PURE VERSATILE NATURAL ZEOLITE		A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF UNITED STATES ANTIMONY CORPORATION 406-827-3523 or tfl3543@blackfoot.net

BRZ™ FOR AQUACULTURE
 

Zeolites are a group of volcanic minerals that are hydrated calcium potassium sodium
aluminosilicates in which water is held in channel ways by absorption. The lattices are
negatively charged, and they loosely hold positively charged cations such as calcium, br> sodium, potassium, and ammonium. Their ability to exchange one cation for another is
known as their “cation exchange capacity” or CEC. Once the ammonium ion is in the lattice,
it is not water-soluble. They chemically filter out the ammonium.

BRZ™ zeolite is especially adapted as a direct replacement for sand, sand and anthracite,
and multi-media water filtration media. It has a much finer nominal rating (3 to 5 microns)
than sand (20 microns), and consequently it filters out more fine particulates. See Usage documents on water filtration on www.bearriverzeolite.com.
 

Oxygen and ammonia are the two most important parameters in aquaculture. The oxygen
is relatively easily controlled, but the ammonia is much more difficult. Ammonia, the un-ionized form of ammonia (ammonia gas) is produced from the gills and urine from the fish as well as from the bacterial decomposition of the unused food and fecal material. Fish utilize the
nitrogen component of digested proteins, the amino group (NH2) to build new proteins.
However, when they utilize the proteins for energy, they cannot metabolize the nitrogen, and
the amino group is split off as ammonia gas.  Ammonia gas solubilizes readily in water to
form ammonium ion. Ammonia is toxic, and it reduces the ability of the hemoglobin in the
blood to hold oxygen. Additionally, ammonia damages the gill structure further impairing
the fish in getting oxygen.

There are three ways to reduce ammonia in the water. First would include mechanical filtering
of unused food and fecal material. Although sand and charcoal have been used extensively, zeolite is much more effective. It has a nominal rating of 3 to 5 microns (sand is typically 20 microns), it loads 2 to 3 more times the particulate load of sand, and it reduces the number
of backwashes (see usage document on water filtration). Second would be the use of a biological filter in which bacteria mineralize the organic nitrogen compounds. The process
can be aerobic or “nitrification,” or anaerobic or “denitrification.” Nitrification is the most
popular, and it involves the oxidation of ammonia to nitrite and then to nitrates by autotrophic bacteria (Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter). The huge surface area of BRZ makes it an
excellent host for bacteria. Third, the ammonia can be chemically filtered by clinoptilolite.
A zeolite filter system can be used to mechanically remove food wastes and fecal material.
It also removes the ammonia and becomes a host for aerobic bacteria that eat the ammonia.
As such, it becomes all three filter systems in one if properly applied.

• Mineral:                Natural zeolite (primarily clinoptilolite). See spec. sheet

• Sizes:                    14 x 40,  ˝” x 4, 4 x 8,  8 x 14,  10 x 14

• GRAS:                  Classified as “GRAS” (generally regarded as safe)
                                    under CFR Part 582.2729, 40 CFR Part 180.1001            

• Surface Area:     24.9 square meters per gram

• Moisture:             Holds up to 55% of its weight in water

• Weight:                55 pounds per cubic foot

• CEC                      Cation Exchange capacity 160 to 180 meq/100 grams

• Potassium           3.47%

• Calcium               1.6%

• Sodium                 less than 0.5% (no water soluble sodium).

• Color:                    Pale green when dry; dark green when wet.
   

• The ammonium promotes the growth of algae in the pond or tank and the algae will
  grow on the BRZ™ where they utilize some of the ammonium. However, the algae
  on the BRZ™ will inhibit the absorption of the ammonium into the BRZ™. The algae
  must be washed off to accelerate the adsorption of the ammonium.

• Excretion of ammonia by fish increases with the activity of the fish, an increase in the temperature, and an increase in the feed ration. A rise of 13 degrees F can cause a
  10-fold increase in the rate of excretion.

• The per of ammonia gas in solution increases with an increase in temperature.

• A reduction of dissolved oxygen (DO) increases the acute and chronic toxicity of
  ammonia.

• The toxicity of ammonia decreases with an increase of salinity up to 30% sea water
  (9 % salt).

• Adsorption efficiency of BRZ™ is unaffected by water temperature.

• Adsorption efficiency of BRZ™ decreases in water of low pH.

• Adsorption efficiency of BRZ™ decreases as water hardness increases. Other
  cations such as Ca, Na, Mg, and K compete more effectively than ammonium for
  the exchange position. Optimum efficiency occurs when the hardness is less than
  44 mg/l.

• BRZ™ will reduce ammonia in proportion to the amount of BRZ™ used.

• BRZ™ is typically not used in seawater due to the high hardness and the amount of sodium. In seawater, BRZ™ has approximately only 5% of the capacity that it has in
  fresh water. Much more massive amounts of BRZ™ must be used in seawater that is typically not economic.

• Ammonium loaded BRZ™ can be regenerated by using a saline back wash solution followed by a rinse cycle.

• Alternatively, aerobic bacteria, algae, or plants can be used to regenerate the BRZ™.

• DECORATIVE ROCKS. -- Decorative rocks can be placed in ponds, aquariums,
  streams, fountains, and other tanks. Although these can be large in size, the effective penetration is only about ˝ an inch. Consequently, BRZ™ larger than 1 inch diameter
  looses its effectiveness as a chemical or chemical/biological filter.

• MECHANICAL FILTRATION. --   BRZ™ makes an excellent mechanical filter media
  for unused food and fecal material for aquaculture ponds.

• CHEMICAL FILTRATION. --   BRZ™is an excellent chemical filter for ammonium as
  well as for certain heavy metals by virtue of its cation exchange capacity.

• MEDIA FOR BIOLOGICAL FILTRATION.—the tremendous surface area and irregular surface of BRZ™ makes it a perfect media for biological colonies of aerobic bacteria.
  In effect it becomes a chemical/biological filter.