barley straw required to save pond...can anyone send me some?

[SueA]

I use watercress like blackkitty but I don't bother planting it in pots just put it in a jam jar of water until the roots appear & then drop it in the pond to float there. It does seem to help a bit with the algae/blanketweed problem.

[pigletwillie]

Eskymo,

my pond generally gets a bit of alge bloom in early spring until the chemical balance sorts itself out. Rather than screening it you would be better to plant some vegetation and aim to get 2/3rds of the surface covered with it. This will cure your problem. I dont use a uv filter now (although its plumbed in ready) and have clear water and yes I do have fish in it. The barley straw gives off a chemical that inhibits the growth of blanket weed but am not certain that it will work on algae. Also if you can, get either a small waterfall or fountain to help put O2 into the water.

[poultrychat]

I have a little solar fountain in my pond, it works well and if your pond is only small it might make all the difference

[eskymo]

we're not into fountains to be honest...

I'm going to try the watercress idea and got some rooting up nicely at the moment. I got the barley straw yesterday morning - thanks!!! It made my day as I was having a terrible morning - stressed out with work and stuff, so it really cheered me up and gave me a good excuse to have a break.

[blackkitty]

Just wondered if you've had any success with getting the pond to clear yet?

[eskymo]

nope - it's still green unfortunately. I added the barley straw and also added watercress which is struggling to grow and the water just doesn't seem to have cleared at all...we're at a loss as to what to do and are just leaving it in the hope that it might sort itself out.

I'm just worried aboutmy tadpoles as we can't see them anymore and I think a lot of them died and I douobt we'll get any frogs now.

[blackkitty]

I wouldn't worry too much about the tadpoles, they're probably down there somewhere...

[Bugeyes]

I think wiggly wigglers have a special offer on for barley straw at the moment....

[heebiejeebie]

I have a 10ftx8ft pond and have had problems with algae and blanketweed. I got barleystraw from a horsey friend and this eventually helped with the blanketweed, but it took ages! Several months to clear the weed, I think. I put in as much barleystraw as I could get in one hand at a time and replaced it when it got really manky. The algae is still a problem if I pull out too much of the pondweed when it tries to take over.

[eskymo]

Well, my pond is STILL green. I treid all the sugegstions in this thred - watercress, barley straw, creating shade etc and nothing have made any difference. Our tadpoles turned into frogs ok and so it hasn't affected them at all. I just don't knw what is making the water green. I've used aquatic compost for my plants.

Any more suggestions???

[nick the grief]

It won't hurt anything Eskymo, my pond is green & the fish breed like mice (if you see what I mean) They're obviously happy it's just me that cant see them.

[roitelet]

Well, my pond is STILL green. I treid all the sugegstions in this thred - watercress, barley straw, creating shade etc and nothing have made any difference. Our tadpoles turned into frogs ok and so it hasn't affected them at all. I just don't knw what is making the water green. I've used aquatic compost for my plants.

Any more suggestions???

How old is your pond, Eskymo? Mine is in its third year and although the water is not clear it's getting better. It takes a long time to sort out the chemical balance. I haven't been able to get barley straw so I have just put a bag of Barley in with a polystryene float and it seems to help. Now I am just waiting for the lilies to make a take over bid for the surface and may be that will di the trick. Mine is filled by water draining off the roof and I am sure that must carry some algae with it. Nil Desperandum! It will sort it's self out if you wait long enough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!