Barley question - inquiring minds want to know

I posted it in Garden Products: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/526996/ and would love to hear from some water gardens forum regulars please...

Terry, I have yet to see any real, scientific study comparing straw versus pellets versus 'barley straw extract'. With my own pond I don't see much effect of barley straw on string algae anyway (I consider it under one of the "does no harm" options!). This website gives a bit of a discussion on how barley does/doesn't act : http://www.btny.purdue.edu/Pubs/APM/APM-1-W.pdf
You may have better luck using hydrogen peroxide for your string algae - 1-2 pints /1000 gallons (3% stuff you get in the supermarket/Walmart, etc.) and repeat every 2-4 days. You can up the dose to even higher levels - 3-5 pints/1000 gallons - with no noticeable impact on plants or fish. I've used it for several years as have many others. Just be sure to get as much of the algae out by hand as possible to reduce the oxygen demand that will be created as the string algae dies (I keep an aerator on hand if I think the oxygen levels are headed too far south). Have fun - may you water run clear!

Ditto to DRH2's comments. Barley straw never did much for my pond but after I started adding H2O2 to my pond there is no string algaer in the water or growing on anything including liner surfaces and, rocks, and lily pots. Does'nt do a darn thing for the algae that causes pea soup water.
DRH2 have you found it will kill string algae already in a pond? My best results have been starting out with a clear pond after the winter or just after a water change.

Shadow, I personally have not found barley straw to have any impact on string algae. Because of our zone (4) all of my biofilters have to be shut down and drained for the winter. Therefore when spring arrives and the ice leaves the pond - about mid-july this year I think! - we will experience an algae bloom for a week or so (suspended algae). Shortly after that the beginnings of string algae appear and out compete the suspended algae (or alternatively produce something that supresses it - take your pick). At that point the biofilters are on line and cycling. That's when I'll dose things with a bit of hydrogen peroxide - just sprinkle it around the perimeter or so. Once danger of frost is gone then I'll add 2-3 dozen water hyacinths (I now winter them over but you should be able to find them on the internet for about $1.50 each or less). These plants will spread with a result that the string algae no longer grows significantly. Of course now I've got to 'thin the herd' and pull out 3-4 dozen water hyacinth plants (I give them to a local aquarium guy who sells them for around $1 or so -- much better price than the other locals who are asking $8 for one dinky plant!!). Why water hyacinths? a.) I think they will out-compete any algae for nutrients; b.) they offer a root mass that has about 10 times the surface area of the upper plant and provides a micro-habitat for critters such as daphnia and amphipods that do eat algae. It works for me; I suspect water lettuce would work as well but I've had problems growing it in my pond.

Chuckle. I had hoped y'all would venture over to the Garden Products forum to answer the question, since that's where it was posted ;o)

At any rate, I do thank you for the information. One question about the H202 - my mom used it (according to directions given on here - she's a subscribed member, also) and a few days later her water hyacinths had brown rotten spots on the tops of the fleshy stems. Any connection?

anytime that I have used any kind of liquid in my pond for algea ex:algea fix, etc. The water Hyacinths have sufferred. Might have not had any connection but it did happen everytime.

Terry, it does not seem to affect my hyacinths and I have a big group of them at the bottom of my filter and falls which is where I usually add the peroxide. When I first started using H2O2 my parrot's feather disappeared but I replaced it and it is thriving.


My favorite thing about the H2O2 is the clean rocks, liner and lily pots, no slimey, yucky algae growing on them.

DRH2-I don't use barley straw, I was wondering if the peroxide kills the string algae once established. Actually down here algae grows year round and I usually overwinter the hyacinths in the bog area. They look pretty crummy by spring but many come back.

8.00 for a water hyacinth...yikes!

Terry, sorry we didn't all migrate over to the other post. Somehow I got the impression that it was appropriate to answer it here. I suspect you wanted to get us over there for a bit of activity - something about horses, water troughs and getting them to drink comes to mind. As to spots from H2O2 - I've not had that problem with any of my plants. Currently running 5 hardy water lilies, 1 tropical water lily, 1 lotus, bog bean, water hyacinths (coming out of my ears), bog arrum, arrowhead, water poppy (bad choice on that one!), hornwort, ellodia - to name a few. None have shown any sensitivity to H2O2 nor spots but then I don’t necessarily pour it right on them either. However, if you believe this is a problem then it's very simple to fix. Before you add any H2O2 fill up a large watering can with pond water - I would use one of those big plastic ones with a sprinkle head on it. Then add the H2O2 followed by a sprinkle of pond water to rinse any that was on the leaves. I haven't had to do that but then maybe I've been lucky.

Shadowgirl: yes, H2O2 will definitely kill established string algae. I don't strive for totally bare rocks or liner but just when I think things are getting a bit out of hand. I think - although I lack any definitive proof - that a small bit of string algae appears to help keep down the suspended stuff. You're lucky you can overwinter your hyacinths that way! Unfortunately it's grow lights for me if I need to winter over anything. Well, not quite true - I've got a couple of taro plants that are five years old which get stuck in a pot and placed in a north window (obviously the poorest place to put them). Come spring they look a bit scraggily but once they're back in the bog everyone's happy.

Thanks - I wasn't present when my mom added it to her pond, but I doubt she poured it directly on top of the water hyacinths (she's pretty garden-savvy.). From inspecting the water hyacinths after-the-fact, it almost appeared the "bladders" rotted from the inside, which made me wonder about the added oxygen having a bearing.

There are a number of 'bugs' that will eat the inside of the bladders. Typically they start at the underside (in the water) and you'll be left with a shell on the top. It's when you turn it over that you notice the damage the most. When I first put them in the water I will periodically inspect them and remove any bladders/leaves that are turning discolored, being eaten, etc. Usually this helps to bring everything under control. Now if we could just figure what it is that is doing it and be sure that it was host-specific I suspect we could sell it to several states (Florida and California come to mind!) and make a million or two!!! :-))