Objective:
To demonstrate the efficacy that had been proven in a laboratory setting combining barley straw with highly concentrated forms of natural bacteria and its effects on the ecological balance in water gardens and ponds.

Product Utilized:
Triton Barley Pillow Plus.

Product Detail:
The Triton Barley Pillow Plus is scientifically formulated to provide a culture media for the growth and continuous release of friendly natural bacterial once the barley pillow is placed in a body of water. When the straw is injected with the bacterial solution, the natural bacteria become inactive until the pillow is placed in water. When placed in water, the natural bacteria will become active again.

The inactive state gives the product a shelf life of at least five years.

The barley pillows were injected with sufficient CFU’s (colony forming units) of natural bacteria to be the equivalent of treating the body of water five times with natural bacteria throughout the life of the barley pillow.

• Small - ½ Lb. – 50 square feet of surface area or approximately 750 gallons.
• Medium – 1 Lb. – 100 square feet surface area or approximately 1,500 gallons.
• Large – 5 Lb. – 500 square feet of surface area or approximately 7,500 gallons.
• Commercial – 10 Lb. – was used at the rate of 100 Lbs. per acre, with ponds averaging 5 feet deep.

1. What effect would DO (dissolved oxygen) levels have on results?
2. Would soil particles suspended in the water affect the eventual outcome?
3. Would the date of placing the product in the water have an effect on the outcome?
4. Dosage of straw and bacteria?
5. Would water quality be predictable?
6. Would sludge and muck on the pond bottom be digested?
7. Would fish thrive and be healthy?
8. Would the small and medium last 12 – 14 weeks as they have previously without the natural bacteria injected, and would the large and commercial last 24+ weeks, as it has previously without bacteria injected in it?

Locations:

• 12 water gardens in northern Indiana and the Chicago area.
• Two 2 acre plus sites in the same region.
• Two 2 acre sites in south Florida.
• A 3.5-acre site was treated in mid-June in north central Indiana.

• Water clarity was very good.
• Sludge, tree leaves, muck on the bottom of the ponds when present in excess of 1” disappeared within an 8-week period, after the placement of the natural bacteria injected straw in the water.
• Water clarity was such that all aquatic life, fish, plants, etc. could easily be seen.
• In most instances, small amounts of carpet moss could be seen growing on the bottom. This is beneficial, as carpet moss is an essential for the food chain of fish.
• Water clarity occurred within 1-2 weeks of placing the Triton Barley Pillow Plus in the ponds.

Each of the ponds progressed as predicted/expected. In each pond, the sludge was removed and/or reduced and the pond remained clear. The exceptions are noted as follows.

• One pond was noted to become clear and then suddenly became cloudy. It was determined that the DO (dissolved oxygen) level of the pond had dropped to about 2-PPM (parts per million). This was due to a section of the pond not receiving sufficient aeration and becoming stagnant lowering the DO levels. Once a subsurface aerator was installed in the pond and the DO restored to 8 PPM, the pond cleared within 5 – 7 days.


Large pond in south Florida,
• Results were similar whether the injected logs were used or the 10 lb. un-injected log and the pond then treated with the incubated liquid natural bacteria, the results were similar. A clear healthy pond. Later in the summer, the temperatures rose to over 100o with very heavy rainfall resulting in substantial water turnover. This resulted in slightly cloudy water. It is believed that the DO had declined to approximately 2 – 3 PPM.


One 2-acre pond experienced,
• Heavy rainfalls diluting pond water approximately 3:1 on two different occasions. The creek that flooded the pond was the source of a large number of mature carp. Their normal feeding activity created a pond that looked like a mud hole. However, through mid-June, the pond remained relativity clear and free of undesirable odor.
• However, with the increased heat of July, the DO (dissolved oxygen) dropped to 5 PPM and undesirable turbidity began to occur.
• By mid-August the DO (dissolved oxygen) had dropped to 2 – 3 PPM, in spite of subsurface aeration with some increase in turbidity.
• The DO (dissolved oxygen) level in June, prior to the heavy rainfall, was 8 PPM.
  
  Second 2-acre pond experience:
• This pond had been very clear up until mid-August with the use of oxygen-releasing powder.
• A fountain was installed to aid in the aeration of the pond.
• After 48 hours of operation of the fountain, the DO level was noted to be in the range of 6-PPM.
• Ten days of operation after the fountain’s installation, the DO levels were noted to be in the 8-PPM range and the pond continued to be clear with no foul odor or further use of oxygen-releasing powder.
• The pond does have around one foot of sludge on the bottom.
• We estimate that two years of treatment will be required to reduce the amount of the sludge to desirable levels.
• Good water clarity was maintained throughout the summer.
  
