Anyone try using goldfish in the stock water tanks?

[Chirpy]

I'm having a red algae issue this year (for the first time ever .... why's that??? :/) Does anyone know if snails or goldfish eat that?

 

[KareyABohr]

The red alge was what those fish ate, because that alge grows with little sunlight.

UUGGH! I have to finish choreing and look this up. Maybe my Great Aunt Peg would remember. (Grandma's sister)

 

[Farmer Kitty]

I'm beginning to wonder if minnows from the bait shop would be better. I know of someone who would keep fish in their tanks. Maybe that's why?

 

[oxdrover14]

we use to go catch hornpout in the ponds and put them in the orses and cows and they kept the bug out and the alge

 

[PacsMan]

I'm interested in getting some land and cows, and was reading through the threads. I did a google search on fish, mosquito, stock tanks, etc. and came up with a few links. Hope this helps.
Marty

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..."Common goldfish, killifish, and guppies are three types of fish that are known to eat mosquito larvae and will get along well with other fish."...
http://www.doityourself.com/stry/ongoldfishpond

Stock Tank Cleaner
http://www.rlasales.com/stocktank.htm

Goldfish in stock tank thread
http://greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=0059Xp

Homesteading today thread
http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/archive/index.php/t-73783.html

Shubunkins fish and pebbles of copper sulfate?
http://forums.ablackhorse.com/lofiversion/index.php?t11672.html

This from the University of Missouri Extension Service:
Stock Watering Tanks

Chlorine Bleach
Add 2-3 ounces of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (unscented laundry bleach) per 100 gallons of tank capacity every week. The chlorine will dissipate more rapidly in hot weather or if organic material is present in the tank. Do not use pipeline sanitizer or swimming pool chlorine. To determine gallonage of a square or rectangular tank, multiply in feet: (length x width x depth x 7.5). To estimate gallonage of a round tank, multiply in feet: (diameter x diameter x depth x 6).

Copper Sulfate
Add copper sulphate (Bluestone or Blue Vitrol) at the rate of 1/8 teaspoon per 100 gallons of water to kill existing algae. It should then be mechanically removed. Cover or shade the tanks to help slow algae growth.

Zinc Sulfate
Dissolve one cup of zinc sulfate in one gallon of warm water and put 1/2 cup of this solution per 100 gallons of water in tanks as often as necessary (it will depend on number of animals drinking, amount of organic material in trough, and weather). Or if bird manure on the roof is not a factor, direct runoff from galvanized roofs into waterers.
http://www.askmehelpdesk.com/gardening-plants/stock-tank-algae-154897.html

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

I love this post. I am heading to WalMart to purchase some feeder goldfish. Love it.

Thanks!

 

[MsPony]

I swear by the Microbe Lift products, its a bacteria specifically formulated for whatever cause is needed and is NOT harmful to anything else. You can drink it straight, and be just fine.

Microbe Lift TAC is good for troughs, it takes away the organic material that is feeding the algae, as well as Microbe Lift PL. I use Microbe Lift TAC along with their Mosquito control formula.

It CAN be expensive, however you only need the smallest bottle and the smallest amount

 

[LavacaW]

The blind scaleless fish was probably a plecostomus...they are used in aquariums to keep the algae off the sides. Most good aquarium/fish dealers should have them. Ask about ability to survive the cold. I tried tilapia in my tank one year - they couldn't keep up with the algae. I put feeder goldfish in my rain barrel and have not ever had a mosquito problem from it. They live for several years with no added feed necessary.

 

[DoubleSSRanch]

I caught a trout when I was ice fishing once..and it was FROZEN SOLID (couldve pounded nails with it)..I geuss I snagged it..not 'caught' it with the line. But anyhow..brought it into the house and put it into the sink of water....3 hours later is was swimming laps in the sinK!


Ive used feeder goldfish in my stock tanks..cant say I reccomend it. They POOP ALOT...the water doesnt get airated enough so some of them seemed to die off from lack of oxygen, plus the metal tanks, as well as the black plastic one get VERY HOT in the hot sun (the water gets hot) and a few of them get cooked


I wont do it again


OH and to get rid of the algea....put a 1 foot peice of copper pipe in your stock tank..in the bottom..just throw it in. Algea doesnt like copper at all..it wont grow if theres copper pipe in the tank

 

[aladatrot]

I think you have to be careful with what type of fish you put in stock tanks. Goldfish can breathe air from the surface, but guppies and other types of tropicals can't. They have to have aerated water. Stock tanks don't have the surface area for the wind to naturally aerate through ripples. I am pretty sure the tropicals would die in the heat of the summer when oxygen levels get depleted.

Sorry, I'm responding to older threads in an effort to hit ten so I can post up pics of my project cow.

Cheers
M