Keeping a plastic auto drinker in a paddock free of algae

[Sugar Plum]

As the title, does anyone have a miracle 'cure'. I have moved to a new yard where the water trough is full of algae. It has attached itself to the sides and bottom in a manner that scrubbing to try and remove it makes no difference. Any ideas? It isn't big enough for barley straw (which I read about in a previous thread dating to 2020) but I have heard mention of using table salt to scrub the trough and anywhere algae may have grown (including the ball cock) - has anyone had any success with this?

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Following: I saw a FB post about cleaning it with salt.

 

[billylula]

Bleach then leave then scrub

 

[meleeka]

Bleach then leave then scrub

Have you done this yourself?
Personally I’d never use bleach around horses, nor would I use it in my own drinking glasses. Apart from anything else the smell would put me off.

I have smaller auto troughs so I can empty and clean often. That’s the only way I’ve found to keep the algae at bay.

 

[billylula]

Yes many times
As.long as you rinse thoroughly it's fine. Any residual smell doesn't seem to bother them in fact they like it.

 

[silv]

You should be able to buy trough blocks at your local farm shop to stop this happening either that or put a teaspoon of copper sulphate in the trough, it often works.

 

[Suncat]

Wisdom from our farmer, when I asked a few years ago (having agonised over using chemicals) what the best thing is for cleaning troughs and killing algae and bugs...

Sunlight.

And he's right, works a treat. I just fill up a couple of big buckets/tubs from the trough to keep the horses going for 24hrs, empty the trough, scooping out any crud at the bottom, rinse and let it dry out completely. Ideally on a nice sunny day. Then brush out any dried crustiness and refill. Since I started doing this it stays clear for a lot longer than before (empty/scrub/refill).

I love a simple answer, and Farmer was very smug

 

[Goldenstar]

Take some water out daily and a better clean once a week .THe hotter is is the water you need to change daily .
I keep a bowl the right side under the trough .

 

[Esmae]

Would agree the best way is to let them dry right out in the sun. This is more difficult if you have piped water. I have the hosepipe to fill mine and got one too many troughs and change them around so that one is dried out and scrubbed out and ready to go when I need to do the next one. I heard about the salt thing and may well give that a go especially before the winter when half of my troughs get put away until next spring.

 

[Indy]

Add a little bit of duck weed. We've got duck weed in our trough and the water is crystal clear and also prevents algae from growing