Does BARLEY STRAW really work to control algae in ponds?
Answer:
Yes, it works. You roughly need about 225 lbs. per acre, or four bales. Read page 6 of the following link.
I tried it, but I couldn't say one way or another. The straw dissolve pretty quickly. I would buy it at a feed and tack store, because the Koi place I bought it was expensive.
Hey.ponds are green! Unless you are in the high mountains. I applaud you for trying non toxic approaches. Copper algaecides buildup in ponds and are only temporary at knocking back the algae. Is it really a problem? Filamentous floating kind? or just pea-soup green? If the fish aren't dying and things don't smell too bad then maybe leave enough alone. Get as much shade over the pond as possible. Get lillies or even duckweed to shade out algae and be more "acceptable" growth. Try the straw but don't expect much. Put in predatory fish to get rid of small fish that eat zooplankton that (if they weren't being eaten) might knock down the phytoplankton. That won't help stringy floating algae, however.
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