algae in maceration

[Otterboy]

Alright after a few searches I am surprised I could not find much but I have a maceration bucket outside without a heater. I know since its winter it would not do much but we have had some 70+ days here and there and I went ahead and dropped a skull in so I could get it out of the wife's freezer. I have a lid on the bucket that's not air tight and now I have green algae in the bucket. Should I go ahead and dump the water out and just leave the head in over the winter or just change the water? I have already changed 1/3rd thinking this might help but I have new green goodness growing again. I normally do not use heaters since sunlight on the bucket can usually keep it above 80.

[grf68]

I do the same, put the buckets out in the sun with no heat, I've had algae before and it doesn't seem to affect the skulls at all, but I try not to let the algae get out of control also just in case.

[Alpinist]

You might try covering the bucket with a heavy black trash bag. The black bag will absorb more infrared heat from the sun, making the bucket a little warmer, but it will block the light and prevent the growth of algae.

[grf68]

Alpinist is right, it also slows down the water loss from evaporation.