Also, it is evident that chemical and physical methods are costly and are only temporarily beneficial. The best point of attack is to reduce the accumulation of sludge. Bioaugmentation means helping Mother Nature do a better job microbiologically by supplementing the indigenous microflora. This is in contrast to the continued use of chemicals or increasing the frequency of water change, if, in fact, the water can be changed at all. Just like aspirin relieves some cold symptoms but does not cure the cold, chemical additives or water changes temporarily relieve the symptoms of the poor aquatic environment, but do not cure the problem.
Nature abounds with microbial cultures in the air, soil and water.
These microflora exist because they have adapted and continue to adapt to changes in the environment. They have adapted because they can metabolize certain surrounding substances to obtain energy and nutrients. But, this does not mean they can handle an ever-increasing load. An aquatic environment with few fish or crustaceans would probably clean itself over time. However, such a system would not feed many people or make a profit for the grower.