Khemical Clarify Enzymatic Water Treatment

1.    What is Clarify Bio-Enzymatic Water Treatment?

Clarify is a mixture of beneficial, naturally occurring (non-GMO) microbes that remove contaminants from water. These microbes remove and prevent the accumulation of many water contaminants such as ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, organic solids and sludge, and phosphates in both fresh and saltwater environments.

2.    What types of contaminants can Clarify remove from water?

Clarify can break down and remove a wide range of contaminants from water including sludge, nitrates, various ammonia compounds, available phosphates, and odor-causing compounds such as Volatile Organic Compounds. Additionally, Clarify can lower Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), increase Dissolved Oxygen (DO), and help prevent algae growth by limiting nutrients algae needs to grow.

3.    What is the effect of Clarify on fish and plant health in ornamental ponds?

Clarify microbes will keep your fish and plants healthy and thriving, ensuring your water remains crystal-clear and free of damaging contaminants that result from fish waste.

4.    Can Clarify help prevent the accumulation of ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites?

Yes, Clarify contains nitrifying bacteria that chemically convert ammonia into nitrates. Clarify also contains denitrifying bacteria that convert nitrates and nitrites to dinitrogen gas, which will then be released into the air.

5.    Can Clarify help prevent the accumulation of phosphates?

Yes, Clarify microbes “eat” (metabolize) phosphates, rapidly removing them from water.

6.    Can Clarify lower the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) level in my pond?

Yes, Clarify treatment will rapidly lower BOD in your pond and increase Dissolved Oxygen.

7.    Does Clarify work on sludge and solids accumulated in wastewater and ornamental ponds.

Clarify treatment will rapidly break down accumulated sludge and solids in water bodies. This will result in the liquification of these solids such that they can be pumped out, avoiding expensive excavation costs.

8.    Will Clarify break down sludge and solids in holding tanks?

Clarify treatment will rapidly break down sludge and solids in holding tanks. This will result in the liquification of these solids such that they can be pumped and disposed of.

9.    How does Clarify prevent algae growth?

Clarify’s microbes will rapidly remove and prevent the accumulation of nitrates and phosphates in water, one or both of which are necessary for algae to grow. Note that while Clarify treatment will prevent new algae from growing, it will not kill algae that is already present.

10. Will Clarify remove algae already present in my pond?

No, Clarify is not an algicide and cannot kill algae already present in your pond. Clarify can help prevent further algae growth by limiting the level of nitrates and phosphates present that algae need to grow (see question 8). Any algae already in your pond prior to Clarify treatment will need to be manually removed or treated with a separate product that can kill algae.

11. Does Clarify work with algicides and other algae treatment products?

Clarify can be used as part of a treatment regime that includes algicides. If your pond has algae we recommend (1) treat your pond with an algicide or similar treatment product; (2) after 2 weeks, treat your pond with Clarify to prevent any new algae growth. Contact us for further information regarding using Clarify with a specific algicide.

12. How do I prepare Clarify for application?

Clarify is ready to be used and can be added directly into wastewater and ornamental ponds. For further instructions including how to calculate how much Clarify to use, [click here] or contact us. For purchasing Clarify, [click here].

13. In what situations or environments will Clarify not work?

Clarify will not work in chlorinated water bodies. Clarify should not be used in environments where chlorine is at a high and constant level – such as swimming pools or hot tubs. Clarify will have a limited effectiveness in open water systems with rapidly flowing water, such as in creeks and rivers as it will not have enough exposure time to remove any contaminants present.

14. How long can I store Clarify while maintaining full effectiveness and how do I store it?

An expiration date is stamped on the Clarify container. In general, Clarify can be kept for up to 2 years without losing potency. Clarify can be stored from 40 – 85˚F (4 ̊ – 30 ̊C), and should be kept out of direct sunlight.

15. What kinds of contaminated water bodies does Clarify work with?

Clarify can be used on a variety of water bodies such as animal manure lagoons, agricultural waste ponds, ornamental ponds, and recreational water bodies.

16. Does Clarify work on vineyard waste ponds?

Yes, Clarify works on vineyard waste ponds. Clarify will rapidly reduce Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) in vineyard waste ponds and increase Dissolved Oxygen levels, allowing the water to be released and used for vineyard irrigation.

17. How fast does Clarify work?

Clarify starts working as soon as it is applied, rapidly reducing contaminants within 1-2 weeks.

18. How can I tell if Clarify is reducing the contamination level in my pond?

For waste ponds with a lot of sludge you may initially see a decrease in water clarity or an increase in surface solids as the sludge is being broken down into smaller compounds that will float to the surface. As these compounds are further broken down, the surface solids will decrease and the water clarity will improve.

For ponds where a specific contaminant is of concern – such as high BOD or nitrate – analytical tests can be used to indicate water quality improvements.

For ornamental ponds, there should be visual improvement in water clarity, with decreased water “murkiness”. One potential issue in ornamental ponds that Clarify can improve is low Dissolved Oxygen (DO) levels due to high contaminant concentrations as measured by BOD. Clarify treatment will substantially increase the DO level such that the pond can support fish and other marine life.

19. Will Clarify remove duckweed or other weeds?

No, Clarify is not an herbicide and cannot kill duckweed that is already present. In our experience, duckweed that is already present before Clarify application must be removed by hand. However, Clarify can prevent new growth by limiting available nutrients needed for duckweed to grow.

20. How do I apply Clarify to my wastewater or ornamental pond?

We recommend applying Clarify in a way that maximizes the distribution of Clarify into any contaminated areas in the water body. This can include using a sprayer, or using a boat to manually pour Clarify at various points in the pond. For algae-infested ponds, we recommend applying Clarify in the most contaminated parts of the pond – generally near the pond edges, where much of the new algae growth occurs.

21. How often should I apply Clarify to my wastewater or ornamental pond?

For wastewater ponds, Clarify should be applied using a schedule that reflects the amount of new waste being introduced and treated waste being removed.

To prevent algae growth, we recommend applying Clarify to your pond in the spring, when warmer temperatures and increased sunlight exposure can result in new algae growth.

For ornamental ponds, Clarify should be applied according to a schedule appropriate for your needs and the type of contamination present.

22. Does Clarify work with aerators?

We recommend turning your aerator system off before Clarify application and waiting 24-48 hours after application before turning your aerator back on as aeration can reduce Clarify activity. We also recommend Clarify treatment if you need to clean out your aerator system, as Clarify will actively remove any build-up or accumulations.

23. Does Clarify work with bioreactor systems?

Yes, Clarify works well with manure lagoon bioreactor systems.

24. Does Clarify work on koi ponds?

Yes. Clarify works on a variety of ornamental ponds, including koi ponds. Clarify treatment will help ensure healthy koi with vibrant colors and crystal-clear pond water.

25. Will Clarify harm my sump pump?

No, Clarify will not harm sump pumps or any other system used to pump water. In fact, we recommend using Clarify to actively remove any build-up or accumulations in your water pump system.

26. Does Clarify work with aquariums?

Yes, Clarify works with freshwater, saltwater, and coral reef aquariums, keeping your fish healthy and water crystal-clear.

27. What if I apply Clarify for Aquariums at a different dosage than the recommended level?

Applying too little Clarify or applying it too infrequently could reduce the overall effectiveness of treatment. Adding more than the recommended dosage of Clarify will not harm fish, plants, or corals. However, we recommend adding no more than 5X the recommended amount to avoid overloading the biofilter system.