Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations algae control question?

i am currently having a problem with algae in my 1/2 acre pond. one of my friends was explaining to me to put several bails of barley straw in my pond and that would eliminate my problem.i am definitely no expert in this area.has anyone else heard of this barley straw method before. thanks for any help in this area?

I tried the barley straw this past spring after I got filmilgous algae, and it really seemed to help. They say that there is several ways to do it,but I just put about 5 30# bales around shore line of my 1/2 acrer pond,with about 6" exposed. They tell me I should put straw in before the algae starts. So this spring I'm going to put it around shore at last week of March. We"ll now more after this trial this spring. One thing I did do was drive the plastic rebar into each bale to hold in place, then this fall I removed the bales and will install new this spring. Only had to pay 1.50 bale from some amish family that grows it here.( No expert here just willing to try different things.)
P.S. Some farmers here tell me they have thrown in hay bales in their ponds to make them more clear.

Hi, Would concur with PO. I'm doing much the same. I'm rolling the loose straw in nylon mesh netting and anchoring much the same way. Straw won't kill existing algae, but will remove condtions favarable to algae growth. I paid 4.00 per 25-30 lb. bale. Water temp. needs to get up around 50 degrees before natural chemical reaction starts. Slydog

PO, didn't you use tilapia too? Your previous Tilapia post stated that you added them in May and you had a lot of FA. When was the barley straw added in relation to the tilapia stocking and your last application of Cutrine?

Using the barley straw does work. The North American Lake Management Society had several presentations on the results this year during their symposium.

The earlier you place it the better results can be anticipated. The straw does not absorb any of the nutrients, but it is the enzyme that is produced as the straw rots that does the job.

So get that straw out, put it loosely in mesh bags and stake it to the shore line. If you can place it in a location that ther is flow, that woks even better. It does have to have air to work too, so do not sink it with bricks.

Good luck!

If you can place it in a location that ther is flow, that woks

I need to proof read these before I post them!

Ryan, I used the Barley straw the year before the tilapia, it did seem to help some but couldn't keep up with the FA production and since my pond sets close to front of our property it didn't look very pretty with all the straw bales staked around the shore lines, and was a mess to clean up. Next year tried Meadowlarks suggestion about tilapia and within three weeks they had all the FA cleaned up and pond looked great all summer and no chemicals used after tilapia were put in. The only problem I had was I got the Niles Tilapia for dollar apiece 1/4 pounders. I got 170 fish and put in 1/2 acre pond (did remove a few for friend)and that was way to many for size of pond, because they would roam together and stir up shallow areas so pond stayed cloudy looking (not muddy). This year I"m going to start out with just 20 fish and add as needed. This was the best advice I ever got on fighting the FA. Thanks again Meadowlark for advice and Bill Cody for telling me how to find out where to buy them in my area. Good Luck Ryan
PO

PO,

My pleasure, friend. If the pond world ever fully catches on to Tilapia, we probably won't be able to find them each spring...that's one reason I'm looking for overwintering capabilities.

I've noticed that each year I can reduce the stocking rates for Tilapia and still get great algae control. Apparently some mechanism at work there that I don't understand. From a forage standpoint, they so significantly improved the BG numbers, that I can also reduce Tilapia stocking rates on that basis alone.

Tilapia...the greatest single pond management tool available anywhere today...bar none

So where do you get tilapia? And where on earth did you get your barley straw for that great price? Our local feedstore does not stock it, so over the internet it was about $80 for 2 bails. I agree totally that it works, and that the time is now.
Sara