These filter pads were developed in 1993 for the New
Zealand Live Lobster industry. These were to replace
the fibreglass Batt, which while it filters more finely,
the fibreglass is a health hazard to staff handling
them. The cost of replacing these Batts was also expensive.
These Batts were also a danger to the lobster or live
fish if the fibreglass fibers were to get into the actual
water where the fish were as it would damaged their
gills.
We tried a number of products, from other manufactures,
their products were unsuitable due to their manufacturing
methods, causing them to split or separate. We required
a product that would not break down, even after water
blasting every two days.
We finally found a company in Australia that uses the
same products in the Meat processing industry, for scrubbing
pads. This product still needed the extra treatment
to give it the service life required. The Aquahort’s
spec pad is totally soaked in acrylic to give a total
bond to all the fibres, as apposed to spraying it on
like other manufactures.
The size of the pad was increased to maxium dimensions
giving a width of 1020mm long by 520mm wide by 20mm
thick. When rolled up in a roll it will support a 20kg
weight. Some of our clients still use the same pad after
2 years, although the thickness is down to 10mm.
The fibres used are a mixture of blended Nylon and
Polyester in a medium - light Denier. The ratio of the
two, is approximately 50%. The base binding agent is
a Synthetic Acrylic resin. Following application the
pads are cured at a temperature close to the melting
point of the polyester and Nylon.
These pads have been used by the University of Tasmania
Launceston since 1993, in their Aquaculture Centre as
a filtration media, for mechanical filtration, as well
as a biological filtration media. Auckland University’s
Leigh research lab has been using the pads for filtration
since 1996. Also using these pads are NIWA / MAF in
their filtration system.
The following are some of the companies using this
product:
