Hiatt Distributors Limited Products Review
This article is a revised version of our "Simplified DIY Carbon Tube Filtration" article dated 08/05/98.
Bill Hiatt, more famously known as Snake, of Hiatt Distributors Limited has designed a number of environmental products over the last few years. Snake has turned his unique talents toward the field of water purification for the huddled masses. Hiatt products were developed for human and environmental use, but.... lo and behold....they are fantastic for ALL Fresh and Saltwater Systems.
One product in specific that he has developed is a natural occurring bacterial compound, Right Now Bacteria (RN), that increases the output of sewage plants by an astounding factor. In conjunction, Snake has developed a specific carbon, Tri-Base Pelletized Carbon (TBPC), that assists the RN to more efficiently convert Nitrates into Nitrogen gas.
The major qualities of RN are to rapidly convert ammonia (NH3+, NH4 OH, & NH4+) into nitrites (NO2) then into nitrates (NO3), in less than 24 hours, then vent the nitrates in the form of nitrogen gas into the atmosphere. This is all accomplished in a ONE TIME TREATMENT! RN totally works AEROBICALLY (living by oxygen) and is a scientific breakthrough. Besides these merits RN Bacteria will also reduce phosphates (PO4) and sludge, consume hair-micro algaes and oil, is bio resistance to copper and eight heavy metals, safe for all fish and invertebrates, and is a non-pathogenic natural occurring organism.
The TBPC is a fantastic biological filter medium, thousands of times more efficient that bio-balls by volume, for any aquatic system. TBPC will support a greater population of bacteria than silica or plastic. For every cubic foot (12 X 12 X 12) of bio-balls there are 100 square feet of surface area. Granted, some bio-balls now contain 200 square feet of surface. Silica Sand has a surface area of 390 m2/gram. TBPC has 3 different types of carbon contained in one pellet and has a surface of 1150 m2/gram. This carbon has the greatest surface area/platform for bacteria than any material on the market. As a filter media and TOC, as long as it is not abused, the TBPC should last about five years. This is NOT the same as the adsorbing time factor, so please do not confuse the two.
RN and TBPC were designed to work in conjunction with each other. You can use the RN in any aquarium without the TBPC with good results for Nitrate control. However, the two working in conjunction together will result in a much stronger filtration system. The TBPC acts as a highly efficient biological media base for the RN Bacteria to do it's job for maximum results.
TBPC can be added to any type of filtration system, i.e. wet/dry trickle filters, sumps and carbon tubes. However, after much testing is is found that optimal results occur when a pressure vessel (carbon tube) is used.
One such pressure vessel was created by Dave Reindeau when he built his DIY Carbon Filtration Tubes after purchasing Hiatt's TBPC and RN. Dave Riendeau is, without a doubt, a very brilliant man. In my mind, he is the next Einstein lost in the Hinterlands of northern British Columbia. Months ago Dave and I briefly discussed the concept of using TBPC and RN in a "closed filtration system". Dave, the genius that he is, can picture in his mind a concept and a solution to a problem, make a few scribbles on a piece of paper, and wonder why no one else can understand it. The rest of us have to try to decipher Dave's "Theory of Relativity" and make some sense of it. Take a look at Dave's DIY Carbon Filtration Tubes graphics. For details of how to build this carbon tube system read my DIY Carbon Tube Filtration System (Revised Version) article. If you are not a do-it-yourselfer, Hiatt Distributors Limited does make pre-made carbon tubes and they will soon be for sale on the Hawaiian Quality Fish site.
Three other products that Snake has developed are Metal Gone (MG), pH Adjustment Rock (pH Rock) and Instant Ammonium Destroyer (IAD).
Metal Gone (MG) is used for the maintenance, removal, or control of Hair Net and Micro-Algaes. MG removes aluminum, barium, boron, cadmium, calcium, cesium, chromium, cobalt, iron, lead, lithium, magnesium, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, palladium, phosphorous, rubidium, silicone, titanium, vanadium, zinc and zirconium. It adds strontium.
The pH rock has 28 trace elements (not strontium), and has plenty of CaCO3 and MgCO3 for all corals. Hiatt claims it holds water at a steady 8.3 pH.
The Instant Ammonium Destroyer instantly destroys ammonium, chlorine and chloramines in the water. It is non-toxic to humans, aquatic life or the environment. It is used in liquid scrubbers for the destruction of ammonia and ammonium, fish farming, fish collection and shipping and other industries that require the destruction of ammonia.
For more questions you may have about Hiatt Products, how they work and how to use them, visit the Hawaiian Quality Fish - Hiatt Product FAQ'S.
Aloha,
Stan Hauter
Your About.com Saltwater Aquariums Guide
Swimfish graphic from Fish Link Central's Animated Clip Art Collection
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