I would think an airstone would work. A pump and airstone would cost under a tenner and even quite powerful pumps only use 3-4w leccy and you wouldn't need a powerful pump so long as the airstone is just under the surface which would cause enough disturbance to prevent them. Just be aware that there will be a constant hummm....
Mosquitoes have no problem at all with moving water. It's a myth. I've tried it. I have a fountain in my little pond and it didn't slow them down a bit.
It's not exactly a permanent solution, but I use mosquito crumble / dunks and they work very well. They dissolve over time, so you would know when to replace them. I cut mine up and put in a piece every three months or so. Over 24 hours it will kill the larvae. You should be able to tell clearly when it's working as the little swimming critters will have gone, or they will be back.
A long term colution would be to put in a dunk and then get a tight fitting lid / new waterbutt. Or use duct tape to seal the lid. Duct tape is the solution to most things, I find.
It's not exactly a permanent solution, but I use mosquito crumble / dunks and they work very well. They dissolve over time, so you would know when to replace them. I cut mine up and put in a piece every three months or so. Over 24 hours it will kill the larvae. You should be able to tell clearly when it's working as the little swimming critters will have gone, or they will be back.
A long term colution would be to put in a dunk and then get a tight fitting lid / new waterbutt. Or use duct tape to seal the lid. Duct tape is the solution to most things, I find.
Thanks for your input, and I'm disappointed to hear your fountain didn't work on your pond.
However the mosquito crumble sounds good, but I wonder whether the chemicals in the water would be harmful to the plants I use it on? I guess trial and error would be the answer, but that's risking losing some valued plants!!
MadPenguin - that would work, I guess, but not keen on the idea of keeping them in the dark!
You could take the lid off for a bit for some light and it would only be temporary,the problem would be catching him again. Maybe some sort of cage could be rigged up so the fish had access to the surface but could be lifted out easily when the job was done?
“Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
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My sister had a large water tank in her garden and somehow goldfish got in there and did well !
Could you put a small goldfish into the water container to eat the mosquito larvae.
Mosquitoes have no problem at all with moving water. It's a myth. I've tried it. I have a fountain in my little pond and it didn't slow them down a bit.
Maybe some sort of cage could be rigged up so the fish had access to the surface but could be lifted out easily when the job was done?