Triton Barley Pillow FAQ’S

1. Q. Why is the Triton Barley Pillow Superior to the other barley straw products?
A. The packaging is the critical issue. The strain of barley that we are producing grows with a large diameter stem, which results in a rate of decomposition that will give a good 12-weeks of active effect of the barley straw. The system by which the product is formed into a pillow is such that it allows oxygen to readily get into the barley straw, and facilitate the effect of bacteria and fungi in the process of decomposition. Also, the Triton Barley Pillow utilizes food grade netting, which means that it is virgin plastic, and has no known toxicity, and is the same netting material used in the food industry, particularly in the packaging of meats. This netting is photodegradable, which means this product will lend itself to composting. Also, the grain is left in the barley (which means the pillow has an esthetic value) and a little patch of grass grows while it's floating in the water.

2. Q. How does the decomposition of barley straw help my water garden?
A. The use of barley straw in water gardens and ponds has been used for many years, and has been researched particularly in the UK for a number of years, finding that the decomposition of the barley straw results in the release of multiple factors that are found to create a normal ecological balance in a body of water.

3. Q. Does barley straw really help with water quality?
A. The studies to date that have looked at this indicate that invertebrates will return to a body of water, and a normal ecological balance will redevelop, which would suggest there is something going on that results in the development of this healthy environment. This mechanism has not been clearly worked out at this time, that we are aware of.


4. Q. What proof is there that barley straw helps?
A. Barley straw, and particularly the Triton Barley Pillow has been used in countless thousands of applications in the U.S., with the efficacy being quite apparent. It has also been studied at great length in the UK, and for more information, one can access the studies that have been published by Dr. Jonathan Newman, http://www.iacr.bbsrc.ac.uk/pie/JonathanGrp/Straw_Information_sheet.pdf

5. Q. Is there a clear understanding how barley straw works?
A. This is not clearly defined at this time.

6. Q. How quickly is it effective?
A. This is temperature dependent. The decomposition process probably begins when the water is at about 50 degrees Fahrenheit, however, the warmer the temperature, the more rapid it takes place, and certainly at water temperatures at 70 degrees Fahrenheit, the process is much more rapid. In general, one can expect two, at the most three weeks of time from the point of placing the barley pillow in the water when it's above 50 degrees before there is effective decomposition and active release of the appropriate elements.

7. Q. How long does the Triton Barley Pillow last?
A. Our experience has been that you can expect 12-14 weeks of effective activity. Although there will be straw remaining after that period of time, the majority of the active ingredients have been released, and we find that if one leaves it in the water longer than that, you can expect to see a decrease in the quality of the water.

8. Q. How much barley straw is required?
A. This varies, however, in small water gardens, it appears a basic rule is approximately 2 oz per 10 square feet of surface area. In larger bodies, such as an acre, it would appear that approximately 100 lbs per acre may be effective. However, there are many variables that will effect this.

9. Q. Will barley straw harm my fish or plants?
A. It appears there is no toxic effect that has been observed with barley straw use at this time. Also, the Triton Barley Pillow has had no chemicals, such as insecticides or pesticides used on the plant at any time in it's growth. Studies that have been done in the UK have used the barley straw at several times greater than the effective rate, and there apparently has been no toxicity noted with this increased rate of application.

10. Q. Can we just leave the Triton Barley Pillow in the water?
A. Yes you may, it would appear that once the active ingredients have been released, one would be simply adding to the dead biomass of the body of water.

11. Q. Will anything grow in the pillow?
A. Many people have tried growing various types of water plants, and this is something you will need to consult about with the local garden expert in your area as to what plants would be adaptable. However, the Triton Barley Pillow will support plant growth by making a small cut in the netting, separating the straw, and planting the plant in the pillow. One needs to be aware of the fact that after four to six weeks the Triton Barley Pillow will have decomposed sufficiently that it will begin to settle, and you will need to think in terms of a water plant that will continue to grow even as the pillow begins to sink into the water. It would appear that one of the plants that is adaptable to this is the melon sword, which apparently grows native in the Mississippi Delta area. Thus, those in northern climates can expect this plant to winter kill unless there is some system of wintering it over.

12. Q. Does it float?
A. It will float for approximately four to six weeks depending on water temperature and decomposition rate.

13. Q. Can we use the Triton Barley Pillow anywhere we want, skimmer box, streams, falls, etc?
A. Yes, that can be done. We are unaware of any studies that have been done with it in skimmer boxes, however, many manufacturers are recommending that use. It can certainly work in a stream, or in a falls, however, it needs to be in water deep enough that it can be at least 80% immersed into the water. Also, one does not want to place a weight on the pillow to hold it in the water or keep it submerged in that this defeats the purpose of the packaging, i.e. the ability of oxygen to readily get into the pillow to facilitate the process of decomposition. If one wishes to have it immersed in the water, our recommendation is to tie a piece of fish line through the netting, and attach this to an object that will weight it down, and keep it below the surface of the water, thus not compressing the package, and limiting oxygen getting into the pillow. If one does this, it should be kept in the top 18-24" of water to facilitate the greatest amount of oxygen in the water for use by the bacteria and fungi.

14. Q. What affects the Triton Barley Pillow's effectiveness?
A. Many factors do, such as water temperature, muddy or cloudy water, pH or KH, and availability of adequate amounts of oxygen.

