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#1
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Barley balls....
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! |
#2
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Barley balls....
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! |
#3
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Barley balls....
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 |
#4
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Barley balls....
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. |
#5
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Barley balls....
GrannyGrump wrote That is probably wheat straw. Why would you say that? kathy :-) A HREF="http://www.onceuponapond.com/"Once upon a pond/A |
#6
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Barley balls....
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. |
#7
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Barley balls....
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 |
#8
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Barley balls....
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! |
#9
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Barley 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... 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. |
#10
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Barley balls....
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! |
#11
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Barley balls....
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 |
#12
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Barley balls....
"Ka30P" wrote in message
... Now in six to eight weeks just about anything will clear a pond, water hyacinths, anacharis, uv, veggie filter, time and patience ;-) We have 3 peace lilies, and just got some water lilies, but they won't be blooming for a month or two. The green doesn't bother us that much.. we're just happy to have a pond again! I'll have to check the local feed store, and see if they have barley bails. Not sure if I can locate it here in the boondocks... Thank god for Internet online ordering -- Gareee© Homepage: http://www.fortunecity.com/tattooine.../mainframe.htm Custom Figures, Wallpapers and more! |
#13
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Barley balls....
Gareee© wrote:
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... As both a pond enthusiast and homebrewer, and having a ready supply of barley and malt on hand, I thought I might combine my two loves. After checking out the ridiculous prices that pond stores want for barley straw, I tried various experiments with what I have on hand. One thing I tried was using spent malt, well rinsed, in a stocking between the filter pads of my biofalls. (Heck, it's just waste matter that usually goes into my compost bin anyway). Doesn't work! Lots of string algae. Then, I tried plain (unbrewed) flaked barley in the same fashion. No go. I have yet to try the barley straw, but other posters in this group seem to find that it works. I think I may just bite the bullet, save my barley for beer, and get the straw! -- Bill "Wise fool" Gandalf, THE TWO TOWERS -- The Wise will remove 'se' to reply; the Foolish will not-- |
#14
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Barley balls....
how do you use irish moss?
the stuff I have is a plant,,, in dirt , with roots. "Benign Vanilla" wrote in message ... "Bill O'Meally" wrote in message ... Gareee© wrote: 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... As both a pond enthusiast and homebrewer, and having a ready supply of barley and malt on hand, I thought I might combine my two loves. After checking out the ridiculous prices that pond stores want for barley straw, I tried various experiments with what I have on hand. Have you tried the Irish moss yet? BV. |
#15
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Barley balls....
"*muffin*" wrote in message ... how do you use irish moss? the stuff I have is a plant,,, in dirt , with roots. snip Sorry muff...I was continuing the thread on beer ingrediants. Irish moss is used in dry form as a clarifying agent when brewing beer. BV. |
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