Thread or Spirogyra algae

[Judi]

Barley straw decomposes to release hydrogen peroxide

Really? Wow! How cool is that?

[scientist0724]

I've had good results using the barley and peat extract that Tetra Pond sells. I use it for the first two to three months while waiting for plants to settle in and grow.

I always try to have a bottle on hand and the bottle will last for a year. I always make sure that I have a bottle over the winter months because they are not available at most store during the winter. They only come out when pond season starts. They also go on clearance at the end of summer, beginning of fall.

Arlene

[sfarkhan]

Is the extract H2O2 or bits of the straw?

[scientist0724]

Not sure. All the package says that it's natural ingredients of barley extract and peat extract. There are no straw bits in the bottle. I also have seen small bales of straw in the pond sections of box stores.

Arlene

[jweis]

Not sure. All the package says that it's natural ingredients of barley extract and peat extract. There are no straw bits in the bottle. I also have seen small bales of straw in the pond sections of box stores.

Arlene

Arlene,
Since this is meant for a pond, how much do you dose per 10 gallons?

[scientist0724]

2 ml for every 10 gallons.

Arlene

[jweis]

2 ml for every 10 gallons.

Arlene

How often?

[scientist0724]

I usually add the extracts when I do water changes.

Arlene

[Ben Belton]

Sorry, I have kinda neglected this until now. I think I was mentally suppressing the memory of having to deal with this stuff. It's a complete nightmare.

I hate to bring this up, but here goes.... When I got back going with my aquarium, it was like the book of Exodus. I had every plague known to aquariums. Algae, planaria, wolfia. One of my problems was Spirogyra. There is a really long thread on it on planted tank. I can't find it now. It recommended various doses of Excel, and/or blackouts, and/or peroxide, and/or combinations of everything.. water changes... algae eating fish.. algae eating shrimp... voodoo. I tried them all and nothing work. I did this over months. I killed so many cherry shrimp, snails, and expensive fish it was obscene. I finally decided I couldn't be anymore cruel and inhumane to my tanks inhabitants than I already had, so I decided to go outside the box and use the nuke option. Mardel Coppersafe.

My tank is a 75 and the recommended dose for that is about 95ml. I changed the water (which killed more stressed out shrimp) and put in 60ml. No fish died, no plants died, no shrimp died, and the algae was gone in 2-3 days. A month or so later, I got Syirogyra again. This time I decided to try a lower dose. I put in 30ml of Coppersafe. No fish died, no plants died, no shrimp died, and the algae was gone in 2-3 days. I haven't had any since.

FWIW

Ben

[scientist0724]

Ooo...I'll try this option too!

Arlene