My Interview with John Mclauchlan the Developer of Viresco
The interview is a series of questions and answers and was carried Out to convince myself that Viresco was indeed such a wonderful product ... I believe it is
Dear Tony,
Please find below my answers to your questions. It has been a fairly lengthy task!
Best wishes,
John
See prices and buy online at the Viresco UK store
THE INTERVIEW
Why are the packs of Viresco so small?
Our Viresco pond and aquarium products are in a concentrated form. The packs contain only the relevant microbes plus support materials. We do not believe in adding inert filler to bulk up the products.
Thousands of people worldwide are looking for solutions to blanket weed and they've tried everything ... why are you so sure your product works and no others that are said to work really do?
Viresco was launched in autumn 1997. Since that date, over 51,000 packs have been sold. We believe the mode of action of Viresco is unique in that the microbes contained in the product take the nitrate level in the water down to zero and will hold it at zero for a period of time. Once that happens, blanketweed or other algae will die from starvation. The proof of its efficacy is that we achieve a very high percentage of repeat orders along with a very high proportion of new customers who have been recommended.
I believe the shortcomings of other "so called" blanketweed control products arise because they do not address the cause of the problem. The presence of nitrate causes the blanketweed to grow. We know of no product, other than Viresco, that removes completely the nitrate from the water. Remove the cause of the problem and the problem is solved!
Why does algae in my pond disappear at night then during the day it comes to the surface?
During the day, the algae uses the light for photosynthesis that at the same time produces oxygen. These small bubbles of oxygen give buoyancy to the algae that then float to the pond surface attached to these bubbles. At night, this process reverses in that the algae consume oxygen for cellular respiration, giving out carbon dioxide in the process. The buoyancy disappears and the algae mat drops to the bottom of the pond.
I've noticed that when blanket weed is intense my pond water is clear. Why is this?
A pond suffering from an algae problem usually has either blanketweed or algae bloom. Rarely does the pond have both. Thus, when blanketweed is present, there is no algae bloom so the water is clear.
You say it is best to switch off the UV in my pond ... is this correct and why and for how long? Will my pond go green and murky?
In the early days of selling Viresco for suppressing algae in ponds, we suggested that pond keepers should switch off the UV. At that time, we were unsure whether the UV radiation would kill some of the bacteria in the Viresco products. Most pond keepers followed our recommendation and switched off their UV's. The water usually went green for a few days but, when they switched the UV back on, the green water disappeared.
However, many pond keepers switch off their UV's and never use them again. Once the Viresco has taken the nitrate down to zero, the algae bloom dies of starvation and the green water disappears. Conversely, some pond keepers do not switch off their UV's as we now know the radiation from the tubes is not intense enough to damage the bacteria in our Viresco mixes.
Most people do not believe me when I say that you claim that nitrates are removed in a pond that is circulated. They say there must be no oxygen to get nitrate removal. Is this so?
In a sense, these people are correct. There must be no oxygen available in order to obtain nitrate removal. However, most people do not realize that there are relatively large parts of a pond or aquarium where there is no oxygen present. These anaerobic areas are called biofilms and are attached to surfaces. These very thin films of water adhere to all manner of surfaces in the pond and do not move when the bulk of the water passes by. These films become anaerobic and our nitrate removing microbes take up residency in these thin films.
They also say surely the biofilter will die if there is no oxygen in the water Is this correct?
This is correct. The water that passes through the biofilter has to contain oxygen in order to keep alive the microbes that convert ammonia to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate. They operate under aerobic conditions and obviously the bulk of the water in a pond or an aquarium has these conditions.
Does Viresco work on suspended algae too?
Yes, Viresco works on suspended algae as well as blanketweed. The same principle applies. Take away the nitrate food for the algae bloom and it dies of starvation.
Does this mean I do not need an UV light?
Many Viresco customers no longer use UV lights as algae bloom does not grow if the nitrate is reduced to zero and kept there.
How does pH of my water affect the working of the Viresco?
At higher pH levels, it is recommended that more Viresco should be applied.
Do I have to use more in hot weather?
We have no evidence that more Viresco should be used in hot weather.
What happens in winter?
