With ECOSAN as a brand, LSAqua is the market leader in Belgium and the Netherlands in the field of coccolite chalk.
The large surface area of ECOSAN combined with the high degree of purity is particularly appreciated.
Origin:
Coccolite chalk is a porous chalk (calcium carbonate) that consists of fossil skeletons of dead algae that have accumulated on the bottom of the seas millions of years ago. 1 gram of chalk of chalk has a surface area of no less than 2.5 m².
Application:
All ponds have a sludge layer that continues to grow over the years. This growth is caused by organic substances such as leaves, algae, high fish stocks, etc. The organic material that ends up in the water and then sinks to the bottom. When the self-cleaning capacity of the water is exceeded, the degradation of the sludge is smaller than the growth. In this way, sludge will be added annually if you do not intervene. A thicker sludge layer not only ensures that the water is becoming shallower, but above all that such a sludge layer is a real danger for the fish life. This sludge layer contains many gases that have been formed by fermentation of the organic fraction in the sludge. Gases such as methane and hydrogen sulphide are accumulated in the sludge sediment and are fatal to the fish stock present. Coccolite chalk can be used on almost every pond. This applies both to ponds with a (thick) sludge layer and ponds without silt. The formation of sludge can then be prevented on ponds without sludge layer. It should be kept in mind that a newly constructed pond will also have to process an amount of organic material every year. The coccolite chalk is evenly distributed on the pond with a shovel. One can use a boat on larger ponds to increase the range. The coccolite chalk will float in the water for a while (called a suspension) and, depending on the water temperature, it will sink to the bottom in a few days. In this way the chalk is evenly distributed over the soil where it has its effect.
Function:
The large surface of the coccolite chalk has its specific properties. This surface is needed so that bacteria can settle on the chalk after dosing on the pond. These good bacteria will then in turn ensure that the mud layer present is broken down. This way the pond can be kept healthy. Coccolite chalk can penetrate up to 15 cm into the soil layer. The coccolithe chalk acts as a medium for the bacteria that break down the mud layer. The very low solubility (0,96%) also ensures that the substrate remains intact. The pH of the soil is increased slightly so that a more suitable environment for the bacteria is created. The targeted bacteria culture is aerobic. This means that they need oxygen to survive. Oxygen is therefore an important parameter for proper functioning. Usually there is sufficient oxygen on the average fishing pond. However, if there is a pond with a historically thick organic sludge layer and a limited water column, some caution is required. If the bacteria develop massively as the water warms up, the oxygen level may drop. An aerator can bring a solution here. On the other hand, the coccolite chalk ensures that the water becomes clearer because the chalk enters into the bonding with floating particles in the water. In this way, the underwater plants are also more likely to develop as the light penetrates deeper into the water. Time of application: Coccolite chalk is used in spring when the water temperature is between 10 and 12 ° C. In normal years this is March-April. At these temperatures the oxygen balance of the water is ideal.
Conclusion:
The positive effects of the use of coccolite chalk are enormous. In addition to reducing the sludge layer present, fermentation and the formation of gases in the soil are also avoided. The oxygen level has a more stable and higher curve throughout the year. In addition, the chance of algal blooms is lower due to the binding of nutrients to the chalk and the greater speed of the processes.
