customer story

Eradicating Red Azolla and Blue-Green Algae in 6 Weeks with Aeration

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Problem

Avalon Nursery, near Ballarat, was having problems with red azolla and blue-green algae in one of their irrigation dams.

The dam was so overrun with azolla, a floating aquatic weed, it looked like an old clay tennis court. The water was also emitting a bad odour and the presence of blue-green algae meant the water was likely toxic to humans and animals. The final straw came when a customer's child tried to walk across the aquatic vegetation, not knowing it was water, and fell in. Seeking a fast solution, Avalon Nursery immediately contacted their local irrigation company, Ultimate Pumps, who then contacted us and we worked together to solve the problems.

Solution

We recommended installing a 1.5hp solar powered Air-O-Lator Carnival Aerating Fountain.

The irrigation dam was located more than 200m from mains power so solar power was the only option. The nursery was looking for the fastest way to turn things around, so we suggested a surface aerator, which are faster to add oxygen to water than sub-surface aerators. The nursery liked the look of a fountain so we suggested the Air-O-Lator Carnival. The size of the motor was chosen to match the size of the dam.

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How does surface aeration work?

results

Within days of installing the aerator, the azolla and blue-green algae began to retreat. After just 6 weeks, the weeds and algae were completely gone.

The smell had disappeared too. And the best news: not a single chemical was used. This is particularly beneficial in this case because blue-green algae will often release all their toxins at once if they die off quickly. In other words, when digesting an algaecide, the blue-green algae will often detect they are being killed off and dump all their toxins at once. If you kill them naturally, through starvation, like we did here, the algae is far less likely to release further toxins. Instead the cyanobacteria gradually retreat to death.

And because aeration tackles the problem as well as the symptom, the likelihood of a problem like this occurring again in this irrigation dam is almost impossible. There simply isn't enough nutrients/food for intruders to build big enough populations. 

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I'm happy to take a look at your dam [on Google Maps] and provide FREE advice on the right type of aerator, motor size and placement. I can also answer any questions you have on improving water quality.

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customer story

Algae Reduced by 98% in 11 Weeks Using Biostim (Probiotics)

We ran a 3-month trial in a City of Manningham council lake to measure the impact of Biostim probiotics on algae and blue-green algae. Water samples were taken prior to Biostim being used. We then treated the lake with a standard dose of Biostim for 3 months. No other method of treatment was used, e.g. no aerators, chemicals or manual removal took place.

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What is Biostim?

99%

Blue-green algae gone

98%

Algae gone

25%

Nitrogen reduction

57%

Phosphorus reduction

"Since WQS installed the aerator, we've not had a single algae problem. In our smaller ponds that are too small for aerators we used Biostim pellets on their own and have noticed a huge reduction in algae.”

Andy Hart

Horticultural Curator—Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, Adelaide

“We had a nutrient-rich stormwater lake that was having continuous problems with algae. We were previously treating the nutrients with a liquid solution that would just end up getting flushed away with the outgoing water. Scott recommended we switch to Biostim pellets which were exactly what we needed.”

Giles Pickard

Environment Project Officer, City of Subiaco

“Visiting ducks and our pet geese were continuously fouling the dam. WQS recommended a number of systems to improve the water quality. We are very happy with our final choice, the windmill aeration system. This combined with the Biostim pellets and liquid are cleaning up the dirty dam. Everything WQS said would happen has happened!”

Greg Lewis

Canterbury, Victoria

“We had an urgent problem—our old irrigation system had blockages from weeds. Our dam was also riddled with black sludge. Scott recommended both aeration and biologicals and within six weeks the dam became so clear I could see to the bottom of it for the first time in years! I was chuffed that we could fix the issue without the use of chemicals.”

Michael Grant

Owner, Grant’s Citrus Farm
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