In cold water, the microbes in Viresco are not killed off. However, they do not multiply and grow as efficiently as they would in warmer water. We suggest that Viresco works best above about 50 degrees F (10 degrees C).
When is best time to start adding to my pond to make sure I can enjoy the pond this year?
In temperate climates, the best time to add Viresco to ponds for algae control is early spring, just ahead of the pond water warming up. In warmer climates and in heated ponds, Viresco can be added at any time.
However, there is an advantage in having Viresco in pond water when water temperatures are below 50 degrees F (10 degrees C). This does not specifically relate to algae control but more to the health of the fish. Fish are most susceptible to bacterial and fungal diseases as the water warms up in spring and they become more active. Having the Viresco microbes in the pond at this time means that those microbes that might otherwise form a disease on the fish are suppressed under competitive exclusion.
You say blanket weed can grow at 2 metres per day ... is this true? What is normal growth in a normal pond?
We have had customers who claim they have grown blanketweed at more than 2 metres per day! There is no such thing as a normal growth in a normal pond! Some people never see more than an inch or so per day, whilst others are winding out long lengths on a daily basis.
Why is Viresco not stocked by my local aquatics dealer?
We have Viresco stocked in a number of aquatics retailers in the UK. We frequently ask ourselves why more retailers do not stock it but we do not know the reasons. However, we have a few thoughts on the matter! These include:
1. Some retailers object to us selling the products via mail order!
2. There are numerous "so called" blanketweed control products on the market. Some are offered by very large established firms who sell a range of other aquatic products to retailers. We are a small family run business with less "clout" than the larger firms.
3. Retailers may not obtain the profit margins with our products that they can obtain with other products. For example, one blanketweed control product was introduced a few years ago that, for a year, costs the pond keeper about ten times that of Viresco.
4. Maybe our product is too good for some retailers! Whilst repeat purchases of Viresco are made they probably do not happen frequently enough for some retailers!
Is Viresco used in fish farming and can you give me some examples?
We have sold one lot of bulk Viresco to one fish farm in the UK and have currently one quotation out with another. We would prefer to not give names.
Why is there Viresco Aqua and Viresco Koi?
In 1997, we launched Viresco Aqua. This product does three things in a pond. It deals with plant nutrients - removing nitrate and reducing phosphate. It digests organic waste. It improves the health, disease resistance and growth of fish. After a little while, we realized that many koi specialists did not require the waste digester microbes as they had little or no waste in their ponds. They keep their ponds clear of waste by dropping their bottom drains and using vacuums. We therefore brought out Viresco Koi in early 2000. This product has less of the waste digesting microbes and more of the nitrate removing microbes.
Why should I add Microboost to a filter? Surely these bacteria are already present in the water?
Microboost is primarily a food source for the microbes in Viresco or for other microbes. It is mainly a granular humic substance that is a superb food for microbes. It has been claimed by certain experts that one bacterium in an aquatic system can split by binary fission into two bacteria in 20 minutes if the conditions in the system are optimal, eg optimum temperature, plenty of food available and no other microbial competition. In 8 hours, this one bacterium would multiply to give over 17,000,000 bacteria!! Thus, adding extra microbial food to a pond or aquarium will help to boost these microbial numbers. The Viresco products contain certain soluble foods for the microbes - Microboost is an insoluble material that slowly degrades through microbial action.
I'm scared of adding too much ... what happens if I overdose?
With one proviso, there are no problems with overdosing. We have one customer who, once per year, applies enough Viresco to treat 6000 gallons to his 1000 gallon pond. The one proviso is that there should be enough oxygen in the pond. If the oxygen level is taken down too low by the microbes in our mixes, then the fish would start to gasp. However, most pond keepers have more than enough oxygen in their ponds to cope with serious overdosing
How does the solids build up on pond bottoms disappear? Where do these solids go to?
If the solids build-up on pond bottoms is dead organic matter - and it usually is - then our Viresco Aqua can be used to remove it. If there is any mineral matter in the solids build-up, then our Viresco product will be of no help. Dead organic matter, whether it arises from tree leaves or grasses that have blown in or whether it is faeces from fish or other animals or whether it is waste food, it is essentially carbon based. One group of microbes in Viresco will digest away this carbon matter. These particular micro-organisms convert this dead carbon material into carbon dioxide and this gas is given off. Some people see the lifting of small waste particles up through the water column attached to bubbles of carbon dioxide.
