For Healthy, Clear Water --- The Triton Barley Pillow® Is Your Best Choice.

The Triton Barley Pillow® is your best choice when you want to improve the health of your garden, pond and lake. It is easy to use, convenient and safe for the environment, and it does not disturb the delicate balance of plant and animal life in the water. For optimum results, it is recommended that undesirable plant growth be removed before using the Triton Barley Pillow. (Ideally, the initial application should be made in early spring before the water temperature reaches 50°F.)

How To Use The Triton Barley Pillow

1. REMOVE THE TRITON BARLEY PILLOW FROM THE PLASTIC PACKAGING. Properly dispose of plastic packaging to avoid risk of suffocation. Fluff the pillow from side-to-side and end-to-end to loosen the barley straw so water and oxygen can be dispersed more easily through the pillow when put in the water.

2. PLACE THE TRITON BARLEY PILLOW IN THE WATER. Approximately the top 1/3 of the pillow floats above the water. To secure the pillow in the water, you may thread a piece of fishing line through the mesh bag of the pillow. Then, the fish line can be secured to an object in or near the water.

Securing the pillow in this manner will allow some of the barley grain to sprout and grow into decorative grass. You can also plant other types of attractive water plants in the Triton pillow, or attach small ornamental statues (such as a frog, ladybug, turtle, etc.), to the top of the pillow as well. Please check with your water garden center to find out which plants will grow well in the Triton pillow.

3. WHAT TO EXPECT: Depending on water temperature, the Triton Barley Pillow will begin the decomposition process in about 7 to 10 days. The water may become slightly discolored just after placing the pillow, but should clear up as decomposition begins. As the barley straw breaks down, it releases natural substances which helps the water become clear. In still ponds, you will notice significant clearing right around the pillow at about the same time that the barley seeds sprout into decorative grass.

The Triton pillows stay active for about 12 weeks when water temperatures are around 70°F. Warmer temps will speed up the decomposition process, and cooler temps slow it down. Increased sunlight and water movement also enhance performance and speed up the decomposition process.

4. FOR THE CONTINUAL BALANCE OF A HEALTHY WATER ENVIRONMENT. Plan on adding new Triton pillows to the water at about 3 weeks prior to removing the original pillows. At the end of week 12, remove the original pillows - the new ones will now be active and provide continued protection.
  

 5. YEAR-ROUND USE. Since regional climate conditions vary a great deal, no single application schedule will work consistently across all areas. As a very general guideline for year round use, the following schedule works well in the central mid-west:
  

Triton Barley Pillow Usage Chart

Pillow Size 
(approx.)
Small (1/2-lb.)
Medium (1-lb.)
Large (5-lbs.)		 Surface Area of Water (approx.)
Up to 50 sq. ft.*
Up to 100 sq. ft.*
Up to 500 sq. ft.*

*Due to the nature of the straw, size and weight may vary.

1st Application:
Early Spring (March) before water temps reach 50°F and before plants begin to grow.

2nd Application:
Early Summer (June) as water temps rise above 70°F, several weeks before the first pillows become inactive.

3rd Application:
Late Summer/Early Fall (September) as water temps begin to cool down. These pillows can stay in the pond through the winter, even after it freezes. Once the water thaws in the spring, add new pillows. The old pillows should be removed in several weeks as the new ones begin to decompose.

Other Water Nutrition Factors For Successful Results

For a truly healthy water environment, you should also be sure that there is a proper nutritional balance. There are many factors that influence the nutrition in a water garden.

Carbonate Hardness (KH) and Acidity (pH) are two important water quality factors. When the KH and pH are in the ideal range, everything in your water garden, pond or small lake does better.

Undesirable plant growth often thrives when the KH and pH are not properly balanced. All plants have a set of conditions that is ideal for them, and water nutrition influences these conditions. Without a proper nutritional balance, fish may become stressed, desirable plant growth may become inhibited and the beneficial functions of bacteria and other microscopic organisms in the pond may be curbed. For additional information about maintaining a proper nutritional balance in your water environment, contact your local water garden center. They can supply you with the correct information for your specific geographic area.

For More Information

For More Information or to place an order for the Triton Barley Pillow, Triton Restoration Formula, or Triton Sediment Digester - e-mail Stoller Nursery at info@stollernursery.com

The large Triton Barley Pillow treats up to 500 square foot surface area of water.