DISCLAIMER STATEMENT FOR GPF.....

[Arey]

Just my :twocents: "s worth, but when I have a problem I'll look it up online, in books, or wherever. THEN I may discuss the results of my search on a forum. Most of the poorly-informed folks who ask these questions have obviously done NO research, and do not INTEND to do any research! Once I realized this, I simply stopped replying to these queries. Hell, half of these people don't listen, anyways! :goodnight:
John

Only half? You're much more tolerant than I am. A lot of people just don't like to look things up, and would rather ask a question of someone than research it themself. It's like the platform information board at a train station. Some people will study the board to determin which train they want and when the next one is due, other's will walk up to a stranger and ask which train to take to get to H----town, and when the next one is due. The person being asked is unlikely to snarl "the information board is over there, look it up yourself". This is especially true if the person asking is 6' 5'" and wearing his leathers.

An internet forum is different, and people who would be polite and civil face to face, if only out of concern for their personal safety, can be just as rude and unpleasant as they please without fear of repercussions of a physical sort. A problem with the internet is you can google till your eyes lose focus, and your head swims and end up with so much conflicting and confusing information that you give up and ask a question on a forum. You may get a polite and useful answer from someone who loves to answer questions about string algae, you may be given several useful links to sites providing accurate information, or you may be told to "Look it up!" Or, like me, you can just ignore the question.

Actually I do have a string algae question of my own. If barley bales kill string algae, then how come string algae can grow on the barley bale? You may provide a polite and helpful answer, you can provide helpful links to answers, or you can tell me to "Look it up!" It doesn't matter which answer you give since I will probably ignore it.

 

[JohnHuff]

Are you 6' 5'" and wearing leathers?

Actually I do have a string algae question of my own. If barley bales kill string algae, then how come string algae can grow on the barley bale? You may provide a polite and helpful answer, you can provide helpful links to answers, or you can tell me to "Look it up!"

 

[Arey]

Before I answer your question I'd need to know if you're 6' 5" and wearing leathers.

 

[Fishylove]

:huh: did I miss something?

 

[Fishylove]

In answer to your question Arey..... In my simpleton mind.... I'm thinking it is in the decomposing. When the barley breaks down, the Introduction H2O to barley, gives H2O2 as a by-product? I'm sure SOMEONE on here can give the chemical breakdown resulting in the end product, but it's been 20 years
Although, after answering this.... How are you identifying the "algae" on the bale? Could it possibly be moss? Is the bale wet? Is the bale in the water? What are the variables?

 

[Mucky_Waters]

Actually I do have a string algae question of my own. If barley bales kill string algae, then how come string algae can grow on the barley bale? You may provide a polite and helpful answer, you can provide helpful links to answers, or you can tell me to "Look it up!" It doesn't matter which answer you give since I will probably ignore it.

For the same reason "bottled bacteria" has no effect, and cement ponds don't kill fish.

 

[JohnHuff]

The simple answer is that barley does not kill algae.

Actually I do have a string algae question of my own. If barley bales kill string algae, then how come string algae can grow on the barley bale?

 

[Arey]

In answer to your question Arey..... In my simpleton mind.... I'm thinking it is in the decomposing. When the barley breaks down, the Introduction H2O to barley, gives H2O2 as a by-product? I'm sure SOMEONE on here can give the chemical breakdown resulting in the end product, but it's been 20 years
Although, after answering this.... How are you identifying the "algae" on the bale? Could it possibly be moss? Is the bale wet? Is the bale in the water? What are the variables?

The barley bale was suspended on fishing line beneath the waterfall and mostly submerged. In attempting to remove it from the pond the fishing line broke and it sank to the bottom, and is now hidden in the heavy layer of muck in the bottom of the pond where it is no doubt nourishing a whole new crop of algae.

 

[Fishylove]

Lol fun....

