Ammosorb is a zeolitic ion exchange mineral with the ability to adsorb ammonium ions from freshwater. The unique property of Ammosorb has been applied to aquaculture for ammonium ion control in hatcheries and fish transportation. Ammosorb is also used in waste water treatment systems and as an ammonium buffer in activated sludge extended aeration water treatment plants. The product is only suitable for freshwater, and performs best when the water is soft with a low sodium and potassium ion content. The product also performs more efficiently at low temperatures.
Bacterial nitrification is a process which is used for ammonium control in recirculation systems.
The bacteria perform more efficiently at temperatures greater that 10 degrees centigrade, therefore ion exchange filtration is most applicable to soft freshwater applications at low water temperatures. This makes the product ideally suited to water quality control in salmonid hatchery water recycle systems. The Ammosorb will continue to remove ammonium from the water up until a state of equilibrium has been achieved with the other cations present in the water. Dryden Aquaculture have developed a technique for recycling and reusing the regenerant, therefore only small quantities of the alkaline salt solution are actually required. If the facility is located next to the sea, then sea-water may be used to regenerate the Ammosorb.