Aquaculture

Zeolite also provides a substrate for bacterial populations in order to breakdown ammonium to nitrate (NH4 to NO3) and remains effective as a chemical filter capable of modifying fluctuations in the system's ammonium levels. This enhances the biological functions making ammonium available to bacteria at a stable level, thus enabling the bacteria to remain abundant during periods of low ammonium contamination. The bacterial population will therefore survive during dramatic changes in concentration.There are three filtration processes to reduce ammonia in the water:1) Mechanical filtration of unused food and fecal material. Zeolite is much more effective than sand and charcoal filters due to nominal rating of 3 to 5 microns (sand is typically 20 microns) thereby increasing loading while reducing the amount of backwashing. Refer to the 'Water Filtration' menu item in the Industrial Section.2) Biological. The tremendous surface area and irregular surface of Zeocan Zeolite provides an idea media for aerobic bacteria. The bacteria mineralize the organic nitrogen compounds. The process can be aerobic (nitrification) or anaerobic (denitrification). Nitrification is most common and involves the oxidation of ammonia to nitrite to nitrate by autotrophic bacteria.3) Chemical. Due to its large cation exchange capacity zeolite is an excellent filter of ammonium and certain heavy metals.