What are you using in your water tanks? I had been using nothing and having to empty and scrub clean the tanks about every 4 weeks. I didn't think it would be a problem in the winter but the heater really helps the algae. I just ordered some Healthy Ponds - Stock Tank Water Cleaner. I have never used it before but I thought I'd give it a try. Anyone using this? Something else? Do they work?
Stock tank water treatments
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Yes I have noticed the heaters sure do create more of an issue. water get a rotten smell to it, and black residue in bottom
For our cattle, my mother put a few gold fish in there, they help a pretty good bit but it just for cows and a few wild deer. As for my pen deer what I have found that works best is to pay someone else to handle clean the water troughs.
I hear dropping a couple of pieces of copper in there will help as well. Haven't tried but doesn't seem like it could hurt.
I hear dropping a couple of pieces of copper in there will help as well. Haven't tried but doesn't seem like it could hurt.
My landlord ran horses on the farm I rented when I was in college, and she put goldfish in the tank, too. There was some "furry" algae growing on the bottom and sides of the tank, but the water was clean enough that I would have drank it if needed.
I do the same Allen. Some time back a similar thread was running and some said bleach was harmful. For you folks with EHD problems, I wonder if goldfish in the troughs IS a good thing. They will eat mosquito larvae. I know that midge flies enter a deer's nostrils when they water and lay their eggs. I know from my experience that water treated as Allen and I do, mosquitoes stay away. Anyone know if this aids in midge fly control?
Joined Apr 2009
1,428 Posts | 0+
Northeast Wisconsin
Don't know about midges since we don't have them here - but too much bleach in the water will be a problem. The deer have natural bacteria in their stomachs and intestines that the bleach can kill. These are beneficial bacteria, the same sort of thing people have to break down food in their stomachs. I would be careful with the bleach. We use it in our water cups to clean them but then rinse it all out when we are done.
We clean ours with a bleach & water solution 1 to1 scrub and rinse every few weeks or as needed. Same as Alex. We also Treat water with Corid twice a year. Just what works for us. But then again I watch them go to laying water after a hard rain stand in it urinate then turn around a drink. 15 ft from fresh water. Urine really seems to be the preferred choice to them!! Deer Bein' Deer.
Wild Rivers, I think it was you who cautioned us about bleach back then. A horse owner told me a "shot" of vinegar will do the same thing. He said to use apple cider vinegar, horses seem to be fine with it. He also told me the best thing was to keep the ph level (at I THINK he told me 5.6) and this would stop algae. I started using a cap full of bleach per 25 gals. to keep mosquitoes and hopefully midge flies away, not for the algae problems.
Joined Apr 2009
1,428 Posts | 0+
Northeast Wisconsin
We have Nelson water cups that automatically fill as they drink so the water is always fresh. We still have to get in there and clean them though. One of our shows has Gary's brother Jim cleaning them, opening them up and showing how they work.
Wild Rivers, do you ever treat with corrid and how? I am a small with a capitol S, farmer. I use the troughs to administer this as well as water soluble antibiotics for "spot" treatments.
Joined Apr 2009
1,428 Posts | 0+
Northeast Wisconsin
We do use corid. We mix per the label instructions. We try to have them consume that water in 24-36 hours. It is all based on how many deer/weight in a pen.
