Those are two totally different subjects The batting is for mechanical removal of particulate matter in the water. It is simply a sieve that catches stuff larger than molecules. Microbes live in it, but they live every where in your pond. The bio balls don't do anything for particulates. They simply provide a living space for microbes that consume nitrates in the water. There are many substitutes for them such as plastic scrubbers, plastic forks, cut up straws, lava rock and many other objects that don't decay in water. They all provide lots of surface area. I don't like the lava rock. It collects too much gunk and is hard to clean and is very heavy and expensive. I do have a layer of scrubbees under the quilt batting. I have never had to add store bought microbes. There are many threads on a search that discuss different bio objects. Bio balls are rarely mentioned. Some people use a single layer of quilt batting and rinse it or replace it every day or two. I just refold the whole thing to fit the top of the Skippy, which gives me about ten layers. I don't have to change it at all during the season unless the critters decide to play in the Skippy. All bets are off then. You might want to do a search on quilt batting, scrubbees and some related subjects here. This can be a definite Hot Topic. What's grass? You mean that stuff that covers 10% of our yard that my DH hates to cut?

Evan, I can tell you this, though I'm no expert. Green slime (aka algae) will get on to all surfaces of your pond as it ages. That is the "normal" process. The trick is to manage the algae so it doesn't get to the point of overbearing. What I do is cut back on the feedings to the fish. They soon get hungry and mow down the green stuff back to a manageable level. Regarding the floating roots; I'd have to say that it sounds like when the water heats up, the algae has a tendency to collect O2 from the water and makes the stuff float; taking the roots with it. Best of luck with it. LP Here is a link that might be useful: Blanket weed

That's the "name" he went by... "Spike Fernandez." Turned out his real name was Bob something... can't remember offhand... a forum member who also belongs to another forum I frequent started by an EX-gardenwebber who got REALLY pissed at Spike and started his own forum after Spike said, "If you don't like the way I run the forum, start your own," listed his full name and address, plus a picture, back from the EARLY days of Gardenweb when he was naive enough to let folks know such stuff, I guess, over on THAT forum, which is primarily for folks who are tropical plants afficianados, but has a couple sections JUST for talking about WHATEVER, which is all I visit, mostly. (Wow, talk about a COMPLEX sentence!) That forum is commonly called "The Jungle," used to be officially "Spectre's Underground Jungle," but he just redid it and shortened the name... not sure if I can or should link to it here, but anyone who's interested in checking it out may feel free to email me. OK, Marsha, so are you now THOROUGHLY confused? :)

With all the rain in the Northeast this year, my slug population was causing quite a problem in my garden. I read that feed grade cornmeal was good for killing slugs because as they are attracted to the cornmeal itself, they scrape themselves causing terminal damage. I went to the local Blue Seal shop, picked up a bag and tried it out around a number of my plants and then waited to see what would happen. Though I have not seen the slugs dying (maybe they head off and slowly die?), it has done a couple of other wonderful things. First, the slugs are so attracted to the cornmeal that they are leaving my plants alone. Second, it has made them extremely easy to catch; each night I head out to the garden with a cup of salt, a flashlight and a pair of chopsticks and pick them right off the cornmeal ring. I have already noticed healthier plants and a reduction in the slug catch each evening.