"NL: "Pipes free of biofilm for five months now"

It is hard to overstate the importance of clean water in cultivation. Not only is it essential for the plant, it also prevents slime formation in the pipes. In view of mandatory recycling, the latter becomes even more pressing.

The biocide Intra Hydrocare can keep both the water and the pipes clean. Ed Helderman of Anco Pure Vanda from Wateringen, the Netherlands, has been using it for a couple of months. Ed: "In the past I have tried many products to prevent slime formation. We've been using Intra Hydrocare for five months now and can see the difference. When I open the drainpipe I don’t see any biofilm and scum anymore. It is important to use clean outlet water. Then the plants thrive. It improves quality and the nozzles don’t clog up either. That also saves time."

In cooperation with Houweling Horticulture, Harm Vogels of Intracare has conducted many analyses on the presence of pathogens in water. After two months he saw a difference in the water quality at Anco, because the number of bacteria and fungi were significantly reduced. Harm: "Good water quality and clean pipes become increasingly important because of mandatory recycling. That’s why, besides pathogens, biofilm also needs to be eliminated from water pipes. Many chlorine containing agents only kill pathogens but don’t remove the biofilm. Bacteria and fungi grow back easily on this biofilm, especially in standing water and with higher temperatures. Standard hydrogen peroxide on the other hand misses a strong antiseptic effect, so pathogens survive."

Hydrocare consists of 50% stabilized hydrogen peroxide. Stabilizing the hydrogen peroxide has given Hydrocare strong cleaning and disinfecting power. The product eventually decomposes into water and oxygen and is therefore safe to use.

The water samples in greenhouses that Intracare analyzes in cooperation with Houweling Horticulture are usually contaminated with excessive levels of bacteria and fungi. A treatment with Hydrocare is drawn up and the water quality is closely monitored until the water meets irrigation water standards.

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