Back to the Future – Nigel Caddock
There is nothing new about foam fractionators.There’s also nothing new about trickle towers.However, when you take both these established technologies to a new level of performance and efficiency, combine them in a single high performance unit, and then scale it up to a degree where they have the capacity to perform as Koi system filtration systems, that’s not only new it’s also very interesting.
Norwegian water treatment system specialist company CLARITY Water Treatment Systems AS,have invested significant research and development
resources in the last few years to develop just such a system. The unit is not just a trickle tower or a foamfractionator but is a unique, integrated system thatincorporates the essential elements of both, together with a patented technology for separating foam andwater into a single high performance unit that offers Koi Keepers a unique water quality edge.
In many Koi systems, whilst conventional filtration systems deliver perfectly acceptable water quality, it’s a fact that many also have elevated levels of DOC (dissolved organic carbon). This is undesirable simply because DOC not only consumes precious oxygen but if allowed to build up compromises the performanceof nitrifying bacteria, and, its also been linked to hikui.
DOC and other waterborne nutrients have bipolar qualities, put simply this means that one part of the compound prefers air and the other water.
The reason foam fractionation is so effective at removing DOC where conventional filters are not is that the compounds that make up DOC are
attracted to air bubbles created by the fractionation process, when sufficient DOC has been bound to the air bubbles a stable foam is created. The smaller
the air bubbles the larger surface area and the moreeffective the process works.
The Clarity unit has a patented fractionation system which generates small
air bubbles with a larger surface area than bubble sizes traditionally generated in fresh water. Most people recognise that salt water foam fractionators work much better, the reason is primarily the bubble size, the Clarity unit effectively generates a salt water bubble profile but in fresh water!
This major step forward gives Clarity units much enhanced efficiency and enables them to deliver the performance necessary. The unique, highly innovative design of the Clarity also ‘charges’ the water molecules
contained within the DOC. This process ensures other charged molecules such as micronutrients and particulate matter are also trapped within the foam.
These combined benefits are totally unique to Clarity and explain why the units works so well in fresh water where other conventional systems work at best spasmodically.
As all serious Koi enthusiasts know, to their cost, it’s often the case that smart technology is just that – smart! So what makes this different I hear you groan?
Six times BKKS National Show winner Bill Oakley is not a man easily impressed, but Bill was impressed enough to try a Clarity unit on his Koi
pond. We talked to Bill at length about hisexperiences using the unit and the discussion revealed some interesting findings. Bill’s pond was built more than ten years ago, like the NI pond – believe it or not, and while technology has
advanced, many of the principles included in Bill’s in common with the NI pond, remain entirely valid and while there are always additions that we could make, the trusted phrase “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” springs to mind,so while the water quality in Bill’s pond is fine there’s always room for improvement – as long as it doesn’t involve massive alterations.
One of the benefits of the Clarity unit is that it’s relatively easy to retrofit to anexisting system with very little disruption.
After installing the Clarity unit in the summer of 2005 Bill observed a variety of changes to the look and behaviour of his Koi and the pond water. We’ll
let him explain:
“Within a month there was a noticeable difference in the clarity of the water,which I thought was clear before but now sparkles. It’s quite difficult to explain but the Koi are significantly more active and are eating far more and their general demeanour is much more relaxed. The water is amazing.
The Koi have always been healthy, but now they bounce with good health. Several of my collection I have had for many years, and the odd skin anomaly gradually appears, nothing drastic but noticeable nevertheless, the incidence of these anomalies has reduced and the appearance on those that have it has become much less noticeable.
The skin on all the Koi is superb.
Many of these elements are difficult to articulate and impossible to measure in definitive terms, but all proper Koi Keepers will recognise exactly what I mean.”
Bill also touched on a fascinating aspect of the unit’s performance.
“ I’m touching wood firmly as I say this but..for years I have been haunted with ‘the dreaded’ (blanket weed) and although I haven’t had a full season with the unit in place, the level of blanket weed in my pond this year is dramatically less than in previous years.
The unit removes DOC, micronutrients and organic nitrate and judging by the claggy foam, it does it extremely efficiently.
This combination of the ability to remove some key blanket weed precursors in theory is bound to have an impact, my practical experience is that this
is the case.
I’m extremely impressed with what I expected to be just another ‘gadget’ – it’s not!
It’s clear to me that this unit offers an elegant, compact, highly effective additional stage of filtration that gives serious Koi Keepers a serious edge in our quest for improved water quality.”
Our good friend Bill Oakley is not a man it’s easy to impress and given that his pond was always impressive to start with anything that can deliver benefits as described by Bill has to be worth a look – so we did.
We have been so impressed with the technology, NI will be marketing the Clarity units in the UK.
