Chemicals and Hormones

We supply a range of probiotics, bioremediation products and spawning hormones applicable to aquaculture.

Hormones

See the separate page for our hormone products.

Water and pollution treatment chemicals

We are the distributor for Alken Murray probiotic products. In aquaculture and pond applications these products can compete with and reduce pathogenic bacteria such as vibrios.

In the 1980s Alken-Murray Corporation changed the economic feasibility of bacterial treatment by offering highly concentrated, non-pathogenic, and cost-effective Alken Clear-Flo® formulas to degrade excess nutrients, chemical pollutants, and ammonia.

Sludge reduction

Alken Clear-Flo® 1000 and 1002 include basic spore forming, waste degrading strains of Bacillus to reduce organic loadings in the water column, preventing a buildup of sludge on the pond bottom. When Alken Clear-Flo® formulas are used, the nutrients dropping to the pond bottom are so reduced that the anaerobic sludge dwelling Desulfovibrio desulfuricans bacteria is unable to form toxic hydrogen sulfide gas.

Biofilter activation

Ammonia is of major concern in recirculating and static aquarium systems. Nitrification must be accelerated if ammonia levels are dangerous. Biofilters and recirculation systems should be seeded with an established population of Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter, primary autotrophic bacteria found in freshwater, brackish water, soil and seawater. These two strains, present in commercial formulas such as Alken Clear-Flo® 1100 and 7110, have been found to be the most reliable for rapid oxidation of ammonia to nitrate. The seeding process can also be enhanced by providing additional substrates on which the bacteria can attach themselves. Nitrifying bacteria have a preference for smooth black objects.

• Nitrosomonas oxidizes ammonia to nitrite
• Nitrobacter oxidizes nitrite to nitrate

Nitrosomonas or Arthrobacter agilis converts high ammonia concentrations to nitrites. Nitrobacter is inhibited by ammonia, therefore efficient oxidation cannot occur until high ammonia concentrations have been converted to nitrites by Nitrosomonas.

Microorganisms in Alken Clear-Flo® 1100 perform within a pH range of 6.8 to 8.5. Optimal pH is 8.2 to 8.3. Warmer temperatures of above 60° F also enhance nitrification.

Formulas such as Alken Clear-Flo® 1100, 1200, and 1400 contain Nitrosomonas europaea, which degrades ammonia to nitrite and Nitrobacter winogradskyi which degrades nitrite to nitrate in the aerobic environment of the water column, and to nitrogen gas in the anaerobic environment of the bottom sludge or gravel.

Detergents, grease, pesticides, pollutants

Alken Clear-Flo® 1005, 1006, 1007 and 1200 contain bacteria that are pre-conditioned to prefer toxic pollutants, such as phenol, detergents, grease, and pesticides, in addition to the same basic bacteria that are found in CF 1000 and 1002.

Quarantine facilities

Properly managed aquarium and aquaculture operations maintain new stock in a quarantine tank, apart from established stock, while the health of the new stock is assessed and any diseases or parasites are treated. Alken Clear-Flo® 1400 can rapidly restore a healthy biomass of waste degrading and nitrifying bacteria after antibiotic and antiparasitic treatments. By improving water quality in the quarantine tank, the stress experienced by these new fish is reduced, making them less susceptible to disease. Alken Clear-Flo® 1400 can also assist in the transport of live fish and eggs by reducing stress caused by rising ammonia and pollution levels.

De-emulsified oil to reduce polluting wastes

The application of ALKEN® 860 reduces the amount of emulsified, oily sludge which must be trucked out, landfilled, or disposed of in other ways (all of which are costly).

Petroleum hydrocarbon degrader

ALKEN CLEAR-FLO® 7036 is a concentrated broad spectrum hydrocarbon degrader containing four spore forming Bacillus strains and sixteen gram-negative strains. This is the primary choice for soil remediation applications of coal tar, crude oil and mixtures of light and heavy oil fractions. This formula, which also successfully degrades alcohols, ketones, and phthalates, is usually sold under private label to environmental firms for soil remediation. For wastewater applications, it is wise to bench test this formula and our Alken Clear-Flo 7008 to see which will work best for the specific plant.

Spilled petroleum products

ALKEN CLEAR-FLO® 5100 offers an effective and safe synergy of the surface cleaning power of ALKEN SURFACE CLEANER 874 biodegradable surfactants, powerful petroleum degrading bacterial endo-spores and additional Bacillus strains to digest secondary metabolites, including long-chain fatty acids. ALKEN CLEAR-FLO® 5100 biodegradable surfactants effectively remove surface and embedded stains from spilled petroleum products on concrete and asphalt garage or shop floors, driveways, loading docks, fueling areas, parking lots and oil storage areas, and then inoculates the contaminants with 8 strains of Bacillus bacterial cells, along with nutrients, micro-nutrients and germination catalysts, from ALKEN 896, necessary for complete biodegradation. This formula can also be used for power washing contaminated soil, gravel, sand or rocks and for cleaning heavy machinery.

Control of fats oils and grease in soak pits, drains and septic tank systems

ALKEN CLEAR-FLO 4000 line is designed for septic tank systems. Bacteria break down grease, soap, and other organic matter in the drain, enabling the bacteria to fully digest these elements. The coating of waste in the pipes thins as a side effect of bacterial feeding, thus opening the pipes.

Industrial & Municipal Wastewater Treatment Bioremediation, Composting

ALKEN CLEAR-FLO 7000 line is designed for applications such as:

• Control Hydrogen Sulfide
• Fix Lagoon Aeration Problems
• Control Ammonia & Nitrite
• Control Swine Manure Odor
• Control Foaming from Nocardia & filamentous strains
• Anaerobic Digester Aid  
• Bioremediation of Oil Spills & Drilling Muds 
• Accelerate Composting

Odour control in animal and other facilities

Control Odor with Alken Enz-Odor®, Treat-A-Loo & Nu-Bind. Suited to applications such as

• Dumpsters
• Landfills
• Loading Docks
• Collection Systems
• Wet Wells
• Septic Systems
• Wetlands
• Kennels
• Catteries
• Skunks
• Zoos