My pond water has been clear all winter until this week. I had a sick fish and had to add some pond salt with a 50% water change. I also cleaned the filter while I was at it. The water stayed clear. After about 2 weeks I thought I should add some [1 ounce] liquid barley that I had left over from last year. 2 or 3 days later I noticed that the water was cloudy [a greenish brown color] and has been cloudy since. I still have the same old string algae that I have had for a few months now. I am wondering if it could be the liquid barley that I added. Maybe it was to old? Any one know? :unsure:

Tia

I'm not sure what's in the liquid barley. If there's actual non-decomposed barley straw in it, then it could potentially provide enough "food" to create a bacterial bloom. Or, the cloudy water could just a coicidence since it's getting warmer. The container should have an expiration date on it. If it's expired, toss it.

Geez I didn't even think about checking the exp date. Thanks for the reminder. When I opened to bottle it had little brown specks in the bottom. I will toss it.

Looked at my new bottle this am doesn't have and expiration date. If I get a chance I will ask the supplier if their is one today.

Fm3

They are supposed to be able to tell you based on the serial number or code on the label. Finding someone bright enough on the other end of the phone however can sometimes be a challenge!

Tia I checked out 5 different web sites on barley x tract and none listed their product as having a shelf life. I would not dispose of the balance. You did a 50% water change that in itself will introduce allot of nutrients to your system which will encourage more algae growth. Barley only helps balance your pond chemicals which inhibits algae growth. I would add more if anything. My new bottle also has the same residue on the bottom. Good luck !

FM3

FM3, I am not arguing with you on water change having an effect but I found this info I have pasted below on Microblift's forum. I got the idea to look there after reading your last post. :) I don't think that I have had the stuff for a year yet.
Maybe I will change a little more water this weekend and add more product if it doesn't stink! :rolleyes:
Tia

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Question: I bought a gallon of the Microbe Lift PL. My question is can I store the left over if I do not use the whole gallon? Also whats the shelf life if I have opened or not opened the gallons yet?


Answer: The ML/PL can be stored with no problem as long as you keep it out of temperature extremes. It’s best to store it out of direct sun in summer and indoors in winter (or somewhere sheltered from freezing). The PL will be good for 2 years unopened and 1 year after opening. It’s the strong sulfur smell (rotten eggs) that gives it its long shelf life.
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The information you took off the forum is about their bacterial concoction and not the barley extract.

I thought you said the water got cloudy two weeks after the 50% water change and immediately after adding the barley extract? I also thought the water was more cloudy than suspended algae green, or is it green? If it is suspended algae, it could just be a reaction to the water change and added nutrients which usually takes about a week to cause an algae bloom.

Right Robyn. I did say that it was fine after the water change. The water is cloudy and not green with algae like I had last summer. It's more a greenish brown. It doesn't seem to be getting any worse as the days pass. The water temp has been around 45 degrees F for the last week and I am still pulling out string algae.
I think it's time for me to go read the label. :blink:

tlc

When you take out string algae, you also release a lot of detritus that has become trapped in the algae over the winter as well as smaller particles of broken up string algae. This will also cause temporary cloudiness of a somewhat greenish-brown color. The water addition can cause a bacterial bloom, such as one sees several days after setting up a new aquarium. When I remove string algae, I have to clean my filter every few days until the water clears again.

Don