Could be that something has died in it and is decomposing, or have you been adding tap water to it?

It was filled with tap water....I did post on here asking about using tap water and a few said it was fine and no problems. Is this not so Moon grower? It looks like milk nearly.

No dead animals in there...a few insects mind.

This is just my personal view but I'd lift out the plants and get into containers of water and empty the whole thing out and clean. I suspect you are always going to have a problem. Those half whisky barrels are primarily sold to be filled with soil to grow plants in. The area is so small that the water is going to become stagnant. Two water lilies and water bamboo in what is a very small container as simply too much unless you can find a way to oxygenate. This implies getting the water moving somehow rather than putting in oxygenating plants which are needed if you have fish.

So my suggestion lift the plants out and have them in containers whilst you empty and scrub the half whisky barrel. Refill with water and if it is tap water leave to sit for several days. Remove your two water lilies and the water bamboo from their containers and repot in pots with nothing but gravel in. put them back in the half barrel.

I can't guarantee this will work but the situation is only going to get worse.

This is just my personal view but I'd lift out the plants and get into containers of water and empty the whole thing out and clean. I suspect you are always going to have a problem. Those half whisky barrels are primarily sold to be filled with soil to grow plants in. The area is so small that the water is going to become stagnant. Two water lilies and water bamboo in what is a very small container as simply too much unless you can find a way to oxygenate. This implies getting the water moving somehow rather than putting in oxygenating plants which are needed if you have fish.

So my suggestion lift the plants out and have them in containers whilst you empty and scrub the half whisky barrel. Refill with water and if it is tap water leave to sit for several days. Remove your two water lilies and the water bamboo from their containers and repot in pots with nothing but gravel in. put them back in the half barrel.

I can't guarantee this will work but the situation is only going to get worse.

I think much the same as Moongrower. The smell may be what the barrel was treated with and is leeching out into the water? or it is something decomposing? I suspect 2 lillies etc is far too much for the size and amount of water. I suggest you empty it to find the problem and line it if you have not done so with good quality liner.

Thanks i'm going to do it this weekend.

One thing i didn't mention - I didn't wash or scrub the barrel before i filled it with water. The inside of the barrel was black and looked like it had been burnt. And it smelt of whisky (obviously).

Perhaps a good scrub with wire brush would be good?

And also if i go to my grandmothers and take water from the rain water storage butt that would be better than tap water?

Have a good weekend :)

If it is a genuine whisky barrel then it will make a brilliant water feature. Two lilies and a bamboo is an over load situation, but I doubt that is causing the problem. The water bamboo (Lucky Bamboo) is an indoor plant and whilst extremely tough Lucky bamboo likes warmer temperatures of between 65ºF and 90ºF. I would guess if it is outside it is dying and that is causing the problem. One small variety lily is ample; no need for oxygenating plants, the lily has remarkable water purifying attributes, though some aquatic plant food would be a good idea. In a small water feature I would suggest planting the lily directly into aquatic soil placed on the floor of the butt about 75mm to 100mm deep and perhaps one other plant such as a reed to give it some vertical structure at the rear side of the barrel. Cover the soil with 50mm of Dorset pea gravel or similar and carefully refill the barrel using a small plate on top of the stone to avoid displacing the stone and soil.

Hope this is of use to you

Cheers Ken,

I've pretty did all that you have suggested - Used aquatic soil, gravel on top. The water bamboo is doing well, i bought it from an aquatic plant centre and it should be hardy, it looks healthy.

The problem is the current state of the water in the barrel.

When you say too many plants, is that because when they mature they will be too big for the barrel or is it because three of four aquatic plant pots caused the water to go the way it has?

You've got too many plants in the container for its size. The water bamboo will not survive the winter outside.

I also have a half whisky barrel and have the same problem. I have nothing in it now (took everything out). Have scrubbed it with vinegar, salt, bleach! But every time I fill it up within couple of days it starts going milky and smelling. The sides are white and slimy. I have an aerator going all the time and a small pump. I believe the problem must be caused by bacteria feeding off the whisky residue in the wood and hope that soon it will all be eaten up! I have a half oak brandy butt that is as clear as a bell and no problems at all. By the way it did not affect the plants when they were in there or the fish!