galvanized or plastic field automatic water troughs ?

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JLD

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As above really. Got to replace our manky old galvanized one as impossible to keep clean and far too big and wondered if plastic was better. Has anyone got any experience of one over the other ? Thanks !
 
I have all plastic now , they are a bit softer if some idiot decides to wash its own hooves and nice for the labrador seal to wallow in however I think the water does get warmer so algae can be an issue so we have to scoop them out daily in hot weather but I think perhaps I should have bought bigger ones .
 
We have 4 plastic and 1 galvanised (all massive, though) automatic troughs in the fields.

The plastic get slimy quicker. If replacing them ever,I'd get smaller ones,as a) easier and quicker to clean out when necessary and b) the proportion of 'fresh' water in a small one,at any one time,is always greater than in a big one,so I think they would slime up much less (and slower) than the big ones do,which have many gallons of 'older' water sitting in them (and only a few gallons of fresh water coming in throughout the day.)
 
Personally I'd go for the stronger of the two - plastic is lovely to look at but after some years the sun does break them down and they shatter.

My favourite though is the concrete type. We rub chalk aver the walls of the trough when it's cleaned out as it prevents algae build up
 
My oldest ones are twenty five years old and have not broken down yet , I perhaps the quality and quantity of the sun must be better where Tnavas lives its interesting that the big troughs get full of algae too , I always assumed that mine where too small and the water got hot because of that.
 
Goldenstar said:
My oldest ones are twenty five years old and have not broken down yet , I perhaps the quality and quantity of the sun must be better where Tnavas lives its interesting that the big troughs get full of algae too , I always assumed that mine where too small and the water got hot because of that.
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It's seriously cold here right now with snow on the mountain only 20kms away!

UV rays are very strong here and plastic breaks down - though the troughs are supposed to be resistant to it
 
What is your water like? If it is soft (i.e. acidic), then definitely go for plastic as galvanized will eventually rust through.

I've had plastic water troughs for years and the only problems have been with ice. One cracked because I tried to dislodge ice by hitting the side of the trough with a hammer and a couple have melted a bit where I had a go at frozen fittings with a blow lamp!

No sign of the plastic degrading yet....
 
Venevidivici said:
Our plastic ones have not degraded at all either (and are probably 15-ish yrs old) but the plastic is very thick!
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Thanks for the info on this thread, helped me choose our new ones. We have just replaced all our automatic water troughs, had a few problems with the old galvanized ones and so far really pleased with the new plastic ones. I would definitely recommend them.

They still need to be cleaned regularly but that is what I have a son for!!

These are the ones we ending up buying bought http://equineplus.co.uk/water-troughs.html
 
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