Algae and barley straw in garden ponds
Over the last 4 years or so barley straw has come into vogue as a means for solving suspended algae problems in ponds and particularly blanketweed algae problems. However discussion was almost always superficial, word of mouth or anecdotal.
Algae and Barley StrawI never saw any significant reference to field trials or other types of research. I never even came across attempts to explain why it was supposed to work. Some people swore it worked, others swore it didn't work. Pond pads, loose straw, small bales of straw, so called barley straw extracts were concocted and offered for sale. The logic behind the claimed success with the product and the reasoning however remained elusive.
The result of all this was that the product did not create confidence in users and perhaps more importantly in the people who could have promoted the product.
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Recently I discovered that in the 1990s Dr Jonathan Newman of the IACR-Centre For Aquatic Plant Management in the UK did what is really (from what I can gather) the only available research work on barley straw and its impact upon algae problems in ponds and running water systems.
The research publication is very enlightening and for me sheds light on what has always been considered to be a black magic approach to pond keeping.
Details of the reference are Information Sheet 3, Control Of Algae Using Straw published in 1999. Tel IACR on +441189690072
Everything you read in this section is based upon this published work. I personally have not tried to verify any of the facts presented but have little reason to doubt the reported results and especially as reported for small ponds.
My own internet research using Vivisimo and Google has proved enlightening and from becoming a believer in that it might work I now do believe it will work in a very high proportion of cases subject to the correct application and instructions being followed.
In my opinion barley straw will never replace the UV as a definite way to prevent green water since this system is almost foolproof and hassle-free assuming the correctly sized unit has been bought. On the other hand there are many people out there who cannot afford the cost of an UV. Barley straw may well be their solution to disappointing pond conditions. see bottom of page for continuation
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| Ultra Violet Light Clarification | |
| Will | Will NOT |
| Kill any algae exposed directly to the UV rays - ie those algae circulating in the pond water | Kill any algae not exposed directly to the UV rays eg Blanketweed, or algae attached to pond surfaces |
| Do the best job when designed to cope with the system installed | Kill bacteria or viruses. The design is such that pond units cannot reach sufficiently high radiation levels. Sterilisation UV units are required for this purpose. |
| Provide clear water when designed and installed correctly without any doubt so long as murkiness is due to algae presence | Normally effect medication so does not have to be switched off during treatment |
| Do any harm to plants, fish or filter bacteria | |
Barley straw article continued Buy the low cost combo pond filter and UV containing Alfagrog or Supra as it's called in USA
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solution to blanketweed problems
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