Scientists and engineers continue to develop passive bio-media made from ceramic, plastic, and glass for hosting bacteria and other microbes.  Passive media rely primarily on water flow to carry organics to the media surface for the microbes to break down.  Such products are typically developed with the intent of altering, working around, or entirely replacing a natural mechanism – often focusing on only one aspect of a mechanism and modifying it for a targeted application.  As a result, most of these products have limited diversity and/or effectiveness.

Aquachar is an active, long lasting, multi-functional media with an ionic charge and microporosity that are unmatched; both of which extend from the surface to the core.  The microporosity combined with the large granular size results in a wide array of microbial habitat zones.  The ionic charge causes organics to be actively attracted to the surface.  Organics are continually pulled deep into the material throughout the breakdown process.

This unique combination of features readily allows the preferential natural order of things to take place; physical, biological, electrical, and chemical structures present throughout Aquachar bolster highly efficient biological activity, which allows for the formation of Biologically Active Microsites.

Each group of microbes creates its own “microsite” for performing a dedicated function within the overall organic breakdown process.  An array of various microsites forms a network of their own design within each piece of Aquachar, depending on which processes need to take place (and in what order).  The microbes at these sites function at an elevated level of efficiency due to the active attraction of organic matter to the Aquachar (due to the ionic charge).  Since the food source is brought directly to the microsites, the inhabiting bacteria and microbes can devote all resources to consumption and reproduction.