Ok, these clear up ponds.. has anyone just tried barley, like from the
grocery store? Maybe in a punctured tupperware container or such?

Since our pond here's turning green, I'm starting to look for solutions.
Locally, when I mention barley balls and such, the people in the stores look
at me like I have 2 heads...


--
Gareee©
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Xref: kermit rec.ponds:149235

We use Barley bails all the time. Works great. One bail (there small) last
for about 3 months. Our pond stays clear. Barley bails can be found and pond
specialty stores (expensive) or at Feed stores (much cheaper).
Just put the barley in a nylon, netting or some kind of container with
holes. It takes a few weeks for the barley to do it's job. It needs to
decompose to be effective.

"Gareee©" wrote in message
...
Ok, these clear up ponds.. has anyone just tried barley, like from the
grocery store? Maybe in a punctured tupperware container or such?

Since our pond here's turning green, I'm starting to look for solutions.
Locally, when I mention barley balls and such, the people in the stores
look
at me like I have 2 heads...


--
Gareee©
Homepage:
http://www.fortunecity.com/tattooine.../mainframe.htm
Custom Figures, Wallpapers and more!

gareee wrote has anyone just tried barley, like from the
grocery store?

The barley that is used is the straw part of the plant. After the grain is
harvested a small portion of the leftover straw is bundled up and sold to the
pond industry. I've heard of a couple different theories as to how it works but
have never tried it myself. I'm not really convinced that it works all that
well and the prices charged for it are so high when I see the stuff laying
around in the fields waiting to get plowed under ;-)


kathy :-)
A HREF="http://www.onceuponapond.com/"Once upon a pond/A

well and the prices charged for it are so high when I see the stuff laying
around in the fields waiting to get plowed under ;-)

That is probably wheat straw.

GrannyGrump wrote That is probably wheat straw.

Why would you say that?


kathy :-)
A HREF="http://www.onceuponapond.com/"Once upon a pond/A

Why would you say that?

Most farmers don't bother baling the stems after combining wheat, they
plow it under for fertilizer. Some still bale it and sell it.

That's what I said.
Around here (Eastern WA) most all grain crops (barley, wheat, lentils, dry
peas) are harvested,
the straw sits in the field over winter and is plowed under in the spring.
So I see the free barley straw out there laying around and then I see it in the
pond store in a cute little bundle priced at $12 for a couple handfuls.
My brother-in-law, after his jaw dropped seeing the price, said if he could
sell a whole field for that price he'd give up on wheat and lentils and put in
barley. But it is a very small market and more of a boutique item.






kathy :-)
A HREF="http://www.onceuponapond.com/"Once upon a pond/A

Went to Southern States and bought a bale of barley straw for $3.00. That
ws 4 years ago. Still got most of the bale and the barley straw works just
fine in keeping out the algae. I put it in small hamster balls.


"Gareee©" wrote in message
...
Ok, these clear up ponds.. has anyone just tried barley, like from the
grocery store? Maybe in a punctured tupperware container or such?

Since our pond here's turning green, I'm starting to look for solutions.
Locally, when I mention barley balls and such, the people in the stores
look
at me like I have 2 heads...


--
Gareee©
Homepage:
http://www.fortunecity.com/tattooine.../mainframe.htm
Custom Figures, Wallpapers and more!

"Gareee©" wrote in message
...
Ok, these clear up ponds.. has anyone just tried barley, like from the
grocery store? Maybe in a punctured tupperware container or such?

Since our pond here's turning green, I'm starting to look for solutions.
Locally, when I mention barley balls and such, the people in the stores
look
at me like I have 2 heads...

Be sure to add a proper amount of malt as well. Save the hops for the last 5
minutes of the boil, unless of course you are making an India Pale Pond,
then add the hops in stages over the last 15 minutes of the boil. MMmmmm.

BV.

Would regular straw work? We cgot a few bails for grass seeding last year,
and stil have plenty of it.

--
Gareee©
Homepage:
http://www.fortunecity.com/tattooine.../mainframe.htm
Custom Figures, Wallpapers and more!

Gareee wrote Would regular straw work?

I don't think so. The whole barley business was discovered when farmers in
Europe noticed that run off thru fields of left over barley straw ran clear
when straw from other grain crops went had algae messes in their run off.

Aquatic Ecosystems has this to say -
Research through "Aquatic Weeds Research Unit U.K." indicates that barley
straw is highly effective in the control of algae. How about that, an organic
approach to algae control! It takes six to eight weeks for barley straw to
become active after it is placed in moving water. After that, barley straw will
remain an active algaecide for approximately six months. Microbial growth,
oxygen and warm water temperatures activate the decomposition of the straw.
With sufficient water flow through the straw, lignins oxidize into homic acids
and, with sunlight and oxygen, destroy algae, with no effect on higher plant
and aquatic life.
Barley straw decomposes slowly, so its oxygen demand does not cause problems
unless an excessive amount of straw is used. Stagnant water will go anaerobic
inside the straw bundle, killing the microbes, so be sure to keep the water
moving.

Now in six to eight weeks just about anything will clear a pond, water
hyacinths, anacharis, uv, veggie filter, time and patience ;-)


kathy :-)
A HREF="http://www.onceuponapond.com/"Once upon a pond/A