Smelly water butt

[Pies]

No lid = lots of sunlight = green water

our tanks on the lottie are open tops, lots of green water,but it doesn't smell and the plants seem to like it.I'm not sure but the algae probably provides some more nutrients to the plants

[rustylady]

stagnent water will stink,id rather leave the lid off,at least when it rains your water will get a bit of a refresh

You don't need to leave the lid off - the water will be refreshed by the new rainwater running into the butt from the downpipe.

[Noodles]

What do folk with goldfish in their water butts do in winter? Are they ok in there when the tubs freeze over?

[Two_Sheds]

What do folk with goldfish in their water butts do in winter? Are they ok in there when the tubs freeze over?

Fine, if the water is deep enough, and the freeze not too long, they are just fine (mine have lived for 4 years in butts)

[john c]

Teaspoon of ***** fluid....stops the smell kills the midges lol

[Joe]

It seems a bit cruel keeping goldfish in the dark. How do you know they are ok? I haven't sussed out out to take the lid off my butt yet, so I don't know how much water is in it never mind how to get the goldfish in. I guess I'll have to throw my goldfish up on the roof and let it slide down gutterpipe into the butt. :-)

[BB48]

Just back from lottie and emptied the butt - the smell was DIS-GUS-TING but nothing in there that I could see that caused the smell. Some little wriggly things which i think may have been from the mossies dont really know and lots of slime around thetop - yuk!! Anyway it has now had a dousing of milton so hopefully that is it, also made sure the pipe was fit better so not so much room for 'things' to get in. Fingers crossed.

BB

s

[Skotch]

What do folk with goldfish in their water butts do in winter? Are they ok in there when the tubs freeze over?

This last winter when the really cold weather set in, I popped a tennis ball into the water and that way it was easier to remove ice that had formed on the surface and allowed for oxygen to aerate the water. Other than that, I did nothing else. As already mentioned, the fish tend to swim to the middle or lower where the water is warmer

[Two_Sheds]

It seems a bit cruel keeping goldfish in the dark. How do you know they are ok?

Er, because they are still alive after 4 years?
Anyway, they aren't in total darkness, I have the lid covering 2 thirds of the butt.
If I had the butt tight-fitting, the mozzies wouldn't get in and I wouldn't need the fish anyway

[Pies]

Did you use olive oil,or another type of cooking oil ? I've been reading that the other types degrade particules into the water rather than just putting a film on the surface if so this is what would have caused your smell