Water Butt article in Grow it-concern!

[darkangel6976]

Goldfish what a great idea! I like that idea, I will get a water butt I think when I get another shed and will attach it to that!

[Snadger]

................. goldfish do the job. I've had 3 in my butts for 4 years now...............

Whatever turns you on I spose!

[Flummery]

Bet they tickle!
Copper doesn't just kill fungi however. Geologists prospect for copper by looking for clearings in forests. They are known as Copper Clearnings as the copper-bearing rocks underneath kill off all the vegetation.
Not in my back yard!

[SlugLobber]

I more concerned that TS has more than one butt, personally...

I wonder if this is why my kohl rabi didn't germinate. there is some sort of fungal infection in that seed tray (I re-used compost). I take it I just have to start again and use clean compost and trays? What should I do with the infected stuff? Can't really add it to the heap!

[darkangel6976]

I would burn the infected stuff and disinfect the trays too and all tools that you have used when you did the infected stuff.

[Demeter]

Depends what it is infected with... I am certain I have read that seed trays etc should be cleaned thoroughly but no need to go to extremes even if you had had damping off (e.g. wash in weak bleach solution should be plenty good enough).

Personally, I would add the compost to the heap / bin, since you wouldn't be using home compost to grow seedlings in and damping off doesnt affect established plants as far as I know.

(But don't quote me, I'm no expert by any means at all!)

[maytreefrannie]

We have baths placed all over the allotment and if you take water it fills it up again but I have noticed a few of them are partly covered up so I wonder if this is to keep out sunlight so it slows down the spread of infections. I think I will do this with my bath too. I have also seen some water butt cleaner that you're supposed to use once a year but as mine isn't a water butt and only a bath that has guttering leading into it from my shed roof then I'm not sure if I need that yet!
If I get a water butt then I will think about this and the copper pipe.

Thanks for all your replies!

I would think the baths are covered up for safety in case of children being around the allotments - possibly also to keep animals away from the water.

I never knew kept rainwater wasn't suitable for seedlings but I believe tap water 'should' be kept for 24 hours before using on seeds/plants, as this allows the chlorine to dissolve away or dissipate in some way and this means it's considered purer.

I say 'should' as I'm not sure where I've heard this or how true it is.

[jackie j]

Goldfish in the water butt now there's an idea my son works in a pet shop so should be able to get some and my daughter keeps saying she wants some and we wont let her have any !!!

[Catrina]

Two sheds. If you have gold fish in the water butt does that mean you dont have a lid on it? What happens in winter?

[womble]

What happens in winter?

Instead of goldfish, you get coldfish

[Demeter]

I believe tap water 'should' be kept for 24 hours before using on seeds/plants, as this allows the chlorine to dissolve away or dissipate in some way and this means it's considered purer.

I say 'should' as I'm not sure where I've heard this or how true it is.

Chlorine will evaporate if you let the water stand for a while - how long depends on the volume / surface area of the water but 24 hours is what is usually recommended. Mind you, I know this from fishkeeping, not gardening, no idea about the effect of watering seedlings with chlorinated tapwater. I guess chlorine might well upset a sensitive wee plant, but having said that the concentrations are pretty low in tap water, aren't they? High enough to upset a fish, I guess... although I think that is more because it kills off the bacteria that process fish waste, and the fish can then end up being poisoned by their own poo... Straying off the topic, me?

[Demeter]

As for butt-cleaner ... goldfish do the job. I've had 3 in my butts for 4 years now, they're perfectly happy, and keep the mozzy larvae down.

I like fish Plus, they (together with friendly bacteria which break down fish waste) will produce good fertiliser - their water will become nitrate rich over time...

But what about winter? What about drought? Do you feed them as well, or do they survive happily on algae and mozzy larvae and such alone? How much care do they require through the year?

[Geordie]

Off on a tangent I admit....but why is water that has filtered through rocks for hundreds of years need a shelf life once bottled??

[kernowyon]

Off on a tangent I admit....but why is water that has filtered through rocks for hundreds of years need a shelf life once bottled??

might have something to do with the bottle leaching chemicals into the water as it degrades. mmmmm yum yum!

[Rocketron]

might have something to do with the bottle leaching chemicals into the water as it degrades. mmmmm yum yum!

No, it's simply that nothing is allowed to be sold without a sell-by date, these days.