Scaleable bacterial injection, aeration and filtration system to
effectively control microbial community function of aquatic systems. The
present invention is a substantially simplified system with respect to
handling growth and dispersion of microorganisms in solution and is also
adaptable to many different end-use applications, including treatment of
ornamental fish and aquaculture, pond and streams and sewage treatment
systems. Initial microorganism materials are provided in the form of
aqueous suspensions, which are incorporated into a large volume of water
in a vessel. Microorganisms are entrapped inside a carrier that serves as
a physical enclosure for cell retention. It has a porous structure to
facilitate the diffusion of substances, such as ammonia, nitrate,
nutrients, fuels and organic carbon, into its internal void volume, where
substrate reduction is accomplished by entrapped cells. Specific species
of microbes are injected into a filtration matrix that is bathed in
oxygenated effluent and a portion of which is dispensed into an aqueous
environment. The apparatus can be electronic, air or fluid driven and
injected with the desired microbial species, preferably multiple time per
day. Multi-stage media can be placed into packed filter units of
convenient sizes for wastewater regeneration as well as natural water
pollution reduction. The reactor canisters containing entrapped cells are
portable and can be assembled off-site and then delivered to the field
for installation and immediate operation. Bio-solid reduction, odor
reduction, unplugging of leaching fields, conversion and reduction of
nitrogen species in natural waters such as lakes and ponds, etc. can be
accomplished.