How many different microbes are used in these products and where did they come from?
All we are willing to say in answer to this question is our Viresco products contain a good number of different microbes that are included for three specific functions, ie for nutrient removal, waste digestion and health benefits.
What happens to microbes if I don't use for about 6 months and leave in packet? I live in hot climate
The microbes in our aquatic Viresco mixes are carried on bran particles. They are freeze dried on to this bran. They will remain viable indefinitely if the powder is kept dry. Regarding temperatures, the powders will remain potentially active if kept in conditions that are cooler than about 40 degrees C (104 degrees F).
I'm worried ... if all nitrates are removed by these microbes what will happen to my pond plants?
This is a good point. Plants consume some of the nitrate that comes into the pond from the filter. As a result, they generally grow very lush, putting out strong green stems and a good quantity of leaf. When Viresco is used and the availability of nitrate in the water is reduced, the plants do not grow as strongly. However, with flowering plants, eg lilies, we receive feedback that these plants flower better. The argument is that they are not putting all their energies into producing leaf and stem, and instead put out more flowers in order to produce seed for the next generation of plants.
Of the total sales of Viresco Aqua and Viresco Koi over the 21 months period ended in July 2005, the percentages have been 44.6% Viresco Aqua and 55.4% of Viresco Koi. Whilst we cannot categorically state that all the Viresco Aqua has gone into ponds containing plants, neither can we say that all the Viresco Koi has gone into koi ponds without plants. However, we can generalise and suggest that most of the Viresco Aqua has been used in ponds with plants. During the total time of about 8 years we have been selling Viresco Aqua, we have not had one adverse comment about the product seriously affecting the growth of aquatic plants.
What happens to nitrates that are coming from continuous feeding of fish and the normal metabolic fish functions that create the nitrification cycle?
The nitrate, under anaerobic conditions in certain parts of the pond or aquarium, is reduced back to nitrogen (denitrification). This step completes the cycle. The first part of the cycle is that the ammonia waste arising from protein food that the fish have eaten is initially converted into nitrite in the filter by certain microbes under aerobic conditions. The nitrite is then converted by other microbes, again under aerobic conditions, into nitrate.
Can you give me a list of referrals I can use or names of experts who've tested the stuff?
The first independent trial carried out was done on Viresco Koi by David Brown in 2000. He used to carry out trials for "Koi Ponds & Gardens" magazine. His results were published in the September 2000 issue of the magazine. Prior to applying Viresco, his 4000 gallon pond had a nitrate level of 80ppm (mg/litre) and was growing blanketweed at 2 feet per day. Within 9 days, the nitrate level had dropped to zero and at that time the blanketweed died. This trial started on 26th June 2000 and, in the following October, he emptied his pond to rebuild it. During those three months or so, the nitrate reading remained at zero, blanketweed did not return and he did not add any more Viresco.
The second trial was carried out at Brooksby College, Leicestershire, by one of the lecturers, Adrian Love. He tested six "so-called" blanketweed control products. Two of these were magnetic type gadgets, one was a water colourant, one put copper into the water and the final two were biological. One of the latter two was Viresco Koi. Our Viresco product was declared to be "The Winner". The results of this trial were published in the August 2001 issue of "Koi Ponds & Gardens".
The third pond trial was again carried out by Adrian Love at Brooksby College. On this occasion he tested 13 different products. They were given marks for overall effectiveness that included such parameters as value for money, ease of use etc. Of the thirteen products tested, one achieved 5 marks, five achieved 6 marks, four achieved 7 marks and three achieved 8 marks. One of the 3 top scorers was our Viresco Koi. However, our product was not declared the best product overall because it was marked down incorrectly on two aspects. The report stated that the pack had all to be used at once. This is not so. The powder can be split for multiple applications. Secondly, on value for money, the overall winner obtained a better score than did Viresco although no account was taken of the total number of recommended applications per season. Our product offered the pond keeper much better value for money. The conclusions could have been better presented!! The trial results were featured in the 2004 Summer issue of "Koi Ponds & Gardens".
Adrian Love has recently moved from Brooksby College to Sparsholt College, near Winchester.
