‘VitaOloïd is the solution for clean water in basin’

Algae growth will increase as radiation and temperature increase. Especially in stagnant water in basins and silos. Algae block irrigation systems and consume oxygen dissolved in the water. This decreases the production and your profits. The solution from HortiMaX is the VitaOloïd.

Combat algae

Dutch truss tomato grower Marco van Noord in Oude Tonge has two rainwater basins. Two years ago he had serious problems with algae. During that hot summer he was forced to empty and clean both basins. A year later, in the spring of 2004, he was again confronted with heavy algae growth.

Early 2005 his local HortiMaX dealer put a VitaOloïd in one of the basins. This apparatus gets the water moving by means

of an electrically driven paddle with a special geometrical shape, called oloïd.

It creates a rythmically pulsating and directional flow of the water throughout the basin. This flow helps prevent an explosive algae growth. It also prevents biologically decomposed material from settling on the bottom. And the oxygen content increases.

Clear water

Measurements have been taken every few weeks measurements after the VitaOloïd was installed in the end of March. These measurements show that the oxygen content of the water increased from 11.26 to 14.4 ppm. The measurements in the basin without VitaOloïd showed a drop to 3 ppm. Van Noord finds this one of the most striking outcomes. “And after having used the VitaOloïd for three months the water is so clear that I can see the bottom. And that was during April and May when temperatures rose and the other basin became more and more dirty due to algae growth. This new product beats nature!”

Improved water quality

“As a grower you have to try to bring the cleanest possible water with sufficient oxygen in it to your plants. You also should not allow the water temperature to increase above 18 degrees. Warmer water contains less oxygen and it also negatively influences the efficiency of nutrients uptake by the plants’ roots.

Then you lose again what you first gained with improved water quality”, says the grower. He is convinced that improved water quality results in better growth and higher production. “Every grower should invest in a VitaOloïd.”