Do they "poach" themselves in the troughs in the summer?
XOXO, Libbie
"All through the long winter, I dream of my garden. On the first day of spring, I dig my fingers deep into the soft earth. I can feel its energy, and my spirits soar..." - Helen Hayes |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Apr 28 2007 : 1:17:06 PM
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Libbie-
At the ranch we never fed the goldfish anything. The algae were more than enough and I assume as the fish get bigger they probably ate some bugs and stuff that fall into the water and drown. As long as the water doesn't get really hot, then the fish are fine. If you trough is getting above 90 degrees- I am sure your livestock isn't drinking it anyway so I would think you would want to add more water so the temp stays reasonable. Even with only the smallish to medium sized stock tanks the ranch’s fish were fine. They stay down closer to the bottom where it is cooler.
Alee
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Apr 29 2007 : 03:35:27 AM
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I also echo Christine.
I use a tiny splash of bleach in all my chicken waterers |
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goneriding
True Blue Farmgirl
1599 Posts
Winona
Central Oregon
USA
1599 Posts |
Posted - Apr 29 2007 : 08:15:32 AM
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I never have fed the goldfish either and they do stay close to the bottom. You can also float some styrofoam blocks in big tanks for 'shade' too but the horse has to be used to the blocks!! Trust me on this!!
Winona :-)
Don't sweat the small stuff...
http://goneridingagain.bravehost.com |
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Huckelberrywine
True Blue Farmgirl
1607 Posts
Michelle
Rosalia
1607 Posts |
Posted - Apr 29 2007 : 09:20:12 AM
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Have they convinced you yet to go for the goldfish? I do love mine, and they replenish themselves.
We make a difference. |
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Apr 29 2007 : 10:50:01 AM
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I have for many years used apple cider vinegar. It not only keeps the green away but it is also good for their system unlike bleach. Apple cider vinegar is also good for us but that is a different topic. We tried gold fish long ago but our llamas kept alerting me to the fact that there was something in their water moving and they sure where not going to drink where someone else was swimming. Good luck with the green issue and let us know what worked.
Happy Drinking.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Apr 29 2007 : 1:24:11 PM
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Some people think that drinking apple cider vinegar (or placing it in water for animals to drink) will help the animal bear female offspring! I am not sure how true this is. Just thought I would throw that in ;p
Edited because I can spell but not think. Meant to type throw not through! LOL |
Edited by - Alee on Apr 29 2007 9:57:56 PM |
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
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goneriding
True Blue Farmgirl
1599 Posts
Winona
Central Oregon
USA
1599 Posts |
Posted - May 04 2007 : 06:59:02 AM
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Not to hijack the subject, but speaking of vinegar...about 1 1/2 yrs ago I got a mild case of food poisoning from the bufffet line at a truck stop (I don't 'do' buffet anywhere now!) and thought I was going to flat die. So a friend told me to drink white vinegar...the theory being that the acidic stuff would neutralize the bad bugs in my intestine. I was sooooo desperate, I drank it straight. The next morning I felt as close to fine as I could. I told him about drinking it straight and he said, "you're supposed to dilute it with water!'.
Oh.
But it sure worked!! (I guess I drank about 3-4 mouthfuls straight, not sure cuz I was so in pain!)
Winona ;-)
Don't sweat the small stuff...
http://goneridingagain.bravehost.com |
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Sarah Blue
True Blue Farmgirl
172 Posts
Sierra Mountains
California
USA
172 Posts |
Posted - May 04 2007 : 4:11:15 PM
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We use goldfish and mosquito fish, which the agricultural extension service brings by for free once a year as part of a mosquito abatement program. The fish take care of the mosquito larvae and eat some of the algae. Whatever's left doesn't bother me and the animals don't seem to mind either. The vinegar sounds like a great idea though. How much vinegar are you talking?
"i believe in god, only i spell it nature." - frank lloyd wright
http://www.myspace.com/svgrrrl |
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Barnyard Buddies: Keeping water trough clean |
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Keeping water trough clean
