SuperTab for Ponds
SuperTabs: controlled reduction of bacterial pressure
SuperTab is an oxidant in tablet form. It increases the redox potential of water, but more importantly: anaerobic bacteria are strongly suppressed. The SuperTab is a very selective oxidant and easy to use.
WARNING: SuperTab is an oxidizing product. Always read the Product Safety Data Sheet first.
Before using this product, read all information carefully. If you are unsure about the content of this page or the use of this product, do not use this product. If you do not understand something, you can contact the store where you purchased this product for questions.
By opening the tablet packaging, you confirm that you have read and understood all information.
This product is distributed by: Air‑Aqua BV.
Safety First
WARNING: Read the Product Safety Data Sheet before using this product and opening the tablet packaging!
WARNING: Keep out of reach of children. Only suitable for people who are aware of the potential hazards of this product.
Liability Provisions
WARNING: By using this product, you agree to the following liability provisions.
- If the product is used for purposes other than those described in this manual, this is done at your own risk, both in terms of damage to the product and to other materials. We exclude any liability for applications not explicitly confirmed in writing by us.
- When using the product in aquaculture, it must not be used in combination with other additives, medications, or pesticides.
- Each user is responsible for the correct use of this product. This manual does not relieve you of the obligation to ensure safe application and use of this product. By using this manual, you acknowledge that the manufacturer cannot be held liable under any circumstances for material damage and/or personal injury and/or consequential damage resulting from the use of this product.
- We explicitly exclude any form of consequential damage and emphasize that the warranty is limited to the product itself. Any additional possible damage or consequential damage is not accepted.
- The customer must check the delivered product for damage and/or defects upon receipt.
- There is no liability for damage resulting from improper handling and use of the product by the customer or third parties. This applies in particular to the influence of thermal, chemical, or external factors, as well as failure to follow the instructions in the user manual and the product safety data sheet.
- Claims for defects in the product expire 6 months after delivery to the customer. The same applies to claims for compensation, regardless of the reason or legal basis.
Properties of SuperTab
SuperTab consists of a mixture of sodium chlorite and additives. When a tablet is added to water, chlorine dioxide (ClO₂) is formed. Chlorine dioxide should not be confused with chlorine!
In chlorine dioxide, the oxygen atoms/electron transfer do the oxidation work. The chloride ion (as in sodium chloride = salt) does not actively participate in the reaction. The pungent chlorine smell is therefore not perceptible in the water when using chlorine dioxide.
Chlorine dioxide is very effective in killing pathogens such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses. Chlorine dioxide is a very selective oxidant and reacts mainly with organic substances. The greatest advantage of chlorine dioxide, compared to other oxidants (hydrogen peroxide, ozone, and chlorine), is its low oxidation power combined with high oxidation capacity.
Low oxidation power
The stronger an oxidant, the more dangerous it is for living organisms. Ozone must not be present freely in water due to its strength and possible harmful effects on, for example, fish. Oxygen is a very weak oxidant: there should be as much of it as possible in the water to prevent pathogens and neutralize harmful (reducing) substances. Chlorine dioxide is above oxygen but well below ozone in terms of oxidation power. A constant low concentration in the water is therefore not a problem for fish and other living organisms.
High oxidation capacity
To neutralize the same amount of dirt, 2.5 times as much of other oxidants is needed compared to chlorine dioxide. In other words, the concentration of chlorine dioxide only needs to be 40% of that of other oxidants to kill the same amount of anaerobic bacteria or neutralize organic material.
The combination of low oxidation power and high oxidation capacity makes this product very suitable for relatively safe and easy use in aquaculture.
Chlorine dioxide, unlike many other oxidants, also works very well at low temperatures and higher pH values. Chlorine dioxide, unlike chlorine, also has no effect on the pH value.
In the dark, chlorine dioxide works much less effectively, which minimizes its harmful effect on biological filters. Also due to the low oxidation power, bacteria responsible for the conversion of protein/ammonium/nitrite to nitrate are hardly affected at low concentrations of ClO₂. Because anaerobic bacteria (pathogens) have a very thin shell, they are killed at very low concentrations.
Anaerobic bacteria cannot build up resistance to chlorine dioxide because, unlike UV or antibiotics, the cell wall is destroyed.
Practical application of SuperTab
The SuperTab is highly soluble in water (an effervescent tablet). Depending on the amount of water to which the SuperTab is added and the SuperTab used (concentration and tablet size), a certain concentration of ClO₂ is created in the water. Tables 1 and 2 show the concentrations when using the 20g/10% SuperTab. Use the SuperTab only at a pH value greater than 7. The effect of oxidants is stronger at low pH values and used concentrations should then be lower.
| Water (L) | Solution (mg/L) | Solution (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2.000 | 0.2 |
| 2 | 1.000 | 0.1 |
| 5 | 400 | 0.04 |
| 10 | 200 | 0.02 |
| 20 | 100 | 0.01 |
| 100 | 20 | 0.002 |
| 200 | 10 | 0.001 |
| 1.000 | 2 | 0.0002 |
| 2.000 | 1 | 0.0001 |
| 10.000 | 0.2 | 0.0002 |
| 20.000 | 0.1 | 0.00001 |
| 50.000 | 0.04 | 0.000004 |
| Pond size (liters) | 0.04 mg/L (ml) | 0.1 mg/L (ml) | 0.2 mg/L (ml) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 2 | 5 | 10 |
| 250 | 5 | 12.5 | 25 |
| 500 | 10 | 25 | 50 |
| 1.000 | 20 | 50 | 100 |
| 2.000 | 40 | 100 | 200 |
| 5.000 | 100 | 250 | 500 |
| 10.000 | 200 | 500 | 1000 |
| 15.000 | 300 | 750 | 1500 |
| 20.000 | 400 | 1000 | 2000 |
| 25.000 | 500 | 1250 | 2500 |
| 30.000 | 600 | 1500 | 3000 |
| 40.000 | 800 | 2000 | 4000 |
| 50.000 | 1000 | 2500 | 5000 |
At a ClO₂ concentration of about 0.04 mg/l, bacterial pressure is greatly reduced without negatively affecting the biology and aquaculture in the water. From a concentration of 0.1 mg/l, ammonia and nitrite should always be tested regularly.
