Features and benefits

• Works in all large ponds, lakes and fisheries
• Very economical to use
• Simple application methods
• Saves time and effort
• Blocks light, denying algae's food source.
• Lasts up to three months
• Free of pesticides and herbicides
• Harmless to plants, fish, filters and wildlife
• All year round use

C Special is the latest addition to the DyoFix range. It was developed during trials to see if the invasive species Crassula Helmsii could be controlled using dyes. The trials are ongoing and early indications are that the use of dye in water is proving to be the best method of all the others tried so far.

C Special has also been used to slow down or halt the growth of Chara, an algae that has the appearance of a weed. Crassula and Chara, both of them having the initial C, are responsible for the name of the product.

Some rooted weeds require low levels of light in order to grow and DyoFix C Special, being a combination of DyoFix Pond Blue and DyoFix Lake Shadow reflects as much light as possible away from the base of a lake and still leave water transparent. The resulting colour of water is a darker shade than DyoFix Pond Blue on its own, but it is still a very pale tint.

DyoFix C Special is generally only used in larger lakes so we have packaged it in 250gm water soluble sachets - this size of pack makes the usage calculation easier as 1 sachet is used for every million litres of water to be treated.

Just 1 Kg will treat 4 million litres

Dyofix C Special is supplied in 1 Kg boxes containing 4 x 250g water soluble sachets

The individual sachets ensure even distribution in larger lakes. One kilogram box will treat up to 4 million litres of lake water.

Application methods:

By supplying powders in 250gm water soluble sachets it is easy to calculate the number required to dose a lake or pond. In large lakes, if a boat is being used, simply drop sachets in different areas where they will dissolve releasing the C Special. By spreading the area, the time taken for the C Special to fully mix with the water is reduced.

Using sachets where a boat is not available. Facing the water with a breeze coming from behind, drop a few sachets along the edge and throw the others into the water. The breeze will move the water and C Special will dissolve and mix in quite freely. C Special will fully mix with all of the water using this method but may take a little longer.

Reference Samples

If reference samples are desired, it is suggested that these should be taken at least a week after the initial application. Samples should be in clear containers with a secure lid, labelled with the date and location and stored in a dark place. An initial comparison to tap water will show the amount of colour present in the water.

How it works, the science in a simple form

What is daylight?

Daylight (or white light) is made up of a series of colours, collectively referred to as a spectrum.

This is known because when a beam of white light is passed through a glass prism; the white light splits into seven visible colours with red shades at one end through to blues and violets at the other.

Filters block colours

When a white light source has a coloured filter placed over the beam the observer will then see the light as a colour, i.e. a green filter shows as green - blue as blue, etc.

It is useful to realize that when white light hits the filter, the other colours are being blocked. The filter is allowing only certain colours of the spectrum through.

Dyofix blocks the red end of the spectrum

By adding DyoFix to water, a filter is being created to block colours from the red end of the spectrum getting through to the bottom of your pond or lake.

How does this help?

Photosynthesis needs red light

All plants, surface or submerged use the process of photosynthesis to thrive and grow and the whole process relies on red light to drive it.

By adding a filter to the pond or lake water you are blocking some, or all, of the red light and the process of photosynthesis is interrupted, with the result of little or no further growth.

A little about Photosynthesis

All green plants need sunlight for their reproduction, the energy from sunlight acts upon a green pigment (chlorophyll) which combines with water and carbon dioxide from the local environment to produce sugars and oxygen. Chlorophyll absorbs red light (centred about 650nm). Leaves look green as blue and yellow are main colours reflected by chlorophyll.

Photosynthesis is the manufacturing of sugars from carbon dioxide and water, in the presence of chlorophyll and light energy. Oxygen is then released as waste from the process.

The light source used for photosynthesis is natural daylight. It is this element of photosynthesis that can be manipulated to stunt the growth of algae and submerged weeds.

In a pond containing clear water, light easily passes through and any plants or nutrients present use this to grow. Plants get taller and grow towards the surface and single cell organisms (such as algae) start to float towards the surface. It is the floating, or suspended cells that can make the pond water take on the "pea green soup" look.

By preventing some of the light from reaching below the surface of a pond, photosynthesis is interrupted in deep-lying pond life such as algae. However, surface life such as lily pads or reeds, which photosynthesis either on or above the surface of the water, will not be affected. As it is not practical or desirable to have ponds built indoors or permanently covered, it has become necessary to develop another way of preventing the light from reaching the base of the pond.