Barley Straw
Keep Your Water Clean and Clear With All-Natural Water Quality Control
Aquatic Technologies Is Trusted By Leading Water Management Bodies
Barley Straw Keeps Green Water Away
Barley Straw by Aquatic Technologies provides a natural long-term solution to maintain clean and clear water in ponds, dams, lakes and water features.
- Proven and effective solution
- Sustainable method
- Simple and easy to use
Australian Made And Owned
Barley Straw works in:
Fish Ponds
Small And Large Ponds
Small and Large Dams
Water Features
Which product is best for you?
Fish tanks / Aquariums / Fish Ponds
For best results: Apply Aquarium Strength at the same time you apply Pellets for 5 days to ensure protection while the pellets are activating.
| Aquarium Strength Barley Straw Extract | Barley Straw Pellets | |
|---|---|---|
| Activation | Quick acting - the liquid concentrate begins to work immediately | Long lasting - the pellets begin to work in 3-4 days |
| Application | Weekly application required | Monthly application required |
| Recommendation | Apply at the first signs of algal growth or before algal growth starts | Apply before algal growth starts |
Fish Ponds / Ponds / Dams / Lakes
For best results: Apply Barley Straw Extract at the same time you apply Barley Straw Bales for 4 - 6 weeks to ensure protection while the bales are activating.
| Barley Straw Extract | Barley Straw Bales | |
|---|---|---|
| Activation | Quick acting - the liquid concentrate begins to work immediately | Long lasting - the bales begin to work in 4 - 6 weeks |
| Application | Weekly application required | Remove and replace bales every 4 - 6 months |
| Recommendation | Apply at the first signs of algal growth or before algal growth starts | Apply at the first signs poor water quality |
| Barley Straw Extract | Barley Straw Bales |
|---|---|
| Activation | |
| Quick acting - the liquid concentrate begins to work immediately | Long lasting - the bales begin to work in 4 - 6 weeks |
| Application | |
| Weekly application required | Remove and replace bales every 4 - 6 months |
| Recommendation | |
| Apply at the first signs of algal growth or before algal growth starts | Apply the straw very early in the spring or before algal growth starts |
| Aquarium Strength Barley Straw Extract | Barley Straw Pellets |
|---|---|
| Activation | |
| Quick acting - the liquid concentrate begins to work immediately | Long lasting - the pellets begin to work in 3-4 days |
| Application | |
| Weekly application required | Monthly application required |
| Recommendation | |
| Apply at the first signs of algal growth or before algal growth starts | Apply before algal growth starts |
Use of both physical straw and liquid straw extract together has shown to improve water quality
How Barley Straw Works
Barley straw bales
As Barley Straw Bales break down they ferment and release a natural extract that helps to keep your water clean and clear. The bales come complete and ready to use in their own net back with float included.
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Barley straw extract
Aquatic Barley Straw Extract is derived from distilled aquatic barley straw bales. It is highly concentrated and no fermentation is required to release the natural deterrent. Because of this it is quicker to act than Barley Straw Bales. Simply measure out the required dose and apply directly to your water to be treated.
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Barley straw pellets
These handy pellets are ground up and refined barley straw hay that break down quickly in water releasing natural extracts that improve water quality. Simply transfer the pellets into mesh bags provided and submerge directly into the water to be treated, preferably close to your filtration system or where there is moving water.
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Aquarium Strength Barley Straw Extract
This super concentrated blend of Barley Straw Extract means you need less product for your fish tanks and aquariums. The liquid formula allows you to keep your fish tank serene and does not detract from your aquarium set-up. Simply measure out the required dose and apply directly to your tank.
Shop aquarium strengthWhen Is The Best Time To Use Barley Straw?
The best period to add barley straw is during early spring to early summer, before water conditions favour algae growth1. In early summer, warmer waters make the barley straw more effective. When the surface layer of water is greater than 21°C, adding barley straw may be effective within 2 - 6 weeks.2
How Much Do You Need For Your Body Of Water?
The product and amount required will depend on the size of the body of water being treated.
Fish Tanks
Aquariums
Aquarium Strength
5mL per 50L of water
Pellets
10g per filtration bag for every 75L of water
Bales
Extract
Fish Ponds
Small Ponds
Aquarium Strength
Pellets
10g per filtration bag treats up to 75L of water
Bales
100g per 2m² of water surface area
Extract
15mL per 100L of water
Large Ponds
Small Dams
Aquarium Strength
Pellets
Bales
1kg per 20m² of water surface area
Extract
30mL per 2000L of water
Large Dams
Aquarium Strength
Pellets
Bales
Extract
10L per 1ML of water
ENCLOSED WATER TANKS
Aquarium Strength
Pellets
Bales
Extract
10mL per 100L of water
Work out how many Barley Straw bales you need:
Multiply your water bodies surface area (m²) by recommended grams of barley straw per 1m² (20g per 1m²).
For example; (900m² x 20g/m²) = 18,000g of barley straw.
To calculate kilograms, divide grams by 1000.
For example; (18,000/1,000) = 18kg of barley straw.
Where to place bales in the water?
- Placement does not need to be exact.
- If there are any inflowing streams, it is advisable to increase the number of nets near the inlet so that water flows through the straw and distributes the extract into the lake.
- In an irregularly shaped water body, the preferred place for some of the nets is opposite any promontories or points where the nets will be exposed to maximum wind and wave action.
- Use several small quantities rather than one large one
- Bales should then be placed so that each net is roughly equal distance from its neighbours and from the bank.
Barley Straw Has Been Used Successfully For Centuries
Use of barley straw to suppress algae growth dates back to the Middle Ages, when countries started to experience cyano-bacteria outbreaks in drinking water supplies. People started drinking liquor made from barley rotted in water because3 the alcohol was sufficient to kill pathogenic bacteria. In 1980, a farmer noticed that an accidental addition of rotting straw4 reduced algae growth the following year . Since then, barley straw’s ability to control algae has been well-studied and documented. Decomposing barley straw in well aerated water releases compounds that inhibit algal growth. It has been5 shown that barley straw is active against a range of algae including unicellular and filamentous forms.
Sources
[1] B. Prf and J. Newman, Centre for Aquatic Plant Management INFORMATION SHEET 1: CONTROL OF ALGAE WITH BARLEY STRAW. 2012.
[2] J. Holmes, “Barley Straw: A Natural Algae Inhibitor,” in 4th Annual WIOA NSW Water Industry Engineers & Operators Conference, Bathurst, 2010, pp. 33-39: Slade, M. Pressure Sewer Services Australia, 2020.
[3] G. Wefer, W.H. Berger, K.E. Behre, and E. Jansen, Climate Development and History of the North Atlantic Realm. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2103.
[4] M.D. Ferrier, B.R. Butler, Sr. D.E. Terlizzi, and R.V. Lacouture, “The effects of barley straw (Hordeum vulgare) on the growth of freshwater algae, “Bioresour Technol, vol. 96, no. 16, pp. 1788-95, Nov 2005.
[5] J.M. Pillinger, J.A. Cooper, and I. Ridge, ‘Role of Phenolic Compounds in The Antialgal Activity of Barley Straw, ‘Journal of Chemical Ecology, vol.20, no. 7, 1994.