As long as there is moving water, mosquitos won't breed in it. They need stagnant water. So you should be safe in that regard. You can get algicide at any pet store (in the aquarium section). It's safe for the fish, but not sure how other pets or humans would react to it.

You can keep algae under control using 3% hydrogen peroxide. I only need 1-2 pints for my 1100 gallon pond (once every couple of weeks), so a little does the trick and it dissipates in the light so shouldn't harm either kids or pets. Fish are more sensitive than either and it's safe for them.

I had my fountain on my deck, shaded and never saw any algae all summer. I think; like the mosquitoes running water is less likely to get things growing in it.

For skeeters you can use Mosquito Dunks

Here is a link that might be useful: Mosquito Dunks.

I was going to suggest the same thing, mosquito dunks. You can even use them in your dog's water dish, they are totally harmless to pets and people. But if the water is moving you don't need them, 'squitos need still water to breed in.

As for algae, I wouldn't worry too much about it - it's not harmful to drink water that algae is growing in. (In fact, should you ever be lost in the woods and about to die of thrist, the say you should look for moving water with a bit of algae in it. If algae is growing in it that means it doesn't contain too many nasty pollutants that might harm you!) As long as the water isn't stagnant not too much algae will grow anyway.

The important thing already mentioned about essential oils is that "neat" is bad. (Well, apart from lavender oil). Diluted in your fountain I would have thought it was a nice idea to put essential oils in. It would smell lovely and also have a small anti-nasties effect. A tiny amount of oil would not hurt a 2 year old. surely better than chemicals? I agree on the running water side of things, will put off mozzies, and algae too even though that's not poisonous or anything.

Mosquito dunks aren't chemicals, that's the beauty of them. They're 100% natural, made of beneficial bacteria. Much safer than essential oils.

Wow. That is too cool. Why don't they use those instead of chemicals to spray for the mosquitos?

Ann

barley straw can keep algae at bay. So can several types of underwater aquatic plants that oxygenate the water.

I put copper pennies in mine to keep fungus away.

algae isn't dangerous due to the possibility of ingestion, it's because it makes the surfaces slippery. Even if you don't get green water, check the surfaces on a regular basis. Nothing you can do will avoid this problem. You just have to scrub it up when it happens.

Ann,
In reading how to maintain my birdbath, I found a reference at audubon that says "It is important to keep your birdbath clean and filled with fresh water. Emptying and scrubbing the baths every two or three days will prevent bacteria, algae, Salmonella and other disease organisms from fouling the water. Household products such as vinegar are fine to use as a cleaning agent; never use chemicals."

Let me play devil's advocate. Mosquito's dunks are a bacterium. How do they know absolutely positively that they are safe for consumption, especially for a 2 year old?

The fountain sounds beautiful but I really worry about the children drinking the water. Even if you put nothing other than water in the fountain and somehow had time to clean it everyday, there could still be a disease causing organism in the water from bird droppings. Is there some way to keep the children from drinking the water?

Ive ingested tea tre oil before. I believe its safe as long as its deluted and asling as you are using a high grade oil. I wouldn't use a cheap unknown brand or anything sold at Dollar Tree or Walmart, places like that. I've poured Melaleuca oil down my throat before and although it burned, it never gave me any other side effects that they list. However, use at your own discretion. I use a lot of alternative healing remedies and I am healthy and only take one prescription for asthma. I have deluted it tea as well. The Aborigines have been using it for centuries.

"It’s been well documented that the Bundjalung Aborigines in eastern Australia have used tea trees to treat ailments including coughs, colds, and sore throats by inhaling the smell from the crushed leaves, and drinking an infusion of Melaleuca tea."

https://www.youngliving.com/en_EU/discover/history-of-essential-oils/history-of-tea-tree#:~:text=Australian%20Aboriginal%20Uses%20for%20Tea%20Trees,-Aboriginal%20Australians%2C%20indigenous&text=They%20would%20use%20tea%20trees,cover%20it%20with%20warm%20mudpack.

Ive ingested tea tre oil before. I believe its safe as long as its deluted and as long as you are using a high grade oil. I wouldn't use a cheap unknown brand or anything sold at Dollar Tree or Walmart, places like that. I've poured Melaleuca oil down my throat before and although it burned, it never gave me any other side effects that they list. However, use at your own discretion. I use a lot of alternative healing remedies and I am healthy and only take one prescription for asthma. I have deluted it tea as well. The Aborigines have been using it for centuries.

"It’s been well documented that the Bundjalung Aborigines in eastern Australia have used tea trees to treat ailments including coughs, colds, and sore throats by inhaling the smell from the crushed leaves, and drinking an infusion of Melaleuca tea."

https://www.youngliving.com/en_EU/discover/history-of-essential-oils/history-of-tea-tree#:~:text=Australian%20Aboriginal%20Uses%20for%20Tea%20Trees,-Aboriginal%20Australians%2C%20indigenous&text=They%20would%20use%20tea%20trees,cover%20it%20with%20warm%20mudpack.