At higher concentrations (from 0.2 mg/l to 0.5 mg/l), ClO₂ is very effective in significantly reducing and/or curing bacterial problems in fish. The fish may react somewhat irritated at higher concentrations. The biological function of the filter may also (strongly) decrease. According to the German drinking water standard (TrinkwV2001), a concentration of 0.4 mg/l chlorine dioxide is permitted for drinking water.
Application Examples (see also Table 3)
(Koi) ponds with fish
- Start and maintenance during the season:
For the private user, it is important not to let the bacterial pressure rise and to keep it under good control. For maintenance dosages, a concentration of 0.04 mg/l in the pond is desired. This means 1 SuperTab for 50,000 liters of water. If you have a 10,000 liter pond, you can dissolve 1 SuperTab in a 1 liter jerrycan and then dose 200 ml (see also Table 2) to achieve a concentration of 0.04 mg/l (0.000004%). At the time of dosing, chlorine dioxide is consumed. The UV lamp slowly breaks down the product. After a week, dose again to maintain the level.
Especially if the organic load is very high (e.g. when first using the product), the dosed amount is quickly consumed. In this case, it is advisable to dose every other day, 4 times in a row. Then, for 4 weeks, perform the dosage twice a week.
In addition, the organic load in summer is much higher than in winter. It is therefore advisable to use less weekly as water temperatures decrease (about 25% at water temperatures of 6-10°C and 50% at temperatures of 10-15°C).
Also, through the use of high-quality filter technology, sparse feeding behavior, etc., the organic load of the pond can be very low. Even then, it is advisable to use only 25-50% of the recommended values as stated in Table 3.In addition to reducing bacterial pressure, after a longer period of use, much organic material disappears from the walls and in the pipes. Your pond will gradually become visibly cleaner.
- High bacterial pressure Increase the dosage to 1 SuperTab per 20,000 liters or even 1 SuperTab per 10,000 liters. If this dosage is repeated daily for a week, the bacterial pressure will drop drastically.
WARNING: at higher dosages than 0.1 mg/l, always monitor the behavior of the fish.
WARNING: be cautious when using SuperTab at pH values below 7; oxidizing products work much more strongly at lower pH values.
Ammonia and nitrite levels should be measured daily because there is a risk that the biology will be partially affected at a higher dose. If increased ammonia and/or nitrite is measured, water should be refreshed during treatment or the use should be temporarily stopped until the biological filter has recovered.
(Swimming) ponds without fish
For swimming ponds without fish, a higher dosage of 0.1 - 0.2 mg/l is recommended. The product has no chlorine smell and is therefore excellent for strongly reducing bacterial pressure. Over time, a layer of sludge forms in swimming ponds, which often results in unacceptably high bacterial pressure in the water. At low concentrations, chlorine dioxide has no harmful effects on plants. The SuperTab also reduces the specific swimming pond odor: the water smells noticeably fresher with the use of SuperTab.Cleaning surfaces; flushing and disinfecting systems
With a concentration of 0.4 mg/l in clean (!) tap water, surfaces, pipes, and water basins can be disinfected. Biofilm is also removed.| Application | Recommended concentration (mg/L) | Dosing frequency | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Koi pond initial dosage | 0.04 | every other day for 1 week | Measure ammonia and nitrite daily. If elevated, stop dosing until values return to normal. |
| Koi pond maintenance dosage | 0.04 – 0.10 | weekly | Measure ammonia and nitrite daily. If elevated, refresh water. Monitor fish reaction; if in doubt, stop until normalization. |
| Koi pond polluted | 0.10 | every other day for 1 week | Measure ammonia and nitrite daily. Refresh at least 30% of water daily (preferably 50%). Monitor fish; if in doubt, stop until normalization. |
| Koi pond bacterial problems | 0.10 – 0.20 | daily for 1 week | Measure ammonia and nitrite daily. If elevated, stop dosing until values return to normal. |
| Quarantine bacterial problems | 0.20 – 0.40 | daily for 1 week | Measure ammonia and nitrite daily. If elevated, stop dosing until values return to normal. |
| High stocking density (sales tank) | 0.10 | 2 to 3 times per week | |
| Swimming pond with fish | 0.04 – 0.10 | weekly | |
| Swimming pond without fish | 0.10 – 0.20 | weekly |
Usage Instructions
Never use SuperTab in combination with other water treatment products and/or medications.
- WARNING: The product is highly moisture-attracting (hygroscopic). Therefore, after opening, store indoors (12°C or higher) in the original, sealed packaging.
- Take a dark jerrycan filled with clean (tap) water (use at least 1 liter of water). With 1 liter of water, the concentration is 2,000 mg/l; with 5 liters, 400 mg/l. Do not use an open bottle or bucket.
- Add 1 SuperTab. Do not smell the concentrated solution; concentrated ClO₂ gas is harmful.
- Close the jerrycan.
- Avoid shaking. Do not stir during dissolution. Wait about 5-10 minutes for the tablet to dissolve completely.
- After the reaction time, gently shake the bottle.
- When pouring the concentrated solution, beware of ClO₂ vapor.
- If you use part of the solution, store the remainder cool and dark in a well-ventilated area. The shelf life of the solution is approximately 6 weeks.
- Keep the solution and tablets out of reach of children.