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billrigsby
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# Posted: 11 Jul 2023 10:28pm
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I have a 275 gallon water tote I fill with rain water, I generally use it around the shop, filling bird baths watering some small trees, nothing that is human consumption.
The last couple of years with the excessive heat it has started going brown on me, it doesn't stink it just doesn't look good. Of course I'm not drinking it but I'm wondering what kind of additive I can use bleach chlorine Etc and at what level to keep the water both safe and usable for animals and plants but also looking desirable?
Not sure why I really care but I figured I'd ask because I'm not drinking it but?
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spencerin
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# Posted: 11 Jul 2023 10:54pm
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UNscented chlorine bleach should be fine. Amounts can vary based on the source you consult, but the one I go off of says 1/8 tablespoon per gallon of water with 5-6% concentrated bleach.
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Brettny
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# Posted: 12 Jul 2023 06:08am
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Quoting: billrigsby safe and usable for animals and plants
If this is what you want to do do nothing. Growth in water is natural.
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 12 Jul 2023 10:07am
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Never had a 'tote' but have been using a rain barrel for utility water at the cabin for decades. The past couple years I input the metal roof runoff through a diy filter consisting of some porous landscape fabric over some fish pond filter fabric. About the 1st of each month I pour and mix in some bleach (did the calc as mentioned above long ago for the gal capacity), we have NO algae, insects, discoloration or odors.
Btw, our barrel is not opaque and mostly is not in sun through the course of a day.
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NorthRick
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# Posted: 12 Jul 2023 12:56pm
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I throw in a cup or two of bleach into the tote. The water comes from a beaver pond and is full of tannin. In about an hour or so the bleach clears it up and it stays that way for the summer.
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FishHog
Member
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# Posted: 12 Jul 2023 02:41pm
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Just add a cup of bleach. Leave the top open on the tote and the chlorine will vent off in a couple days and not hurt anything
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Brettny
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# Posted: 12 Jul 2023 08:04pm
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Am I the only person here who collects water and dosnt put bleach in it? I havent for 3yrs now yet my totes are painted black and have no growth...but I'm not putting that water in a fish pond like the OP is. I am bathing in it though.
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NorthRick
Member
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# Posted: 14 Jul 2023 04:26pm
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Quoting: Brettny Am I the only person here who collects water and dosnt put bleach in it?
Maybe. Our tote isn't painted. I want to see how much water is left in it. We've used that water for everything except drinking. Could be just me, but I like clear water, not brown or green.
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Brettny
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# Posted: 15 Jul 2023 02:52pm
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Does it go in green or brown? If not just painting the tanks dont let light in and things dont grow.
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darz5150
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# Posted: 15 Jul 2023 10:44pm
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I put a cheap solar fish pond pump on a styrofoam float in my 325 tank that's covered with a tarp only. No algae grows. It is filled with city water, but still had some grow . Used to add a bit of bleach before like was said above. But not after I put the fountain pump in
It also helps to put off the skim of ice in the colder months unless it get super cold. I think I posted pics on here before.
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NorthRick
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# Posted: 17 Jul 2023 05:56pm
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Quoting: Brettny Does it go in green or brown? If not just painting the tanks dont let light in and things dont grow.
It's brown from tannins going in.
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Steve961
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# Posted: 22 Jul 2023 10:03pm
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Quoting: Brettny my totes are painted black and have no growth
This right here. I wrapped my cistern, a 275 gal tote, in two layers of black plastic and have never had my water turn color. I don't use it for drinking water, but have tasted it and it's been fresh, even without treatment.
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