The pond market has been one of the most rapidly growing markets in the last 7 years. In December 1998, Ecological Laboratories moved and built a new 18,000 plant in Cape Coral, Fl to serve as a production facility, warehouse and laboratory. In 2005, they will have completed their 4th expansion to what is now a 63,000 square foot facility. This capacity was required primarily due to the growth of the pond market and the development of cutting-edge pond products. The company now employs 45-55 people, with some seasonal variation due to production schedules.

When Ecological Laboratories started producing “MicrobeLift PL,” they started trying to sell the product in January. What they didn’t know was that most of the dealers had already ordered their pond products in August the previous year. Having missed the primary trade shows for the industry, they were forced to use telemarketing to introduce the “PL” product to dealers. Even with a late start, the value of the product became immediately evident, and by the end of the first year, they had gained a strong market position. As of 2004, “MicrobeLift PL” was number 1 in the market, and asked for by name! Dealers are now lining up to ask Ecological if they can carry their products.

“PL” is a unique biologic product because it contains photosynthetic micro-organisms which give the solution its natural purple/red color. While the breakdown of organics always requires some driving force, these organisms use the power of the sun to clean the pond. “PL” has a full spectrum of bacterial types with varied metabolic functions including photosynthetic, aerobic heteratrophic, and facultative anerobes. Each uses a different source of energy to break down the organics. The product also has de-nitrifying organisms. These bacteria oxidize Ammonia produced from fish respiration (over 60% of pond Ammonia is produced from respiration!) and feces and turn it into Nitrite. Different bacteria then oxidize the Nitrite to turn it into Nitrate which is the soluble form of Nitrogen used in fertilizers. This is why high Nitrate levels support unwanted growth of algae in pond waters. PL also includes another organism that attacks the sediment in the pond and filtration system and converts Nitrate to Nitrogen Gas! Thus, fewer water changes are required for the sole purpose of removing Nitrates.

And ponds are just a small part of the work that Ecological Laboratories is doing. They are currently involved in a project that involves treating a badly polluted river in China. To monitor results, they set up 4 bio-filtration stations in the river to retrieve data on how well the industrial version of their “MicrobeLift PL” product is cleaning the river. The Chinese government has spent over $2 Billion dollars on the project over 10 years, and in just 4 months, Ecological Laboratories has attained BETTER results! They have actually lowered the Nitrogen levels in the river!

In 1999, the company came out with 3 new products – “Insure,” “TheraP” and “Autumn/Winter Prep.” Perhaps “Autumn/Winter Prep” is the best known, as it was the first product of its kind developed to break down cellulose-based organics in pond water. Any breakdown requires Oxygen, and of course winter is the best time to accomplish this breakdown because cold pond water holds the greatest amount of Oxygen. The biggest challenge was to develop a strain of fungal enzymes that would be effective in cold water. “Autumn/Winter Prep” is a powder-liquid blend of naturally occurring fungal enzymes that work perfectly to reduce the waste from leaves and other cellulose-based organics over winter. The cycle is aided by the lack of fish waste that would complicate the breakdown in warmer weather. In spring, the fish are not stressed by the normally lower Oxygen level caused by the sudden surge of harmful bacteria that come to life in the warmer water and usurp Oxygen to feed on the organics left in the pond over the winter.

The “TheraP” product works in the same way a vaccine works for humans. The goal is to protect Koi against common bacterial pathogens (harmful bacteria include Aeromonas and Psudomonas – commonly causing Fin Rot and Hole in the Side Disease). “TheraP” stimulates the Koi’s immune system through the use of live, attenuated virus to strengthen the fish’s internal reactions against disease. This is a liquid product that is added to the water. It helps to make the Koi less susceptible to the bacterial pathogens that are always existent in water. It does not work like “KoiZyme” to out-compete the harmful bacteria for its food source.

In 2004, Ecological Laboratories introduced several more new products. One was “MicrobeLift SA”, a liquid to reduce sludge in the pond. Both “SA” and “Autumn/Winter Prep” reduce sludge, but “Autumn/Winter” works on cellulose-based sludge, while “SA” works on organic sludge include Koi feces and leftover food. Bacteria must absorb food through their cell walls. In order to do this, they must first emit enzymes that act as knives and forks to break down the sludge into small enough portions so that the bacteria can eat it. Because bacteria are so small, the normal rate of sludge reduction would be very slow, but it is speeded up tremendously by the use of the enzymes. In one real-world test, the “SA” product reduced 3” of sludge on the bottom of a pond in a month! The shelf-life of the product is 3-4 years. This was one product for Ecological that not only lived up to expectations – it exceeded expectations!

