Select Link Consultancy Front Page Introduction to fouling problems Siltation problems Water resource management Chlorination solutions Short Period Intermittent Chlorination (SPIC) Environmental Impact Assessment Expert witnesses & regulator approval services Biofouling monitoring The spat monitor detects the presence of fouling organisms by providing the optimum conditions for larval settlement. The monitor employs an upwelling flow so that gravity acts to slow the passage of larvae, thus improving the chances of settlement. Long, thin sections of substrate are confined in tubes so that larvae are always in close proximity to settlement surfaces. Long and short term monitoring can be employed simultaneously. Micro-fouling (slime) monitoring can be incorporated. The monitor is particularly suitable for mussel spat monitoring. The presence of primary settlement stage larvae and non-competent larvae can readily be determined by incorporating fibrous substrate. Young, passively mobile mussels can be sampled from the sediment trap. The efficacy of any anti-fouling protocol employed can be tested by maintaining a small sample of young mussels in the test water. The monitor is extremely easy to operate. Settlement panels can be changed, and live mussels observed, while the monitor is operating. The sediment trap can be cleaned while the monitor is operating. Flow rate, temperature and residual oxidant monitoring can be incorporated. It is compact and free standing.

The monitor incorporates separate channels, so it can be used as an experimental rig for testing different anti-fouling products and regimes. Coating products can be tested without compromising the monitoring channels. The efficacy of novel anti-fouling agents can be tested on site. Previously settled panels can be transferred without risk of contamination. Panels of other material can be incorporated.