Barley Straw

[tasha]

Hi there
I heard that if you weigh down some barley straw in the bottom of your pond,
it attracts all the nutrientys and algae and helps to keep it clean and
clear. Is this true?

[GrannyGrump]

>I heard that if you weigh down some barley straw in the bottom of your pond,
>it attracts all the nutrientys and algae and helps to keep it clean and
>clear. Is this true?

No.

What it does is decompose, releasing gases that kill the algae, thus
leaving clear water.

[Rich]

I put mine in my filter with the bio balls.




"tasha" > wrote in message
...
> Hi there
> I heard that if you weigh down some barley straw in the bottom of your
pond,
> it attracts all the nutrientys and algae and helps to keep it clean and
> clear. Is this true?
>
>
>

[GrannyGrump]

>I put mine in my filter with the bio balls.

Good place, since straw needs running water to work properly.

[Sam Hopkins]

It releases lignins when it decomposes. These lignins then oxide to humic
acids which then get converted to hydrogen peroxide when sunlight shines on
it. Hydrogen peroxide does not stop existing algae, it only limits new
growth.

Oxygen is required for this to work and if you have little O2 in your water
your fish will suffer oxygen starvation. It takes about a month for the
whole process to kick in.

Sam


"tasha" > wrote in message
...
> Hi there
> I heard that if you weigh down some barley straw in the bottom of your
pond,
> it attracts all the nutrientys and algae and helps to keep it clean and
> clear. Is this true?
>
>
>

[Anne Lurie]

I'm not sure how much running water the barley straw (in a plastic ball
holder) got in my teeny water garden, but it seemed to be collecting "gunk"
quite well before my dog discovered that the holder made a good dog toy --
it only took her a day or so to teach me to "fetch" :)

Anne Lurie
Raleigh, NC


"GrannyGrump" > wrote

> Good place, since straw needs running water to work properly.