water trough algae

Got a water trough that has a bad infestation of algae, big clumps covering the whole trough, and it is reproducing rapidly one day to the next. I live in south Texas where we have an over abundance of heat to deal with. It is not uncommon to have algae in a trough. Sometimes a few gold fish will keep growth down, but this stuff is really bad. The trough has been empty for several years and now it is back in use. Does anybody have any ideas on trying to control this. Thanks
 
The old standby was a dose of copper sulfate.

Looks like it hasn't been banned (YET)!

GOOGLE "water trough copper sulfate" for lots of sources, including opinions and reviews from ag colleges.

Check it out and make sure it's safe for whatever animals you are watering.
 
Depends on what the trough is made of. If it's plastic, you can add vinegar, @ 1Tbsp per gallon of water. If a galvanized tank, don't use the vinegar. A benefit of Apple Cider vinegar is that it would also promote better digestion, over using white vinegar.
 
I try to keep minnows or goldfish in mine but have trouble with fish cranes getting them. One Grampa used copper sulfate the other put pieces of copper tubing or worn out windmill cylinders in them. I've found lots of old cylinders in troughs on my leased places too. Whereabouts in South Texas are you. I'm southwest of San Antonio. Tony
 

In Victoria [Australia], during the summer we have trouble with Blue/green algae in dams and still waterways , it's poisonous to stock and fish and sucks the oxygen out of the water stagnating it .
A natural , cheap and very effective remedy is to sprinkle Lucerne hay onto the surface , I couldn't begin to guess at how it works but it has an almost miraculous effect .
 
Guess I learned my 'something new' for the day. :wink:

[b:660cb0c6c4]From Wikipedia:[/b:660cb0c6c4]
[i:660cb0c6c4]Alfalfa /æl?fælf?/, Medicago sativa also called lucerne, is a perennial flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae cultivated as an important forage crop in many countries around the world. It is used for grazing, hay, and silage, as well as a green manure and cover crop. The name alfalfa is used in North America. The name lucerne is the more commonly used name in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.[/i:660cb0c6c4]
 
Guess I learned my 'something new' for the day. :wink:

[b:2a6ccbe6b9]From Wikipedia:[/b:2a6ccbe6b9]
[i:2a6ccbe6b9]Alfalfa, Medicago sativa also called lucerne, is a perennial flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae cultivated as an important forage crop in many countries around the world. It is used for grazing, hay, and silage, as well as a green manure and cover crop. The name alfalfa is used in North America. The name lucerne is the more commonly used name in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.[/i:2a6ccbe6b9]
 
We have a water trough made from concrete, and we have the same problem with algae. We tried minnows, but they disappear after awhile. Then the algae gets really bad we can get some of big clumps out with a net made from nylon window screen, but its still a loosing battle. The trough we have is about 6' in diameter, on occasion we drain it, and rinse it out real good.
 
I would bleach shock it and then scrub and drain. After refilling dump in a box or three of baking soda. Experiment with dose.
 
A cup full of bleach works for me. The cows will smell the bleach and nay not want to drink it initially.
 
CS is used to clean roots out of your septic lines and is available at most hardware stores in pellet form. It's 100% CS. It kills algae in pools. You can dissolve the crystals in water and use it in your hand held pump up sprayer. Cautions are listed for quantity so as to not disturb your fish population.

Algae has it's uses in the eco system if you have fish so it's not all bad. We have algae blooms here when the weather gets hot and they get really bad, sometimes, like now, completely covering the pond/pool/tank/reservoir, whatever the jargon used in your area. Gets to be the question, the algae or the fish. Living algae is good but dying sucks up the oxygen which isn't all that abundant in the summer with still ponds. I lost 30 nice Florida Strain Black Bass this year fighting that and Coontail Moss which has just about completely taken over. Took years to grow them and a week to loose them. Perch don't seem to be bothered.
 
avant 1735,

If you have a good sized piece of copper laying around, throw it in the tank.
This will keep the algae at bay for quite a while.

We used to do this with an old wooden water tank at the farm in the early years.
It seemed to work quite well.

If you try this, let us know how it worked out for you.
Thanks.
 

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