Aquaclean FAQ

AQUACLEAN: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Aquaclean?
Exactly how do bacteria improve water quality?
How does Algae grow?
Where do the nutrients come from?
How does Aquaclean work?
Is Aquaclean safe for fish?
How does Aquaclean control odour?
How does Aquaclean clarify water?
Will Aquaclean clear a pond of existing algae?
What do I do if I have an existing algae problem?
If these bacteria are already present in nature, why do they have to be added to a natural system?
If the special bacteria in Aquaclean reproduce in the field, why isn't one dose sufficient?
Is Aquaclean compatible with algaecides or pesticides?
How do algaecides cause long-term problems?
Is Aquaclean an algaecide?
Are any permits or applicator’s licenses necessary?
What about aeration?
What if I have a UV light?
Will Aquaclean work within the pond bottom and sludge layer?
How is Aquaclean used?
What is the purpose of the maintenance dose?

What is Aquaclean?

Aquaclean is a unique blend of natural, safe bacteria that can be found in nature that will improve the quality of pond and lake water by removing algae and organic matter through a process known as bioaugmentation. Bioaugmentation is the introduction of large populations of beneficial bacteria into a waste reduction process that helps to break down toxic waste.

Exactly how do bacteria improve water quality?

Bacteria are nature’s scavengers. Bacteria produce enzymes that act like a pair of scissors and allows them to break up complex compounds (pollutants) that can be digested by the bacterial cell to be used for growth and reproduction. However, bacteria are not universal and different bacteria are required for digestion of different compounds. Some bacteria digest the carbohydrates and proteins usually found in the suspended solids in ponds, while others digest sulphide, ammonia, phosphorous and nitrites. Aquaclean is a formulation of 14 different strains of bacteria that completely break down the pollutants found in pond water into harmless non-toxic by products such as carbon dioxide, water and sulphate.

How does Algae grow?

Algae are a large group of simple aquatic organisms that contain pigments such as chlorophyll, which use light as an energy source for growth (photosynthesis). Algae are free floating and so they must get their food source (nutrients) from the water volume rather than the pond bottom. Algae specifically feed off nitrogen based nutrients consisting of ammonia (NH4), nitrites (NO₂^-) and nitrates (NO₃^-), in addition to phosphorus (PO₄⁺). Hence, the combination of sunlight and nutrients gives rise to considerable algae growth during summer months.

Where do the nutrients come from?

Normally, in a clear pond with oxygenating plants and free running water, free nitrogen compounds and phosphorus is not present in solution and hence algae cannot grow, as there is no food source! What little nitrogen is present is locked away in plant protein! However, many fisheries discourage plant growth and many fishponds are susceptible to runoff from garden fertilizers which all contain nitrogen and phosphorus. Ammonia is also produced by degradation of organic waste products in a pond such as fish food, rotting plants, sludge, fish faces and bird droppings. Hence, an average fishpond is a thriving environment for algae.

How does Aquaclean work?

Aquaclear contains a blend of Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter bacteria that accelerate the process of nitrification. Nitrification is the process of converting soluble ammonia into Nitrites and then into Nitrates through absorption by the bacteria. The final by-product after the bacteria has digested the nitrates is harmless carbon dioxide and water. The bacteria also absorb Phosphorus in their cell mass using it for cell reproduction and and as a catalyst to produce enzymes. So, put simply, the bacteria feeds off the nitrogen and phosphorus faster than the algae, thus starving the algae of its food source and out of existence.

Is Aquaclean safe for fish?

Yes. By removing ammonia and nitrite from the water, Aquaclean enhances the aquatic environment for fish and other wildlife. Aquaclean has been shown to reduce fish stress and improve fish health.

How does Aquaclean control odour?

The bacteria in Aquaclean attack the cause of the pond odour, ammonia and slow decaying organic matter. By accelerating and stabilizing the natural nitrogen conversion reactions, Aquaclean greatly reduces or eliminates the release of ambient ammonia. Rapid digestion of accumulated organic matter eliminates foul odour.

How does Aquaclean clarify water?

Aquaclean reduces the algae population and digests floating and suspended organic matter that clouds the water column.

Will Aquaclean clear a pond of existing algae?

Yes, however, Aquaclean mode of action is to “starve” the algae by out-competing for a primary nutrient, nitrogen. Therefore, it is most effective when used as a preventive maintenance program, before algae start blooming. Ideally, you should start dosing in March/April and continue until September/October.

What do I do if I have an existing algae problem?

Aquaclean is designed to be a preventive maintenance product. It is therefore advisable to start with a clean pond surface.
This can be accomplished in the following ways:

• Remove existing algae by harvesting. This provides the additional benefit of removing nitrogen and phosphorous bound in the algae
• Double the recommended initial dose of Aquaclean.
• Treat the pond with an approved algaecide. Great in the short term, but has many drawbacks for long-term effectiveness. Algaecides reduce beneficial microorganisms in the water and in the bottom sludge and also they upset the natural balance of the aquatic ecosystem. Only use algaecides as a last resort. Wait 7 days after the addition of an algaecide before using Aquaclean.

