Water butt

Hi,

Just wandering, are u using some kind of filter for water running into a water butt, or do u just rins it out whenever empty? Had mine for about a month and only just emptied it first time and found quite a bit of sediment and larvae sitting at the bottom.

 

Never bothered with a filter myself, I'm only watering plants with it so the sediment doesn't bother me.
I do have lids that stop the water going green.

 

Yes! I use the leg and foot from an old pair of opaque tights, fixed onto the connector where the water comes in, on the inside and using a supplied washer. It captures a fair amount of moss from the roof, etc. When I empty the butt the 'sock' gets emptied out into the compost bin, rinsed and reused. Works well - was a tip from gardening writer Alys Fowler originally, I think.

 

That makes sense! Thank you.

Lastly, are u using any algae removers? I've seen products like water butt freshener etc.

 

Have never felt a need to try these - as @pete says, the lid keeps the sunlight out, so the water never goes green, or smells. So I'd say leave as is unless a problem develops.

 

If you are troubled by mosquito larvae(culix pipiens) in your butt, a few drops of cooking oil (rapeseed, as olive oil is much too expensive lately) on the surface will prevent them breathing.

 

I add a few drops of biodegradable washing up liquid, this reduces the surface tension and the larvae cannot hang from the surface as they breath.