Another independent trial was carried out on our Viresco Aquarium product in late 2002. This trial was conducted by the then editor of "Tropical Fish" Magazine, Simon Wolstencroft. The trial was featured in the February 2003 issue of the magazine. In the report, Simon states the nitrate level, starting at 25mg/litre, halved within 10 days of application. Nitrate was down at zero after a month. He added "Furthermore, in almost three months of continuous use, the front glass of the aquarium has not needed to be cleaned of algae, and there has been a considerable reduction in sludge." He continued "We can't quite figure out how this product works, but work it does. An absolute essential for freshwater fish keepers."
How can I test to make sure that the nitrates are being removed as you claim?
This can be done very simply by using a standard nitrate test kit. We recommend the pond keeper does a nitrate check just before he applies Viresco. Then we suggest he tests at roughly weekly intervals. He should see the level moving down over time, thus showing our microbes are taking out the nitrate. Bear in mind the algae will not stop growing until the nitrate level reaches zero. Also bear in mind that the nitrate kits relate to the situation with the fish. Where the reading might say "satisfactory", this relates to the effect of nitrate on fish. We encourage pond keepers to think about nitrate in relation to algae growth.
Which is the best test kit to use?
We have no views on this. The simple colormetric kits are usually good enough to map the nitrate reductions over time although when the level of nitrate is high, an accurate figure cannot always be read.
Do microbes in Viresco also need nitrates to live?
Yes, those that remove nitrate need to keep going using up the nitrate. In most ponds with fish and other organisms present, there will always be the production of nitrate via the filter from the excreted ammonia.
What would you say the ideal stocking density for small and medium sized fish ponds should be?
We do not wish to recommend how pond keepers should run their ponds. However, in relation to the production of nitrate we can comment. Most small and medium ponds are understandably over-filtered. This fact tends to encourage these pond keepers to over-stock with fish, knowing that the larger filters can cope adequately with the increased ammonia produced by the fish. However, the usage rates of our Viresco products should be directly related to the amount of excrement produced by the fish, not determined by the volume of water in the pond. Thus, where ponds are overstocked, where overfeeding takes place and where long runs of high protein food are use, then more Viresco than is normally recommended should be used. In order to help with the overstocking situation, we suggest where more than 60 inches of fish are in 1000 gallons of water, more Viresco should be applied. This figure is only a rough yardstick and should be only used as a guide. We have met people with over 300 inches of fish in their ponds!
Do you recommend a specific fish feeding regime?
No, we do not recommend a specific fish feeding regime, other than to comment that those people who over-feed, should take stock of their actions!
I see you used to offer a guarantee ..... under this guarantee, how many people as a percent of customers have returned your product asking for a refund because they said it didn't work?
Under our "money back if not satisfied guarantee", we did not ask people to return any of the product. Most of it would have been in the ponds! During the time we ran the guarantee we sold 1935 packs of Viresco Aqua and returned money to 39 of these customers. This is a percentage of approximately 2%. We know we were cheated by some customers. We use to ask the purchaser to fill in a claims form under the guarantee. A number of claimants stated that they had not received a form in their pack! Our view was that they had passed the form on to another person so we then had two claims to pay out on!
Do you get any repeat purchases?
Our mail order business has been founded and built up on the basis of repeat purchases and recommendations to others. A good product means that people come back for more. Existing customers tell others about Viresco. As a result, we obtain very large numbers of repeat purchases. Sometimes the customer does not buy again for more than 2 years. Others will buy 2 packs or more in one year. During 2004, we did a check on the sources of 362 consecutive mail order customers who had bought either Viresco Aqua or Viresco Koi. Of these, 229 (63%) were previous customers and 66 (18%) bought on recommendation.
We compared the sales of Viresco Aqua and Viresco Koi in the first 4 months of 2005 to the sales in the corresponding period of 2004. The 2005 figures were up by 51%!! This is a tremendous growth figure for a product that is in its eighth year! We put this increase very much down to the loyalty of existing customers plus the recommendations they make to others.
Is there a limit to the size of pond that can be treated?
No, there is no limit. Viresco has been successfully used in ponds from 50 gallons up to 500,000 gallons.