If bacteria are already present in nature, why do they have to be added to a natural system?

The bacteria in nature are basically lazy and will only digest the simplest food source. In the case of tough pollutants such as cyanide and nitrogen, the natural bacteria in the pond is not capable of digesting these compounds as a food source. By dosing the pond with the Aquaclean bacteria, specifically formulated to target the algae’s food source, these bacterial strains will outperform the indigenous bacteria.

If the special bacteria in Aquaclean reproduce in the Pond, why isn't one dose sufficient?

Each strain of our bacteria has been specially adapted to prefer specific difficult-to-degrade wastes, in this case ammonia, nitrates and nitrites. After adapting the strains to digest specific compounds, the strains are blended in a particular formula to suit the intended task. However, each succeeding generation (after the first 10) reverts more and more toward the wild. As time goes on the bacteria prefer to eat simpler carbon sources, such as sugars, found in the waste stream. In other words, after breeding in a waste stream with a low concentration of nitrates and nitrites, for 10 or more generations, the descendants of our original product become more and more indistinguishable from the original native population. Of course, if the waste stream is highly concentrated with the target substance, and the waste flow is fairly constant, the maintenance dose can be cut back until it is miniscule. A few competitors claim that their products are also selectively adapted and that their strains do not revert back. Never believe this, it is simply not true!

Is Aquaclean compatible with algaecides or pesticides?

No. Algaecides work well in the short term, but kill the natural bacteria in the pond that handle excess nutrient. As algaecides reduce the populations of beneficial bacteria, fewer nutrients are being digested and the potential for long-term algae problems increases.

How do algaecides cause long-term problems?

Nature regulates nutrient levels in ponds with bacteria similar to those found in Aquaclean. Continual use of algaecides will kill these beneficial bacteria, and over time the pond will lose its ability to self-regulate nutrient levels.

The result is an out-of-balance ecosystem whose nutrients will support a large algae population.

Is Aquaclean an algaecide?

No, Aquaclean is not an algaecide. Aquaclean is designed to digest the algae’s primary growth nutrient, nitrogen. It will not kill living micro-organisms. Aquaclean will help to re-establish a healthy, balance aquatic ecosystem. Aquaclean is non-toxic, non-corrosive, and completey natural and will not harm animals, plants, birds, fish or humans.

Are any permits or applicator’s licenses necessary?

No, because Aquaclean is not regulated under FIFRA. No permit or applicator’s license is required.

What about aeration?

Aquaclean bacteria utilize dissolved oxygen in their digestive processes. This utilization will not, however, affect the dissolved oxygen concentration in a well-aerated pond. Aeration will enhance the effectiveness of Aquaclean, as well as benefit all aquatic life present in the pond.
It is recommended that all ponds without adequate dissolved oxygen levels be aerated. By digestion of free organics, the bacteria in Aquaclean dramatically reduce the BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand). In aquatic systems, this means that more of the dissolved oxygen is available to fish life, as less is required for the oxidation of organics. Thus, Aquaclean will enhance even an unaerated or poorly aerated pond.

What if I have a UV light?

If you have a UV light you must turn it off. UV is designed to kill bacteria and does not discriminate between good or bad bacteria.

Will Aquaclean work within the pond bottom and sludge layer?

Yes. Aquaclean’s bacterial formulation was designed to supply the correct bacteria for the entire pond, including the sludge layer. The sludge layer can be the largest contributor of nutrients to the pond for two reasons:

• As organic matter (leaves, grass clippings, etc.) degrades on the pond bottom, nitrogen and phosphorus are realized to the water.
• The bacterial populations in the sludge layer can be damaged by applied algaecides and pesticides flushed into the pond during rainstorms.
• Aquaclean will repopulate the sludge layer and accelerate the degradation process.
• Aquaclean not only reduces the sludge layer volume but will also reduce the release of nutrients. It is important to note that the copper used in algaecides and herbicides accumulates in bottom sludge causing an ever-increasing toxicity problem for natural microorganisms.

How is Aquaclean used?

Aquaclean is a pond management program, not a one time, quick-fix chemical addition. As such, it requires initial preparation and continued attention in order to provide optimum results.
Aquaclean is dosed at a maintenance rate of 4-8gm per 5000 litres per week. In the first week the dosage is increased to three times the maintenance rate and twice the maintenance rate in the second week. Thereafter, the maintenance rate is dosed weekly throughout the season.

The initiation (heavy) dose is designed to rapidly populate the pond with Aquaclean cultures.

If the ambient summer temperature exceeds 28oC, double all doses.

What is the purpose of the maintenance dose?

Since Aquaclean is designed to be a preventative maintenance product, the weekly doses ensure that the levels of beneficial bacteria remain sufficient to handle nutrient inflows.

One must also remember that water outflow, irrigation, leaching and inter-species competition with less desirable bacteria, reduces Aquaclean’s bacteria numbers. Because each pond has unique set of characteristics that will impact the action of the bacteria, the length of time to achieve the desire results will vary from pond to pond. Remember, Aquaclean is not a quick-fix to pond management problems; rather it is preventative maintenance program that will yield excellent results if followed diligently.