Targeted control for algae growth in tower basins, on distribution decks and across fill packing — the green growth that blocks nozzles, restricts airflow and feeds the bacterial problem downstream.
Algae needs sunlight, water and warmth. An open cooling tower basin supplies all three, which is why growth appears on basin walls, the distribution deck and the top of the fill — wherever light reaches wet surfaces.
The damage is mechanical before it is anything else. Algae blocks distribution nozzles so water no longer spreads evenly over the fill, which directly cuts cooling capacity. Mats break loose and clog strainers and exchanger tubes. Heavy growth in the fill restricts airflow and adds significant weight to the structure.
It also feeds the wider microbiological problem. Decaying algae is a nutrient source for bacteria, so a tower with an algae problem usually develops a biofilm problem alongside it.
An algaecide is formulated specifically for algal cells rather than as a general biocide:
It complements the biocide programme rather than replacing it — algaecide handles algae, biocides handle bacteria and biofilm, and a complete programme covers all of it.
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Product code | ZS-CT-304 |
| Type | Liquid algaecide for cooling water systems |
| Controls | Green algae, blue-green algae, algal slime |
| Dosage | 20–30 ppm |
| Dosing point | Cooling tower basin |
| Programme | Used alongside oxidising and non-oxidising biocides |
| Pack size | 25 kg · 50 kg |
| Storage | Cool, dry, shaded — keep container closed |
Set the schedule by how quickly growth returns in your system.
| Condition | Guideline |
|---|---|
| Preventive, clean system | 20 ppm, periodic |
| Light visible growth | 25 ppm |
| Established growth | 30 ppm, plus physical cleaning |
| Summer / high sunlight months | Increase frequency |
| After basin cleaning | Dose to prevent immediate regrowth |
Where sunlight reaches standing water — the standard case for algae growth.
Rooftop and open-yard installations with direct exposure through the day.
Where uneven water distribution over the fill has already cut cooling performance.
Units that sit idle in warm weather, where growth accelerates without circulation.
It depends on sunlight exposure and season. Many systems dose weekly through summer and less often in cooler months. Set the interval by how fast growth reappears in your tower.
Oxidising biocide gives partial control, but algae on wetted surfaces above the water line is not reached effectively by water-borne treatment alone. A dedicated algaecide handles it directly.
It kills the growth, but the dead material must be physically cleaned out. Left in the basin it decays and becomes a nutrient source for the next cycle.
Reducing light exposure helps a great deal — basin covers and shading cut growth significantly. Most open towers still need chemical control alongside it.
It runs as part of the same programme. Dose it separately rather than mixing in one tank, and we can set out the schedule alongside your biocide and inhibitor dosing.
Dose is calculated on system holding volume — basin, piping and exchangers together. Send us your system volume and we will work out the quantity per dose.
Send us your water analysis and system details — we will work out the dose rate, monthly consumption and price for you.