 

[crsublette]

The barley bale was suspended on fishing line beneath the waterfall and mostly submerged. In attempting to remove it from the pond the fishing line broke and it sank to the bottom, and is now hidden in the heavy layer of muck in the bottom of the pond where it is no doubt nourishing a whole new crop of algae.

I enjoy the humor, but lets take it serious for a moment...

((and a quick good reference written by our handsome Waterbug, Barley straw clears ponds - myth based on facts.))

I thnk there is far too much hype with barley, that is pushed by the "organic industrial complex" :huh: . Sure, no doubt, I bet barley does produce phenols or a similar hydrogen peroxide compound, but this is only looking at a very small piece of the picture. For the rest of the picture, what happens to the rest of the barley?? Barley is composed of the constituent parts that once made it. So, this would indicate that these other parts would be released into the water as well.

If 100% of the barley actually did decompose into a phenol attacker of algae or a similar hydrogen peroxide compound, then it would remedy most, if not all, algae when instructions are properly followed. Although, as most has experienced with it, I think it is fair to say that the efficacy of barley's results are notably low.

To imitate how barley "supposedly" works in this context, there has been experiments of using a device with very thin membrane, that is so thin to allow a type of slow osmosis leaching of the compound within, as is done with barley, and this container was filled with various phenols and hyrogen peroxide. It actually worked, but the membrane was so delicate that itself would decompose too quick and the material was not cheap at all.

If the phenol or hydrogen peroxide theory is true, then just use the real stuff rather than playing a risky game of "russian roulette", that is with the decomposing barley due to the potential unkown constituent elements also released with the barley.


This is a perfect example of why telling folk, "just do a search", is dangerous advice to give to a concerned pond owner and why readers need to keep their gaurd up.

 

[HARO]

Actually I do have a string algae question of my own. If barley bales kill string algae, then how come string algae can grow on the barley bale? You may provide a polite and helpful answer, you can provide helpful links to answers, or you can tell me to "Look it up!" It doesn't matter which answer you give since I will probably ignore it.

Ah, yes.... one of the great philosophical questions of our time! If a tree falls in the forest.....! I think John Huff is right on the money with his answer. It doesn't REALLY work, but if you BELIEVE it works, and your algae goes away of its own accord, then OBVIOUSLY the barley did it!! Sound scientific proof to the gullible smuck who just put out $20. For a bundle of straw that may or may not be barley!
I work at a garden center in the spring of the year, looking after all aspects of water gardening. When I started, I refused to carry questionable 'remedies' such as barley, bacteria, etc. Even though I would explain to customers WHY these things weren't available, many were ticked off that they had to travel further to get it! I caved in, and now stock whatever folks want. Hell, if they're determined to spend their money, why shouldn't I take it? :banghead3:
John

See, I can be polite if it sounds like someone is really interested, even if they are 5'4" and wearing a siut! :cheerful:

 

[JohnHuff]

Wait a minute... This is too much...
We've used superlatives and expletives in our descriptions of our good friend WB but when did he become handsome?
Surely, if your picture is anything to go by, this appellative should be yours and yours only.

((and a quick good reference written by our handsome Waterbug, Barley straw clears ponds - myth based on facts.))

 

[crsublette]

Wait a minute... This is too much...
We've used superlatives and expletives in our descriptions of our good friend WB but when did he become handsome?
Surely, if your picture is anything to go by, this appellative should be yours and yours only.

Hey hey now!! :cheerful:

Well, you know what they say... Fine art is always in the eye of beholder.... Yes, I just went there... :cheerful: :bdaybiggrin: :claphands:

 

[Becky]

I'd like to draw a line under this now.

I think Mmathis made a good point in the original post which I quite agree with. Don't forget that we mods are here to help resolve issues - if someone is behaving inappropriately then hit the report button and we will take a look - I'd much rather that content is reported before it gets out of hand. Reporting a post doesn't go down on anyone's track record, it just flags something to our attention so feel free to use it.

Let's treat each other as we wish to be treated ourselves