For example, there is a large pond on my local golf course which is always full of floating scummy blanket weed. What do you recommend for this situation?
If Viresco were to be applied to this large pond, the floating blanketweed would disappear and the water in the pond would become clear. Assuming there were no fish in this pond and there was not a run-off of nitrate into the pond from adjacent land, the rate of use of Viresco could be cut down considerably.
All that algae on the sides of the pond ... about 1 inch long only. Is that blanket weed and will Viresco remove this too?
Blanket weed comes in various forms. There are said to be over 20,000 different named species of green algae. The 1inch version is a form of blanketweed and is just one of more than 20,000 species of green algae.
Do you need to aerate ponds when using Viresco?
Ideally you need to aerate ponds. Whilst some of the microbes in our mixes require anaerobic conditions, others need aerobic conditions.
Exactly how do I prepare the Viresco and the pond for use?
We recommend that the appropriate amount of Viresco powder is put into a relatively small amount of pond water (not tapwater). Typically a quarter filled clean bucket can be used. If there is an airstone handy, put in an airstone. If not, then use an egg whisk on an intermittent basis. Keep in a shaded place away from direct daylight. Put the powder into the water in the morning and apply the solution to the pond in the evening, having bulked it up with more pond water. We suggest the solution be applied to the pond in the evening because we remain unsure about the possible deleterious effects that UV from daylight might have on the bacteria in our Viresco mixes. Putting it into the pond in the evening, means there will be immediately a few hours of darkness, during which time the microbes can become established in the pond.
Somebody mentioned to me that a process called "competitive exclusion" is at work. What does this mean in practice?
In an earlier answer, when we referred to the benefits our products give to fish health and disease resistance, "competitive exclusion" takes place. Microbes are all the time competing with each other for food and space. The introduction into the pond or aquarium water of very large numbers of microbes from Viresco, means that they immediately start competing with those other microbes that will undoubtedly be present in the water. The Viresco microbes, because of their numbers, out-compete those others and prevent them from becoming phytotoxic and forming a disease.
I live in South Africa where ulcer disease in koi is serious. Will this Viresco help to solve the ulcer problems that are endemic here?
We believe that using Viresco will help to clear ulcers although we have little information at present to support that statement. One thing we can say is that when nitrate levels are at zero or very low, koi keepers say their fish are more lively, they eat better, they are "happier" and are different creatures. Whilst reasonably high levels of nitrate, say up to 80ppm, do no serious harm to koi, it is an unnatural environment for them to live in. However, we have recently been reliably informed that when nitrate is present in the water, the healing of ulcers or other sores on the fish caused by physical damage takes place much more slowly than when there is no nitrate present. This is apparently because the mucus that would help in the healing process is affected and is reduced by nitrate being present.
Secondly, one of our established customers, when she first bought Viresco told us that she bought it because she wanted the nitrate at very low levels. This was not to sort out a blanketweed or other algae problem. It was simply to give the fish a better environment to live in. She had never been able to reduce the nitrate in her pond to lower than 20ppm. When she put Viresco into he pond, the nitrate level was about 30ppm. Less than a week later she rang to say the nitrate level was at zero and her fish were "different creatures". She also told us that she had one koi that had been suffering from an ulcer. Over a period of time, she had brought in a veterinary expert to treat this fish on an intermittent basis. She informed us in the phone call that this ulcer had now disappeared. Was it due to the medication or was it more likely to have happened because the nitrate had been pulled down to zero?
When I look in my filter which has brushes I see there is always a lot of debris clinging to the brushes and other surfaces. What impact does Viresco have on this situation?
Using Viresco will clean up this type of debris. One customer we met at a Show some years ago said that he would willingly have paid double the amount for the second pack he bought. He stated that the presence of Viresco Koi in his pond had made the maintenance chores virtually disappear. He added that he could now see the true colour of the brushes in his filter for the first time in many years. They had previously been covered in green algae but this had all gone. He could also see down to the bottom of the box in which the brushes were situated.
And my pond pump is always covered in slime making it difficult to clean and handle. Any effect?
Viresco will clean up green slime no matter where it is.
I've noticed that my UV quartz tube gets fogged up and the efficiency seems to drop. Will Viresco keep my quartz tube clean or is this caused by something else?
