Algae in my waterbutt

[rob the roller]

The water in my water butt is badly affected by algae. I washed it out last year with no noticeable change. The water has a slightly off smell and there are insects larvae flourishing in it. Does anyone know of anything I can add to the water that will not have an adverse effect on my fruit and vegetables, nor affect the birds who come to drink from it when it is full?

Thank you

Rob

[Magiccat1978]

Hi Rob I'm a relatively new to this - I only got my greenhouse and waterbutt this season but as I understand it you need to keep a lid on the waterbutt to keep the light out, I believe this stops the algae flourishing and will also keep the insects out. As i said I'm a total newbie so I'm possibly wrong hopefully some one more knowledgable will be along soon

[chris]

sounds about right to me.. no light - no photosynthesis - bye bye!

[Caro]

As for the larvae ... when I had a similar problem (due to a badly fitting lid) I was advised to get a goldfish

Seriously. I've not had the nerve to try it but if you do, let us know how you get on!

[Bigmallly]

To confirm as above, a lid will stop the algae, if you don't have a lid do what TS has done a put a couple of fish in the butt. They will feed off the mozzy larvae.

[Two_Sheds]

I currently have 8 goldfish in one butt: there's no algae and no mozzie larvae either

[tamsin]

Just be careful with goldfish and hot weather. If it heats up they could cook/run out of oxygen.

[Sheikh Yerboutti]

Why is it bad to use greenish water on plants ? Ive been watering with old green water from duckpond and everything seems to thrive. I use clean water on lil seedlins tho

[Two_Sheds]

Just be careful with goldfish and hot weather. If it heats up they could cook/run out of oxygen.

They've been in there since 2005


I always leave at least 50cm of water in their butt/s. We don't have hot weather though: perhaps once every 5 years we'll hit 20c

[rustylady]

Two of my daughters have goldfish in their waterbutts. Heating up shouldn't be a problem in this country - just make sure you leave them a reasonable depth of water as Twosheds says.

[lesleygl]

This goldfish in the waterbutt sounds like a really good idea. The container I collect water in is white, would that be a problem for goldfish and would a bit of oxygenating weed help?

[DaveJ]

I use to have an open top water butt which created numerous problems including debris at the bottom, gnats etc. Since a lid was placed on, the water is crystal clear and there are no problems.

[Two_Sheds]

... would a bit of oxygenating weed help?

Pointless, they just eat it

[lesleygl]

Is that a yes then to goldfish in a white water butt and oxygenating weed?

[Sanjo]

Yes to goldfish but no to weed as the fish will soon get rid of it. They will, presumably, be feeding off the larvae. That's how I understand it anyway.