Barrel pond problems.

[oliviamaryb]

I have a large barrel pond, which smells dreadful. It is a proper barrel so I am wondering if it's just the previous contents. I don't really want to line it, but realise it could be necessary. I have read about painting it with silicone or something, but won't this stop the wood from soaking up the water to make it watertight? The plants I have put in have died pretty quickly, and there is often a horrible film on top. I have put in oxygenators. I have also changed the water many times and scrubbed it.
Wits' end!
Olivia

[bob.phillips]

If its a real barrel then its probably too deep with too little light getting in. So no wonder the plants die and it smellsFor a pond, its really important that there is sufficient surface area ( lets in loads of light ) for plants to survive. If the plants are in good health then it probably won't smell.

Regards,

Bob P

[Kayleigh]

This is my barrel pond its now 3 years old. It did go smelly once but I cleaned it all out and rinsed the plants and its been fine since. I have lots of oxygenators also a pot with irises and horsetail I also have a miniature water lily. Frogs have spawned in mine now for the last 3 years.
I painted the inside with an aquatic rubber as mine didn't hold water then left it to dry before rinsing it well.
The black stuff you can see is frog spawn from this spring.