In article , Iain
Miller writes

"Lynda Thornton" wrote in message
...
Hi

I've had continual problems with my large barrel pond going stagnant
since I got it earlier in the summer - it stinks if bad egg to high
heaven a lot of the time and it is really spoiling the garden!

Its gone "Anaerobic" & there are bacteria in there giving off Hydrogen
Sulphide. The water would be pretty poisonous to fish. The problem is that
the water is dead and starved of oxygen - you need to find a way to get it
to circulate. Easy options would be to drop a small pump in the bottom that
just pumps water from bottom to the top or alternatively an Airpump to
inject airbubbles into the bottom of the water - as they rise they will
circulate the water. A small aquarium powerhead (£10-£15) or a small pump
designed for water features would be enough. If you wanted to go the Airpump
route then this would cost about the same but you'd have to find a way to
keep the airpump itself dry. If you can't get power to the thing then maybe
you could look at one of those solar powerd pumps.

Hi

Thanks for responding.

The problem with pumps in the barrel is the water lily - I thought they
didn't like constantly moving water and needed it still most of the
time? I know that circulating the water helps because I have a smaller
barrel with a solar fountain in it which doesn't smell at all and I've
had it since early last year.

Circulating the water a bit should cure the problem - you get oxygen
exchange at the surface. Once the water has some oxygen in it then the
Anaerobic bacteria will die back & also you will get other bacteria growing
that will break down rotting material (without stinking!) - but these will
only survive in water that is oxygenated.


Having lots of plants can help (in theory) but there is a balance because
although plants give off oxygen during the day, they actually take it in at
night so in some cases plant's growing too fast can actually cause a problem
themselves - particularly for fish which can suffocate overnight in some
circumstances.

I have no plans to keep fish in it anyway so that's not a problem but I
think the oxygenating plants aren't going to survive for long from what
you're saying here. I guess I'll have to consider either some form of
pump which doesn't disturb the water too much or abandon it?

Lynda