  3.5 acre pond:
• Not treated until mid-June, this site has been slower to respond. When initially treated, this pond was totally out of control with cloudy water.
• As of mid-August, turbidity had nearly disappeared and the water is beginning to clear.
• The DO in this pond has been approximately 8 PPM, with good subsurface aeration.

1. Dissolved oxygen levels below 6 PPM adversely affect water gardens or ponds. DO levels below 6 PPM demonstrate,
• The importance of high quality diffusers and their maintenance to facilitate the function of microorganisms appropriately.
• When the DO falls below 6 PPM, the oxygen is inadequate for the function of microorganisms and they begin to shut down. The rate of biodegradation of muck and sediment will also slow down.
2. It is noted that as the water temperatures rise, water can hold less oxygen and the DO levels drop. Thus, the desirability for adequate sub-surface aeration to off set high mid-summer temperatures and maintain the DO at the 8 PPM level.
3. Some of the floating particulate matter in the water column is inorganic, which cannot be digested through biological processes or microorganisms. The suspended soil particles can be created by,
• Subsurface aeration kicking up inorganic soil particles, small fragments of rock, etc. which are not digested or altered by any kind of biological process. Fortunately, these particles fall back to the bottom of the pond unless there are bottom-feeding carp which tend to stir the bottom up. Koi do not appear to present this problem.
4. Early spring placement results in more rapid results.
5. The formula of 2 oz. per 10 square feet of surface area in a small water garden or the rate of 100 lbs. per acre in larger ponds was effective.
6. Water quality is predictably outstanding.
7. Sludge and muck is digested readily.
8. No undesirable odors have occurred in any site.
9. No pillows develop foul odors suggestive of anaerobic bacterial proliferation.
10. Fish in each pond are healthy.
11. This is a simple once or twice a season application.
12. Monitoring pH is desirable, and it’s been noted that if turbidity of the water does develop, that generally pH has been in the range of 8 and with the addition of acid, this problem has been helped significantly.

• A simple one step process which accomplishes creating a natural native appearing pond or small lake with outstanding water clarity. All of the initially posed areas of interest were addressed and satisfactorily answered. A small amount of plant growth was noted on the bottom of the ponds, with this being essential in the food chain of the fish. Also, it was noted there was absolutely no odor with any of these ponds that was unpleasant and there were none of the pillow or logs that developed foul odors.
• Triton Barley Pillow plus provides a simple, economical, environmentally friendly, ecologically sound easy to use process, which is a major advancement in natural means to improve water quality in water gardens, ponds, and small lakes.

"The pillow was placed in mid April. Water was so cloudy, nothing was visible in the pond. Six inches of sludge and muck is nearly all gone, water is very clear, and we can see the fish, etc. It works great! Thank you."
Everett Kettle
South Bend, IN

"We had the pleasure of being a part of this trial. We had an undesirable pond with cloudy water. In 4 to 6 weeks the water is very clear, sludge is gone, with a healthy beautiful pond. We have been very pleased with this product, and would recommend it for future mass marketing."
Gary & Jo Coats
South Bend, IN

"I’m grateful you allowed me to be in your test. Initially the rocks were covered with fuzzy growth, and much muck on the bottom. After several weeks the water was very clear and plant growth was desirable and the muck nearly gone. As long as you make this product, and I have a pond, I will be a customer of yours."
Barbe C.W. Williams
South Bend, IN

"We’ve been struggling with water quality control in our 2 acre pond for over 10 years. The character of the pond & the inflow of nutrients from resident Canada geese creates cloudy malodorous water quality as soon as water temperatures begin to warm up. We’ve tried introducing dry-packaged enzymes in an attempt to consume excess nutrient loads with very little benefit.
This spring we worked with Stoller Nursery implementing a plan to use injected barley logs. The season warmed, yet our pond appearance remained within acceptable levels. We did not see the typical cloudiness we’ve seen for many years prior. I have been very pleased with the results."
Rick Stumpf
Director of Parks & Planning
Highland Park, IL

"We have had a pond for four years.. This is first year we have not had to fight unwanted plant growth. The first three years we tried everything we could find, but nothing really worked.
This year we tried a Triton Barley Pillow Plus in mid April, and our pond has been the best ever. We will use this product from now on."
Dick & Joan Silverthorn
Baroda, MI

"We tried the Triton Barley Pillow Plus in two of our golf course ponds this season. There was dramatic improvement in water clarity. We noted clearing of sludge in the ponds’ bottoms, as well."
Tom Goodwin, CGCS
Golf Course Superintendent
Pottawattomie Country Club
Michigan City, IN

"The addition of a large Triton Barley Pillow Plus to our pond this year has made a great difference in our pond. We are very pleased with the water clarity and absence of foul odors. Our fish and plants are healthy. Thank you again for your help this summer."
Don and Beverly Riddle
North Liberty, IN