Water Tank Tricks

By: The EDGe

Recently a discussion "thread" (series of posts or replies on the same topic) developed on the The EDGe, the Indiana Trail Rider own Internet eGroup, about doing something to keep the outdoor watertank clean of
mosquitoes, bugs and larva.

With so much good advice, we felt those not subscribed should see what they missed. Here is a digest of the facts and tips from the many messages about keeping your water tank clean.

The Beginning
Does anyone have something I could put in a horse water trough to keep mosquito larva from developing?

The Replies
Gold fish, catfish, or any other fish will eat the larvae and keep your tank clean. I had a 50 gallon tank which had a catfish in residence.

I buy gold fish and put in my water tank usually 4. Seems to work. They eat the larva and bugs that get in the tank. My tank is 50 Gal.

I have three gold fish in my tank and they have been there for 3 years. I just put a tank heater in the winter and they do fine.

I use just regular, basic, gold fish. A few years ago the farmer next to me was spraying his field on a windy day. The next day the gold fish was "belly up", so to speak. Needless to say I dumped the water, feel like the fish saved my ponies from drinking contaminated water.

OK, so what do you all do when the tank needs cleaned?

The fish keep it clean..... just add water.

I clean my tank in the spring and fall. I use a fish net and dip out the fish into a bucket clean my tank fill it up and put the fish back in. They are always fine.

I keep a small fish net in the barn, when the tank needs cleaning, I net the fish, put him into a bucket with water from the tank. Clean the tank and fill with fresh water. Then wait several hours for the water in the tank to warm up and add the fish. I have the fish sitting in a shady spot, to keep cool. Have had the same gold fish for 3 years now and he is about 7" long.

When we clean our tank we catch the gold fish and put them in a bucket until the tank is filled up again.

Thanks to the 15 people who commented about this topic.

Horseback Riding Article Source: http://www.horsebackridingarticles.com

Editor’s Note: This article was composed from posts to the Trail Riders Internet Discussion Group "The EDGe" which is open for everyone and FREE. To join The EDGe, send a blank eMail message to IndianaTrailRiders-subscribe@yahoogroups.com The EDGe is free and its all about horses and trail riding.

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