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  Discussion on Keeping a water clean
Author Message
New Member:
Lsmith14

Posted on Monday, Sep 15, 2003 - 11:48 pm:

Hi Everyone, My very first post! Hope I am doing this right. You know how our horse water tanks can get so dirty with hay and stuff in it, especially in the summer. Well ages ago I purchased what is called a French Fry Skimmer.You can buy them at any restaurant supply house. They are a very fine mesh stainless steel and have a long handle. They last for ages. Everyday, twoor three times a day I would just skim the junk out of the tanks using a figure 8 motion and it kept the tank clean longer. Guess you could use any type of screen but I like the square with the long handle.
Now....that was painless. Whew! I love this web site!!! So many smart people. Thanks for all your ideas.
Member:
Janieb

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 16, 2003 - 10:21 pm:

Great idea! I have been using a plastic ice skimmer that my son uses for ice fishing. Since it has now been played with, stamped on, and chewed on by the mules, I can appreciate that a metal one would be superior! Thanks for the tip.

Also, we have to fill our stock tank with a regular garden hose. (We have been through several since our big mule, Titan, likes to pretend that it's spaghetti pasta. He looks so funny with it hanging out of his mouth as he chews on it.) I attached a device I found at our local ranch and hardware store. It is metal, shaped in sort of an "s" shape, and I think it was called a "fountain." Anyhow, it helps hold the hose down, and as the water comes through it, it acts as sort of an aerator to help the water churn around so that the debris can be more easily skimmed off.
Member:
Lsmith14

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 16, 2003 - 10:57 pm:

Hi Jane,
I have another idea for you...about filling the water tanks. They do make those attachable water tank floats that automaticly fills the water as the horses or mules drink. There is no way the animals can get them off as they are secure by heavy screws and clamps that go over the rim of the tanks. They work on all the tanks whether they are the larger rubbermaid ones or any size of the galvanized ones. Also, if by chance you are lucky Like I was to have my tank sitting below a water faucet, they have these short pieces of hose that are entirely wrapped with metal wire. It bends easily to point it towards the tank to fill. But nothing can chew it because it is unbreakable. Even for a mule...tee hee <big>
Member:
moser

Posted on Thursday, Nov 15, 2007 - 1:30 am:

Hi -

You can also use a pool skimmer, they work great.

Moser
Member:
dsibley

Posted on Thursday, Nov 15, 2007 - 7:09 am:

I bought a butterfly net on end-of-season clearance. It works best if used while the tank is filling...gets all the gunk stirred up from the bottom. Of course, we can't let the critters 'taste' it. It would be toast!!
Member:
muffi

Posted on Thursday, Nov 15, 2007 - 6:13 pm:

I use a fish net from the pet food store - the biggest they got but still smaller than a butterfly net.
also works well for skimming out Ice chunks in the winter
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