Anyone ever run Barley in an aquarium?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
A

AtomixIGN

Gambusia
MFK Member
Feb 20, 2006
382
3
18
45
Pohatcong, NJ
I run barley in my ponds to keep them crystal clear and algeafree.

Well the tank I keep at work, a 75 gallon with an emp 400 and sponge filter stocked witth tetras, corries, ottos, an assortment of inverts and a bristlenose is anything but. It's just getting too damn much sun and if it's not cloudy it's green. I've been changing 50 gallons of water out every Friday for the last couple of weeks and come the next friday it's green again. I even planted the tank with some grasses and parrotsfeather and no effect.


Because it's at work I can't pull funds to pick up a magnum and an inline UV. So I was thinking about throwing barley in the media basket. I have the barley... anybody have any thoughts?
 
Barley would be a waste in a small tank and possibly a hazard. The primary purpose of barley is to promote an aerobic bacterial bloom and hold bacteria that use the same nutrients in the water column as algae does. Dropping barley mats or extract in a small tank will only promote major blooms. Your best bet is to either move the tank away from as much direct sunlight as possible. Or affix opaque backgrounds to the back and sides to cut down on the light reaching the tank.
 
Thank you.

The tank is where it has to be. Up against acaertain wall in a certain spot. The light comes from the 200 feet of 6' tall windows on the opposing wall 20' away.

What about one of the seachem uber filter medias?
 
I think a UV would be your best bet. I have seen algae killing treatments in my LFS though I dont like adding chemicals to my tanks. But it might help if you are not opposed to them.
 
AtomixIGN said:
I know UV is the end all be all. But the cheapest I know of is the turbotwist for around $80. Then the plumbing...

:(
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Doesn't need to be a turbo-twist (they're more expensive now because they're "new & improved"). My 11 watt Jebo UV cost me $39/delivered, from ebay, and it came with a 350 GPH powerhead that plugs right into it.
Heck...even at $80 plus plumbing for a turbo-twist UV...it's still only a quarter of the cost of a complete filter upgrade (W/D with refugium that will use all the nutrients that algae would seek).
 
I'll talk to the director of the Center about using her creditcard for an online purchase.


I googled up Jebo and I found a review that destroyed me. And reenforced why i come here.

This is one of those, "you pay for what you get" situations. I bought one of these a while ago, but never set it up because of lack of instructions. Its not that I couldn't figure out how to plumb it, but there are no flow rates listed. And when I look up general reccomendations for this size UV and powerhead, the PH is to strong for the maximum dwell time.
So when I finally do set it up, it leaks. Big time. One of the seals on the main housing unit was so poorly done, it was spewing water out. (thats why you can't trust a 10 year old to weld plastics). The plastic itself is very cheap and you have to be very careful trying to unscrew the unit, or you will probably get a crack.
I'm sure it will do its job when the leaks are fixed, but for now I'm still waiting for the epoxy to cure.
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If I can swing a UV it will be the cheapest thing I can find on http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp18545/si1383256/cl0/Coralife_Turbo_Twist_3X___9_Watt_UV_Sterilizer. She already has an account over there.
 
I got permission to purchase a UV set-up for the tank. The director of the center has an account with Big Als so she asked me to put together a wishlist for tomorrow.


I'm either going to go with the Coralife 9Watt Turbotwist or the Aqua Medic 9 Watt depending on what you guys think about the two.


Also I see they have the Magnum 350 deluxe Pro cannister for 80 bucks. Originally I was thinking I could just buy some tubing and a spraybar and run the UV off of the Penguin 660 R powerhead I already have in the tank... But now I'm thinking an inline set-up with the Magnum for a cleaner look and added filtration. But I'm concerned about the higher flowrate.... Any thoughts?
 
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