The fogging is likely to be caused by a build up of a mineral deposit, eg calcium carbonate. Viresco will not clean it.
Does this product work in large commercial aquariums where algae grows on the viewing glass?
We have a product, Viresco Aquarium, that is formulated for aquariums. For small aquariums, the product is packed in capsules for ease of application. For larger commercial aquariums, we sell the Viresco powder, loose.
It is interesting to note that when Viresco is added to an aquarium, algae films quickie disappear from the glass. This takes place usually within a few hours. This algae removal happens many days before the nitrate level has dropped to zero, ie causing the algae to die. Microbes in our product take up residence in the biofilm on the surface of the glass, ousting the algae bloom.
I have used a product called Genesyz for control of aeromonas and pseudomonas before ... is Viresco the same as this product. I think it also called KoiZyme or Lymnozyme in the USA.
Viresco is not the same as Genesyz. I understand that Genesyz controls aeromonas and pseudomonas by competitive exclusion. Whilst Viresco will do the same as Genesyz in suppressing these microbes by the same action, it will do considerably more. To repeat, it will take nitrate down to zero, causing blanketweed and other algae to die of starvation. It will also digest away organic detritus.
How long does it normally take to reach the USA and other major countries by post?
We would normally put the flat packs of product into an envelope and send them out by airmail to any country in the world. We aim to do this within 24 hours of receiving the order. Our products would normally reach the USA and other major countries within about 3 to 4 days.
Do you want dealers to also sell your product? If so how should they contact you?
We run our business in two ways. We sell our products primarily via mail order. Our website plays a good part in this. However, we are always interested in supplying to dealers. For the two different markets we pack the products in two different ways. For the mail orders, we supply in flat packs that are not suitable for displaying on dealers' shelves. For the dealers, we put the product into small tubs with good quality labels. These tubs, ideal for retail shelves, are not as good as flat packs for sending out mail order.
If traders wish to make contact, they can e-mail, fax or phone us.
Can you shed some light on the claims that the best way to get rid of blanket weed is to use magnets or electro magnets systems?
I cannot help much with this. I gather that the mode of action of these devices is not properly understood. One theory is that the radiation, which alters the balance of the calcium bicarbonate and calcium carbonate in the water, alters the limescale anchorage sites on the wall of the pond so blanketweed does not take hold. Another theory is that the change in calcium equilibrium causes the blanketweed cell walls to be more permeable to calcium. It then outgrows itself and dies.
Why do chemicals added to ponds to remove blanket weed only seem to work for a couple of days?
Our view is that the chemical approach, unlike the Viresco approach, does not address the cause of the blanketweed problem. The reason why blanketweed and other algae grow in a pond is that, all the time, nutrient for these algae, mainly in the form of nitrate, is coming into the pond. Rid the pond of this nutrient and the algae will not grow. That is the Viresco approach.
When a weed killer is used, it will kill the blanketweed but the chemical will soon dissipate. When this happens, the blanketweed will come back because its food source remains.
What will happen if I have been adding chemicals and I change to Viresco?
We are less concerned about the effect of most chemicals in a pond than we are about the presence of other microbial products. We know that the microbes in Viresco are not killed off by the main weed killer used for aquatic weed control. However, we usually say to customers, if they have used a chemical before they plan to use our Viresco, then leave a good few days interval before introducing our product to their ponds.
Where customers have previously use other microbial based products before Viresco, we warn them about the "competitive exclusion" aspect. The other microbes present in the pond could weaken the effect of the microbes in Viresco by out-competing them. The only advice we give is to consider overdosing with Viresco in order to give our microbes a better chance of thriving.
We understand that you supply Viresco in a form suitable for Aquarium use. How successful has this product been?
In late 2002, three independent trials took place with our Viresco Aquarium capsules. Each capsule will treat 10 to 15 gallons (50 to 70 litres) of water. One of these trials is referred to above and was conducted by the then editor of "Tropical Fish" Magazine. Another trial was carried out by a major manufacturer of aquariums. This manufacturer, since July 2003 has taken from us over 950,000 of these capsules! Depending on the size of the aquarium, either 1, 2 or 3 capsules are inserted into a sponge that is placed in the filter. You can see therefore see that we have another successful product.
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