Dairy hypochlorite to keep troughs algae-free?

[GoodLineNotSquare]

We’re looking for a solution to green troughs that doesn’t involve wire brushes, elbow grease or goldfish, and our local farm materials store suggested dairy hypochlorite (at a tiny dose, of course).

I do know that dairy hypochlorite is basically double-strength bleach, and did raise an eyebrow at the idea, but was told that at mains-drinking-water concentrations, it would be fine and harmless while keeping the green menace at bay.

Does anyone have experience of treating algae this way?

 

[Micky]

MAYbe just wash the troughs once or twice a year with hypochloride solution, don’t think there’s much much you can do without a bit of elbow grease to keep the algae at bay..I have to gut mine once a year and give it a good scrub, rinse and refill..

 

[SusieT]

nothing beats elbow grease!

 

[Goldenstar]

We used empty the trough and let them refill every other day on hot weather and do the algae when it builds up a bit .
There’s no way I would be putting hypochlorite in troughs daily I think it’s a mad idea .
Under each trough we have a mini bucket wieghted down with a stone the stone is the right size to stop the ball cock .
To empty the trough honestly I doubt it takes a minute .

 

[millikins]

Also green algae is unsightly but harmless unlike bleach products.

 

[Shay]

Pond keepers often use barley straw blocks to keep algae down. I'm not sure if it would work in a horse trough (like everyone else I just scrub mine) or if the horses would just eat it. But might be worth some thought. Certainly better than chemicals!

 

[Goldenstar]

You can buy metal disc that do a good job in not too big troughs
Fresha tank is the brand

 

[Bob notacob]

Water snails even the odd goldfish . Definitely not hypochlorite.