"Fran" wrote in message . au...
My copy of "Gardens Illustrated" for April '04 has just arrived and in it I
noticed that Nigel Colborn writing as "Mole" comments that:
"The threatened ban on barley straw as an agent for clearing algae from
ponds appears to be in place. Health and Safety officials have now ruled
that it is illegal to sell barley straw for this purpose under the European
Union ruling that insists that all 'biocidal' roducts be registered."

Precisely how is barley straw used to clear algae and why is it supposed to
be effective, and IS it effective?

I saw one bit of info on the net that said that the straw produces
humic acid which oxidises water to hydrogen peroxide which, when
present in minute concenrations, kill algae. this would explain the
anecdotal evidence that the barley straw is best when situatd in well
oxygenated water.
I place mine under the outfall of the return from the filter box. My
pond has been clear now for nearly three years depite the fact that it
is in a southerly aspect and last year we had very high sunlight and
high temperatures. There are hundreds of fish in my 16' diameter pond,
but they won't stay still long enough for me to count them. Also my
cat catches at least on per week. I saw my large koi swimming around
with a headless goldfish in its mouth, shaking the goldfish as a
shark would shake a seal.
If you don't want to obey e.c regs just buy pet bedding and make a
criminal of yourself.
Tony Bull www.caterpillarfountain.co.uk