How to remove algae from troughs

4 posts
Sat, 10/31/2015 - 19:40 #1

Member for

12 years 10 months
Shannon
Last seen: 05/13/2018 - 20:47
Joined: 12/27/2012 - 12:34

How to remove algae from troughs

Just wondering if anyone has any solutions to getting rid of algae in water troughs (supplied by bore water)?

 

And any way to prevent it from occuring?

 

Thanks

 

Lisa

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Farming Help
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Sun, 11/01/2015 - 19:27 #2
barb
Last seen: 09/17/2019 - 18:07
Joined: 11/23/2011 - 09:38

Hi Lisa,

I usually clean the troughs out every few weeks, using a rough scrubbing brush and a lot of elbow grease. However, if it is just green algae the same as you get in the dam it doesn't hurt them. All troughs need to be drained and scrubbed out from time to time though, as you get a lot of muck building up in the bottom. Warning, some folk will tell you to add copper to the water to stop algae build up. Don't be tempted to add copper to the water or put copper tubing in the water as the copper oxide it produces is poisonous if ingested in any quantity. A goat breeder I knew, lost a number of his stock and couldn't figure oout why. When the vet arrived, the first thing he did was check the water troughs and sure enough, there in the water were lengths of copper tubing.

 

The breeder had been advised by someone, that copper in the water would stop algae growing. Yes it did, but it also poisoned his goats. The reason is, when animals ingest excess copper, it is stored in the liver. This can go on for several months and when the liver gets to saturation point, where it can't store any more, it is released all at once and the animal is dead within a few minutes, leaving the owner with not a clue as to why it died.

 

cheers,

Barb

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Tue, 12/01/2015 - 17:22 #3
Ricki
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 05/03/2013 - 17:09

Just a quick note to thank Barb for the detailed response earlier. I sure learned something!  :-)

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Tue, 12/01/2015 - 17:56 #4
barb
Last seen: 09/17/2019 - 18:07
Joined: 11/23/2011 - 09:38

My pleasure Lisa. If you have any other queries, one of us will be only too happy to help.

Cheers,

Barb

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