15. Q. Does water temperature have an influence?
A. Yes it does, the warmer the water, the more rapid the process of decomposition.

16. Q. Are other factors such as pH and KH important?
A. They are, there is much controversy about this, and hopefully over the next year this will become more clear. You need to talk with your local garden expert for the particulars in your area. We do know that pH and KH values are somewhat dependant upon the part of the United States you are in, as well as whether you are using well water or city water.

17. Q. Does all barley straw have the same effectiveness?
A. It has been our observation that growing the plant in a highly fertile soil is important. Where there are very adequate nutrients to produce a strong, healthy plant, seems to produce a plant that is rich in the factors that are released in the process of decomposition, thus improving its effectiveness. Also, it does appear that the less the straw is fragmented, the more likely one is to have a controlled rate of decomposition, and thus increasing the length of effectiveness of the barley straw.

18. Q. How does barley straw effect the pond, i.e. the pond's ecology?
A. Studies to date have indicated that a normal ecological balance returns with the establishment of invertebrates, and a normal food chain.

19. Q. When should I place the Triton Barley Pillow in my water garden?
A. Ideally in the early spring, before the water temperature is 50 degrees. It can certainly be used later in the season, however, undesirable plant growth should be removed when placing it in the water, and it should be effective in helping with the health and nutrition of your water garden.

20. Q. Does grass always grow in the pillow when placed in the water?
A. There’s a significant amount of seed in each pillow. The grain at or above the water line in the pillow usually germinates and grows. However, if the pond water is toxic enough, it could prevent any plant growth.

When the pillow is placed into the pond during very cool or freezing weather, the grass may be destroyed, or the seed germination damaged. The presence of the grass has no impact on what the pillow does for water quality. The grass growth is an added aesthetic value. Applications placed later in the season usually provide a more rapid and heavier growth of grass than those placed in the early spring.

As the grass grows, fish will graze what they are able to reach. For this reason there is no added organic load to the pond.

21. Q. Why leave the grain in the straw?
A. By not harvesting the grain with a combine, the straw is not shredded by this process of harvesting the grain. This is of significance in that the straw can be harvested with hay equipment, leaving the straw in a much more intact state, which very definitely controls the rate of fungal digestion of the straw after is has been placed into the water. Thus we have a much more predictable rate of digestion than if one were to shred it up with a harvesting machine.

22. Q. Will the Triton Barley pillow always stain my pond water?
A. The staining is due to a residue on the straw as it grows. If you soak the pillow for 1 to 2 days in a pail of water, then rinse several times, most of the stain is removed. This will result in little or no discoloration to the pond.

This step is not necessary, however it will minimize the slight discoloration occasionally noted to be present the first 5 to 10 days after placement of the pillow.

23. Q. Why does the pillow occasionally turn green?
A. The plastic netting may support unicellular plant growth, which fish will graze off. This results in some competitive inhibition to unwanted surface plant growth as the growth on the netting competes with the surface growth for nutrients.

24. Q. There is confusion over , pellets, extracts, etc, what is the real truth?
A. The only long term research we’re aware of that’s of significance has been done with whole straw, not with ground up, compacted material, or with the tea made by soaking the straw, and selling the tea made by this process.

Concerns with the pellet is that many factors in the straw are reduced or destroyed by processing, thus requiring a product such as peat being added, plus the natural humic acids released by the digestion of the straw are either destroyed or dramatically reduced, thus requiring humic acids being added back to the compacted, somewhat sterilized product. Also the pellet, because of it’s compacted nature, runs the risk of anaerobic bacterial growth on the product being encouraged, which stimulates undesirable plant growth. Also, by it’s nature this product must be used frequently.

The tea does show some promise, but it’s expensive, and lacks some of the active processes of decomposition of the straw in a water garden or pond. There is a lack of long term research on this product, and it’s potential limitations. This product also has a very short time of effectiveness, thus it must be used frequently.

25. Q. Why is adding beneficial soil bacteria, such as the Triton Clear Solution of value?
A. The barley straw is a wonderful product when correctly used. However, the accumulation of dead debris and fish load on the pond’s bottom is often a problem. This provides a place for growth of anaerobic bacteria, and provision of unwanted nutrients for undesirable plant growth. This can also add to fish stress. The barley straw itself does not add to this accumulation of dead debris, in that if properly placed, such as use in a filter box, biofalls, or simply permitting the Triton Barley Pillow to float, promotes aerobic soil fungi to proliferate and digest the barley straw, thus leaving no accumulation of debris. Most commonly used skimmer boxes also will accept placement of the TRITON BARLEY PILLOW in them.

Attempts at using bacteria have had some success in solving this problem. The limiting factor is the limited diversity of bacterial strains, pH levels the microorganisms are grown at, and the number of colonies which will grow from a given volume of bacterial solution. The standard reference is CFU/ml (colony forming units), and a good product will consistently grow 10 million colonies per ml, which is present with the Triton Clear Solution products.

With a high quality product such as the Triton Clear Solution microbial products, these parameters are consistently present, thus successfully reducing excess nutrients, which fuel unwanted plant growth. There thus is a strong synergism when the TRITON CLEAR SOLUTION microbial products are used with the TRITON BARLEY PILLOW.