Water fountain question

[Clueless]

I bought a water fountain at a yard sale last year. The rest of the summer I continually battled the husband .... we drained, cleaned and put fresh water in it. I resisted adding anything for the safety of the outside birds. They love it and it is so cute when they perch and bathe.

Is anything safe to use to keep it clean?

Hubby just read an article about adding copper pennies to it with apple cider vinegar so we need to get this figured out.

@SandraK any thoughts?

 

[Hankmacaw]

About a tablespoon of vinegar per gallon is safe and does a pretty good job.

 

[Clueless]

About a tablespoon of vinegar per gallon is safe and does a pretty good job.

Plain or Apple cider with or without mother....

 

[Macaw Lover]

Copper keeps it clean, but copper is toxic to birds, so you would have a pretty fountain once you pick up the dead birds.

 

[Hankmacaw]

Plain or Apple cider with or without mother....

Doesn't really matter. I use white vinegar.

 

[CeciliaZ]

I found fountain cleaner at my local garden center. Small fountain cleanser made by Auraco. www.auraco.net

 

[Clueless]

I found fountain cleaner at my local garden center. Small fountain cleanser made by Auraco. www.auraco.net

Have you used this? Does it work?

I'm thinking plain white vinegar first and if it doesn't work, then I'm gonna hunt this down.

 

[SandraK]

While I have bird baths in my garden none of them are running so I do end up going outside and just scrubbing them out with a heavy duty brush and a mix of hot water and Downy. Possibly using F10 would help also. I found this link - https://www.agardenersforum.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/280870.html - which looked really useful. There is a chain of stores called Wild Birds Unlimited and I know they sell running bird baths/fountains but couldn't find anything online about keeping the bats clean.

 

[rocky'smom]

my sister has fountain in her yard, I think she uses bleach monthly to clean it, and vinegar weekly to keep it clean. I can ask her if you want??

 

[CeciliaZ]

Have you used this? Does it work?

I'm thinking plain white vinegar first and if it doesn't work, then I'm gonna hunt this down.

I have a small fountain on my patio...yes I have used this! It takes some time - and it does keep the sludge under control. I clean it well before I set it up and add a capful every week or so. Supposed to be safe for birds and wildlife.