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| Question: | I've heard that Barley Straw makes a good filter, and algae reduction system. Is it good? | Related links |
| Answer: | I have used this before in a couple of small, sparsely populated systems and the fish were unharmed. I did not personally appreciate the tea color given to the water, so I have my doubts that a serious Koi collector would wish it on his fish. Apparently it works by the production of Humic acid which had a natural inhibitory effect on green algae growth.
Decomposing hay or barley straw rapidly establishes a high microbe count and many of these are heterotrophs which can reduce some Ammonia and Nitrite. Decomposing hay elaborates a considerable amount of humic acid which is inhibitory to plant growth, especially to green-algae plant growth. Decomposing hay also raises the organic load of the system and I think; represents pollution of the water, if not by Ammonia and Nitrite. I still don't think it's as good as a real filter which reduces organics and toxic metabolites of de-nitrification. Many people who have tried it noticed the water became pretty clear, except it also became yellow to brown. |
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