Watering and Water Saving

Re: Water butts & stagnant water

Nigel — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 05:47:11 GMT

If I get mosquito larvae in my open butts (no lids means easier to fill watering cans etc) a few drops of washing up liquid (I use Ecover) reduces the surface tension and the beasties cannot stick to the surface to breath.

Nigel

Re: Water butts & stagnant water

Celtic Heart — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:37:21 GMT

I read somewhere that mozzie larvae can be minimized by keeping goldfish in the water butt. I don't know how this would affect them being kept in the dark, but I guess if there was no lid and some sort of mesh across the top to let light in and keep predators out it might work. I guess they would need to be brought indoors for a bit of a holiday over the winter, but if it works it seems like an original and chemical free method of keeping both mozzies and algae at bay.

Re: Water butts & stagnant water

SallyClare — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:45:33 GMT

Hi Thanks for the advice, I will give another clean and put some sort of fine sieve on the inlet water pipe. Thanks again I hope this will work. Sally

Re: Water butts & stagnant water

Digger — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:36:15 GMT

I've got some swimming things in my water tubs they move in a zig zag motion swimming under water

Re: Water butts & stagnant water

sue1002 — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:05:11 GMT

The things swimming about in your water butts SallyClare could be the larvae of any insect. The water itself will be perfectly ok for watering veggies with.

Gnats and mozzies (and probably a few others) breed in water butts and the best way of keeping them out is to keep a lid on the butts and tape up any holes so the adults can't gain access in the first place.

Re: Water butts & stagnant water

SallyClare — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:31:27 GMT

Hi, I am new to the site so haven't read all the postings. Perhaps someone can help me out. I have two water buts on each side of my garden, one is great but the other has produced tiny little mites something like a transparent tadpole. They are so tiny its when they dart about swimming in the water that they are visible. A friend said they might be water fleas. I have emptied the but once and cleaned it well, but days after filling it the mites have returned and I am afraid to use the water on vegetables. I grow lettuce and salad food etc, this side of the garden. The water does not smell and is quite clear. At the moment I have put the lid on the but and wont use until I have got rid of the mites.

Any Idea as to what they are? how to get rid of them or if they will harm plants or indeed cause health problems if the water is used to feed the salad items. Thanks for any advise I would be so grate.

I an new on the site and tried to post this question but got here I apologise if this is the wrong posting area. Thanks again if anyone can help

Re: Water butts & stagnant water

sue1002 — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:02:41 GMT

I can confirm that the oil does help stop insects from breeding inside the butts. I can also confirm that after trying it once, I won't be using this method again - it very much did snot the butt up and was a b'tard to clean!!

For me from now on is sticking to covering the downpipe with old socks/stockings or whatever I can find and taping the lid on so no insects can get inside.

Re: Water butts & stagnant water

bogweevil — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:26:08 GMT

On the contrary this would limit oxygenation of the water leading to anaerobic organisms which pong especially badly. The oil trick is said to work on gnat and other larvae by blocking access to air via their breathing tubes but it is unclear if this really works. It certaintly snots up the butt though with oily deposits for a while.

Boggy

Re: Water butts & stagnant water

jojobean — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 20:23:48 GMT

A dessertspoon of olive oil into the water butt before popping the lid back on creates a slick that means things can't grow in there.

Re: Water butts & stagnant water

oldlady — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:42:29 GMT

I have at last found something that works and is ok for plants - it uses natural plant extracts. Hozelock Water Butt Treatment. If this isn't as safe as it seems, someone please let me know. You have to drain and clean out the butts first and use this once a fortnight. The reason I can't stand the normal smell is that the butts are just outside my door from the dining room to the garden.

Re: Water butts & stagnant water

renegade-scientist — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 10:23:49 GMT

[Edited on 18/06/2007]

Re: Water butts & stagnant water

J Bagnall — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 10:59:03 GMT

Sue and Digger - Thanks very much for the advice. I will make sure we use it more quickly now. You are correct in your assumption that I am from the south and am just waiting for someone to tell me we can't use the hose again!!

Re: Water butts & stagnant water

sue1002 — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 16:27:58 GMT

Digger is right, I remember reading or hearing somewhere (last year on Gardener's World I think) that grey water should be strained into a container first and used within an hour to established plants to prevent it from smelling.

Re: Water butts & stagnant water

Digger — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 16:13:41 GMT

Hello j Bagnall, i am not surprised that your "grey water" hum dinged it is usually destined for the sewers, However i think your grey water will be okay to use on the garden with established plants but i think the idea is to use the grey water when it is available, ie after you have just had a bath, do you have a water meter installed? are you in a Southern region that is short of the wet stuff?

Re: Water butts & stagnant water

J Bagnall — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 12:38:54 GMT

Hello there I have read this thread with interest and wish to throw another question into the mix. At the risk of horrifying dedicated and much more experienced gardeners than I, my waterbutt receives water from the shower and bathroom sink. It too started to smell and I spent considerable time cleaning it out. When the inevitable water shortages arise again later this year, will charcoal be useful in preventing it from smelling due to the soap products or will I just have to keep cleaning it regularly? Also, is the water from this source suitable for watering the plants in my garden?