Barley Straw Extract for Green Water Algae ?

"Michi Henning" wrote in message ...
"Rikko" wrote in message
...

This was the Laguna bagged stuff - I've heard nothing about using
liquid extracts or the like, but I don't know that they would work. I
believe the principle behind it is that the slow decay of the barley
releases enzymes that discourage algae growth.. I can't see a liquid
providing any sort of time release decay.

There are liquid products around that are made from barley extract.
They are supposed to contain the same enzymes -- you simply have
to dose them every few days. I tried one of these for a few months
to see whether I'd make any progress on a slight green water problem
and some green fuzz algae. To me, the stuff didn't seem to be effective.
(Of course, there may have been other issues with my water parameters
at the time that were dominant, so the barley extract couldn't work.)

In general, with algae growth, there is something not quite
in balance in the tank. To me, the best way to address the problem
then is to find out what's not right and address that. If I add
something to an already out-of-balance tank, thereby really
putting it even more out of balance, that seems unlikely to be
remedy for the problem (except maybe as a short-term fix).

Cheers,

Michi.


In order to test the effectiveness of ANY algae cure, you need to make
sure you are not limiting the plants.

Most aquarist have trouble with that part, and this is why they have
the algae in the first place.

This is also why is a bad idea and poor approach to plant keeping to
focus on the algae and not on the plants.

I have done several attempts with barley straw as have two other
aquarist that were/are able to provide careful nutrient levels to the
plants and also have several species of large epiphytic algae that was
in log growth phase and also just stagnant growth.

Under non limiting conditions the straw extract and the straw itself
had NO IMPACT on the algae.

We did not test it on green water but I doubt it will be any
different.
One thing that the straw does is provide a good place for rotifers and
supplies some nutrients to the bacterial loop. Several papers have
conflicting reports about it and the assumed active ingredient,
peroxide.

I think it is useful for ponds in some cases, not all, but having
enough macrophytes will also prevent any green water from ever forming
so adding more plants versus adding abale of rotting straw seems a bit
more logical to me.

They also sell straw pellets which sink.

General rule: stay away from any algae cures, work on growing the
plants well, you will save more money, waste less time and have a
better looking tank.

Regards,
Tom Barr

" wrote in message
om...
"Michi Henning" wrote in message
...

In general, with algae growth, there is something not quite
in balance in the tank. To me, the best way to address the problem
then is to find out what's not right and address that. If I add
something to an already out-of-balance tank, thereby really
putting it even more out of balance, that seems unlikely to be
remedy for the problem (except maybe as a short-term fix).

One thing that the straw does is provide a good place for rotifers and
supplies some nutrients to the bacterial loop. Several papers have
conflicting reports about it and the assumed active ingredient,
peroxide.

Hmmm... Tom, to paraphrase you, you are essentially saying
that barley straw may help to reduce algae because it adds
nutrients? If I understood that correctly then, I guess that makes
both your and my point :-)

The peroxide thing is interesting though, especially considering
that people have been using peroxide as a spot-treatment for
black brush algae. Do you have any links about this? This
sounds interesting...

BTW -- I have anecdotal evidence that treating a tank with
KMnSO4 works as a remedy for blue-green algae, which
would sort of link in with the peroxide thing. I'm curious now...

Cheers,

Michi.

--
Michi Henning Ph: +61 4 1118-2700
ZeroC, Inc. http://www.zeroc.com

Hmmm... Tom, to paraphrase you, you are essentially saying
that barley straw may help to reduce algae because it adds
nutrients? If I understood that correctly then, I guess that makes
both your and my point :-)

It could. It adds organic carbon, so in a sense it's adding nutrients
perhaps a few others. But is it really helping the plants grow better?
No.

The peroxide thing is interesting though, especially considering
that people have been using peroxide as a spot-treatment for
black brush algae. Do you have any links about this? This
sounds interesting...

Peroxide studies have been done namely on perti dishes with various
organisms including algae and measuring the diameter of inhibition.
You can try this without fish in a planted tank(something I've done
for a long while for various plant algae torture) also. Cheap and easy
to do/try.
Measure a certain volume/concentration and frequency over time and
note effects.
Hard part: making sure that the nutrients are non limiting/stable.
If you can do that and it's not merely an academic intellectual issue,
then you don't ask algae questions very much:-)

That's the biggest issue, not whether sanke oil no#1 works or not.
Then the plants grow which is the goal in the first place.

BTW -- I have anecdotal evidence that treating a tank with
KMnSO4 works as a remedy for blue-green algae, which
would sort of link in with the peroxide thing. I'm curious now...

Permangnate works great as does any strong oxidizer like bleach,
peroxide, even pure O2, O3, water changes and removal of excess
organic material which reduces the tank's environment.

Cheers,

Michi.

But yes, you have the right idea there Michi.
I much prefer using light to get rid of algae and then re set the tank
parameters. Cheaper and less risk and works. Other algae can be
trimmed off or filtered etc.

Regards,
Tom Barr