This may not be the correct forum to ask about this, but I figure a lot of
people have concrete bird baths in their gardens. One of my bird baths, it
is concrete, grows some sort of red crud that discolors the water. It
actually cakes on the surface when there is water in it and can be chipped
off when it dries. My other concrete bird bath doesn't do this. Any idea
what it is and what's causing it? Is it harmful to birds? Any way to get rid
of it?

Thanks in advance.
Karen
Portland, OR

Xref: kermit rec.gardens:278874

Red tide in your bird bath?

May be a toxic bacteria growing there.

Thoroughly clean it out with bleach and start again.


"Anonny Moose" wrote in message
...
This may not be the correct forum to ask about this, but I figure a lot of
people have concrete bird baths in their gardens. One of my bird baths, it
is concrete, grows some sort of red crud that discolors the water. It
actually cakes on the surface when there is water in it and can be chipped
off when it dries. My other concrete bird bath doesn't do this. Any idea
what it is and what's causing it? Is it harmful to birds? Any way to get
rid
of it?

Thanks in advance.
Karen
Portland, OR

In article ,
"Cereus-validus" wrote:

Red tide in your bird bath?

That'd be "Red sales in the sunset."

-paghat the ratiglr

--
"Of what are you afraid, my child?" inquired the kindly teacher.
"Oh, sir! The flowers, they are wild," replied the timid creature.
-from Peter Newell's "Wild Flowers"
See the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.paghat.com/

"Cereus-validus" wrote in message
om...
Red tide in your bird bath?

May be a toxic bacteria growing there.

Thoroughly clean it out with bleach and start again.


Can you get red tide in fresh water? I've tried cleaning it but it just
keeps returning, regardless whether it's rainwater or tap water. I was
thinking more along the lines of a chemical reaction with something in the
concrete.... any possibility of that?

Karen

On Sun, 16 May 2004 12:03:37 -0700, "Anonny Moose"
wrote:

This may not be the correct forum to ask about this, but I figure a lot of
people have concrete bird baths in their gardens. One of my bird baths, it
is concrete, grows some sort of red crud that discolors the water. It
actually cakes on the surface when there is water in it and can be chipped
off when it dries. My other concrete bird bath doesn't do this. Any idea
what it is and what's causing it? Is it harmful to birds? Any way to get rid
of it?

Thanks in advance.
Karen
Portland, OR



Haematococcus?

Story he

http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/...an99/haem.html

http://www.astafactor.com/algae.htm



It is classed as a free-swimming green algae, but has a lot of
orange/red pigment.


--

- Charles
-
-does not play well with others

Nope. What you describe reads more like an infestation of toxic so-called
blue-green bacteria (I know the color is red not blue-green) fed by the bird
poop.

The best way to kill them noxious critters off is by using chlorine bleach.


"Anonny Moose" wrote in message
...

"Cereus-validus" wrote in message
om...
Red tide in your bird bath?

May be a toxic bacteria growing there.

Thoroughly clean it out with bleach and start again.


Can you get red tide in fresh water? I've tried cleaning it but it just
keeps returning, regardless whether it's rainwater or tap water. I was
thinking more along the lines of a chemical reaction with something in the
concrete.... any possibility of that?

Karen

Yeah that's the nasty critter. Thanks Charles.

Chlorine bleach will kill them off. At least, until the next infestation.


"Charles" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 16 May 2004 12:03:37 -0700, "Anonny Moose"
wrote:

This may not be the correct forum to ask about this, but I figure a lot
of
people have concrete bird baths in their gardens. One of my bird baths,
it
is concrete, grows some sort of red crud that discolors the water. It
actually cakes on the surface when there is water in it and can be
chipped
off when it dries. My other concrete bird bath doesn't do this. Any idea
what it is and what's causing it? Is it harmful to birds? Any way to get
rid
of it?

Thanks in advance.
Karen
Portland, OR



Haematococcus?

Story he


http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/...an99/haem.html

http://www.astafactor.com/algae.htm



It is classed as a free-swimming green algae, but has a lot of
orange/red pigment.


--

- Charles
-
-does not play well with others

"Anonny Moose" wrote in message
...
This may not be the correct forum to ask about this, but I figure a lot
of
people have concrete bird baths in their gardens. One of my bird baths,
it
is concrete, grows some sort of red crud that discolors the water. It
actually cakes on the surface when there is water in it and can be
chipped
off when it dries. My other concrete bird bath doesn't do this. Any idea
what it is and what's causing it? Is it harmful to birds? Any way to get
rid
of it?

Thanks in advance.
Karen
Portland, OR

Sometimes the iron in hard water causes a red sludge in my concrete bird
baths. swh

Our water is very hard also. I have an extra long handled barbecue pit wire
brush I keep just for the bird bath. I dump the water, add a little vinegar
and baking soda, and scrub and rinse until is is gone. Rinse well
afterwards. This will last about a month and then I do it all again, but
the bird bath really gets clean, and the birds love to splash in it when it
is so clean.
"susanwh" wrote in message
...

"Anonny Moose" wrote in message
...
This may not be the correct forum to ask about this, but I figure a
lot
of
people have concrete bird baths in their gardens. One of my bird
baths,
it
is concrete, grows some sort of red crud that discolors the water. It
actually cakes on the surface when there is water in it and can be
chipped
off when it dries. My other concrete bird bath doesn't do this. Any
idea
what it is and what's causing it? Is it harmful to birds? Any way to
get
rid
of it?

Thanks in advance.
Karen
Portland, OR

Sometimes the iron in hard water causes a red sludge in my concrete
bird
baths. swh