Another new product for 2004 was a liquid mosquito control for ponds. It was voted as the #1 New Pond Product for 2004 at the AAPMA (Associated Pet) Trade Show in New Orleans. It works faster than dunks and bits, and has no residue that can destroy the clarity of the water. It is completely safe for Koi and goldfish, and can even be safely used in bird baths and in horse watering containers! It has a shelf-life of 2 years at 86 degrees. It is stored at 60 degrees in a refrigerated warehouse before it is shipped so that there is no degradation of its potency before it arrives in the dealer’s hands. Cats and dogs may also safely drink water treated with ANY of Ecological Laboratories pond products!

In 2005, Ecological produced a new kind of Koi food that uses bacteria to aid digestion. It works like health-food enzymes commonly sold to humans, and can improve the digestion of protein, carbohydrates and fat in Koi. It contains two organisms that are approved by both the FDA and the European Control Agency. Because Koi have no stomach, all digestion must be done within the gut. The enzymes produced by these approved organisms help to break down the food, and also populate the guy with these bacteria which helps the Koi to absorb more nutrients. The product is called “Nature’s Building Blocks.” It was developed for use by Dr. Carl Webster from Kentucky State University who is one of the top 5 fish nutritionists in the country. Dr. Webster has developed formulas for feed in aquaculture farms, and was asked by Ecological to develop a diet that would increase growth and color for ornamental fish.

There are 3 basic product lines that combine to make up “Nature’s Building Blocks.” Each product line consists of a group of feeds – such as the “Basic” group. The “Basic” feed could be the “Spring/Fall” staple for cold weather, the “High Growth and Energy” staple, or the “High Temperature” staple for use in hot summer pond water. The 2nd group consists of an “Immuno-stimulant” feed, and the 3rd group is a “Fruit and Vegetable” feed. The “Immuno-stimulant” feed is a homeopathic solution that stimulates the immune system naturally. It is similar to using clay-like substances in the water. Some feeds that stimulate the immune system can actually harm the Koi eventually as they develop no resistance to disease. The Ecological product works in an entirely different way, and continues to strengthen the Koi’s reaction to pathogens as long as it is being used. “Nature’s Building Blocks” works like a ‘science diet’ for fish, in that you follow a weekly schedule to feed the “Basic” food for 3 non-consecutive days, the “Immuno-stimulant” food for 2 non-consecutive days, and the “Fruit and Vegetable” food for 2 non-consecutive days. A chart is provided so that you follow the diet for each day of the week. All the foods have stabilized vitamin C, but no other food producer includes pro-biotics to aid digestion, and no other producer has a feed with fruits and vegetables. Because Ecological is constantly soliciting feedback and applying it to new products, they may someday produce a single food containing all 3 of the groups for convenience. While “Nature’s Building Blocks” is currently more complicated to feed than one single food, it has been very well received. The digestibility of the feed by Koi is so complete that the only waste product is a very small amount of ash!

Ecological Laboratories believes that all of their products must be sold only by dealers that really understand fish and their needs. Their products are never sold by the “big boxes” and mass merchandisers. Ecological is willing to take fewer sales to assure that dealers that sell their products can also help and educate customers through the sharing of their own knowledge.

So, what’s in the future? In 2006, several new products are slated for introduction. One will break down Phosphates in the pond through the use of a Phosphate scavenger organism. One will be a basic water treatment product to dechlorinate water, and one will be a nitrifying bacterial culture that will help new owners to start ponds or immediately reduce a Nitrite buildup. While there are several very expensive products on the market now that can reduce Nitrite immediately, they have an extremely short shelf-life and must be kept refrigerated. The new Ecological product will have a shelf life of 18-24 months, and be a liquid that requires NO refrigeration! They are also working on 2 new bacterial gels for filter pads – one for organic breakdown and one for nitrification. These will reduce filter maintenance, and thus reduce nitrification instability that occurs from filter cleaning.

At the corporate headquarters in Long Island, the 16 employees that work in sales and administration keep a Koi pond in the office! The office is on the 2nd floor – yet contains an 1100 gallon Koi pond and 2 huge reef aquariums (they also sell aquarium products). The Koi Pond is the main attraction, and houses 6 large Koi and over a dozen Tosai and Nisai. Each Koi has a name, and each employee has a favorite that they enjoy feeding.

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