Any experience removing algae from large volume rainwater catchment tanks?

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We are tying to develop options for removing algae from large volume rainwater catchment tanks.
We need rapid solutions (hours, not weeks) that are preferably physical rather than chemical.
 Any pointers or recommendations would be gratefully received.

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11 Answers

  4. Flusher2 certainly has the potential to flush remove ve sedimentation and therefore algae from a tank storage area. It would increase efficiency if the tank was shaped to allow settlement towards the middle of the tank to concentrate the hydraulic benefits provided by a Flusher2 installation. 

  6. I'm a phycologist.  I have over 25 years' experience in analysis and routine monitoring, and troubleshooting algal contamination. Often the best solutions are the simplest, but you may need to invest some time and money to achieve a level of control you need. This of course is all predicated on WHAT you are using the water for!

    You potentially have several different types of algae in a rainwater holding tank. Given you have an algae issue, I assume the tanks are open and not covered. So here are the challenges you may have depending on what the tanks look like, the texture of the inner surface, how the water flows into them, depth, turbidity etc:

    • If the water column is clear, you may have benthic algae, if not the tanks may be susceptible to surface blooms, but they may be algal mats lifting off the bottom
    • If the inner surface of the tank is rough, you'll have mould, algae, fungi, and bacteria attached to the surface
    • You may also have benthic algae growing along the bottom.
    • If the turnover rate of water in the tanks is low, this will influence the population profile and may encourage cyanobacteria, if the turnover rate is moderate or sporadically flushing, you may have a more unpredictable population profile that changes after every flush event.

    Physical removal techniques simply remove what you can physically see, and may improve the water column. However, that may not be where your problem is.  

    Without know the size of the tanks, type of algae growing, use of the water, the risks associated (toxins, treatment downstream etc.), specific advice is difficult because rarely does one solution fix it all . But some basic questions and advice are as follows:

    1. If the rainwater is flowing in from a pipe, can you cover the tank? If there's no light, the algae can't grow. But you may need some initial treatment and testing to know the water is safe both before and after.
    2. With rainwater, especially with runoff, you'll have plenty of nutrients, but light is the one thing they all need.
    3. Assess the risk. Get the water analysed for algae and associated toxins if any potentially toxic cyanobacteria are detected.
    4. Gather your information; Is the water being used for stock, domestic use etc., and is there any evidence of illness, dermal, or mucosal irritation? Have there been stock deaths. If there is, physical removal is not enough.

    There are probably a few more considerations here, but this should get you started. I have some info on my website. www.jarvishuntconsultancy.com.au

  8. Good Afternoon Iain,

    What are the tank sizes?  Are they above or below ground?

    Awaiting your reply and warmest regards,

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  9. We have developed self propelled algae / floating debris collecting unit. Please contact sarfraz@mahykhoory.com for details. 

  11. Swimming pools and ponds – Malatech Water

    Lake bioremediation, aquaculture – Malatech Water

    2 Comments

    1. We have developed an  self propelled Algae and Floating debris collecting unit.  The unit can also operate in shallow water.  

      Aeration particularly at the water body lower levels may help mitigation of algae growth,

    2. as this ia a knowledge sharing platform, please provide more info about HOW this is done not just product promotion - Malatech ELBA Intensified Biological Smartpool System, which naturally improves water quality, and takes care about algae and pathogenic bacteria control in swimming pools and ponds without the application of harmful chemicals. By establishing an environment which keeps beneficial microbes at a constant and controlled number in the system we are now able to establish and maintain the natural self-purification processes happening in healthy unharmed natural freshwater lakes in any swimming pools and ponds. with what technology please?

      1 Comment reply

      1. Wow, we registered today on this site, but I appreciate that Polycarpos pasted our products as a solution here. Dear Moderator, you are absolutely right, in the defence of Polycarpos we need to say that we do not know him, he is not our employee or dealer, he must have found us browsing on the internet, and I assume he wanted to help in this topic. Malatech ELBA uses the soluble form of Bioclean Pond Clarifier with a dosing unit, which is our microbial product developed for freshwater lake bioremediation, that is how the biological filter is constatnly intensified for nutrient removal, and organic breakdown. Essence is unfortunately that the machine is absolutely not a solution for the application the topic leader described, none of our microbial solutions are since the expectation is quick solution, so any biological treatment types can be excluded. Sorry, I see the topic is outdated, as I told we just registered here, and was fun to see us to be a part of a conversation a year back. Cheers, Sabby