{"id":268,"date":"2015-11-19T13:16:00","date_gmt":"2015-11-19T20:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/astfilters.com\/?page_id=268"},"modified":"2024-06-03T10:50:12","modified_gmt":"2024-06-03T16:50:12","slug":"about-ast","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/astfilters.com\/aquatic-systems\/about-ast\/","title":{"rendered":"About AST"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Breadcrumbs” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#363636″ custom_margin=”10px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_module=”2946″ saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”15px||15px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][lwp_divi_breadcrumbs font_icon=”E||divi||400″ link_color=”#ffffff” separator_color=”#ffffff” current_text_color=”#ffffff” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/lwp_divi_breadcrumbs][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

\n

About AST<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Over 20 years of Innovations in Bead Filter Technology<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

\n

Aquaculture Systems Technologies, LLC (AST) was founded in October 1995 to\u00a0manufacture and market \u201cBead Filter Technologies\u201d which were first developed at Louisiana State University\u2019s Civil and Environmental Aquatics Systems Laboratory in the early 1990s by Dr. Ron Malone. <\/span><\/p>\n

Today, AST\u2019s product line features a variety of different filtration\u00a0products utilizing Bead Filter Technology. These products\u00a0can handle a wide range of filtration needs and span a variety of industries including aquaculture and fish hatchery systems, home koi ponds, wastewater filtration, and many more.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

AST\u2019s main office has been located in New Orleans for 20 years and recently opened an office in Louisville, Colorado.<\/p>\n

AST is excited to continue moving forward with new research and development projects and will continue to provide\u00a0great filtration products for many years to come.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/astfilters.com\/aquatic-systems\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/aquaponics-fish.jpg” title_text=”aquaponics-fish” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Our Biofilter Technology<\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/astfilters.com\/aquatic-systems\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/09\/BBF-no-shadow-side-e1537465346831.jpg” title_text=”BBF no shadow side” show_in_lightbox=”on” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

\n

Bead Filter Basics<\/h3>\n

Bead Filters were first developed in Louisiana State University\u2019s Civil & Environmental Aquatic Systems Laboratory in the early 1990\u2019s by Dr. Ron Malone. Bead Filters are generally classified as \u201cexpandable granular biofilters\u201d or EGB\u2019s and are distinguished from other filters by the use of plastic floating granular filter media. Water from the aquatic system passes through the packed bed of plastic beads. The beads capture the solids, while simultaneously providing a large surface area (400 ft2 \/ft3 ) for the attachment of nitrifying bacteria which remove dissolved nitrogenous wastes. Bead Filters are often referred to as Bioclarifiers for their ability to perform both biofiltration and clarification in a single unit.<\/p>\n

Better Than Sand<\/h3>\n

Bead Filters were originally invented to overcome some of the major problems with using sand filters. Compared to sand filters, bead filters are immune to biofouling, they never require replacement of the bead media, they minimize water loss\/usage, and reduce energy cost by lowering pump head requirements.<\/p>\n

In fact, compared to high rate sand filters, bead filters comply with three of the major sustainability issues summarized in the LEED Green Building Rating System. Bead Filters operated with water pumps typically operate at low pressure (horsepower requirements, as well as energy consumption). Bead filters specifically designed to use airlift pumps for circulation operate with less than one psi headloss. Additionally, backwash water loss rates for Propeller Bead\u00ae Filters are as low as 10% and PolyGeyser\u00ae Bead Filters are as low as 1% of those experienced by typical sand filters.<\/p>\n

Bead Filters are also easily automated, never require replacement of the filter media and are immune to caking and channeling when backwashed regularly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

Bead Filter Media<\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” max_width=”1000px” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/astfilters.com\/aquatic-systems\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/08\/standard-media-components.jpg” title_text=”standard-media-components” show_in_lightbox=”on” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

Standard Bead Media<\/h4>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/astfilters.com\/aquatic-systems\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/11\/crushed-beads-2-IMG_5556-e1461272706390.jpg” title_text=”crushed beads 2 IMG_5556″ show_in_lightbox=”on” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

Enhanced Bead Media<\/h4>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

AST\u2019s bead filters act as a Clarifier on day one,\u00a0 Biofiltration commences as the beads acclimate over ~4-5 weeks time:<\/b><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” title_text=”acclimation-bead-media” src=”https:\/\/astfilters.com\/aquatic-systems\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/06\/acclimation-bead-media.jpeg” show_in_lightbox=”on” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_module=”6600″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”900px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”20px” header_2_font=”|800|||||||” header_2_font_size=”60px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

\n
\n

Let’s Discuss Your Project<\/h2>\n

From a simple filter to a complete custom system, our engineers can help you find the perfect filtration system for your needs. Get in touch today!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”\/aquatic-systems\/request-a-quote\/” button_text=”Request a No Cost Consultation” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_bg_color=”gcid-3e3bfd10-2030-43aa-ac04-8e6d63f67591″ button_border_color=”gcid-3e3bfd10-2030-43aa-ac04-8e6d63f67591″ custom_padding=”10px|50px|10px|50px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-3e3bfd10-2030-43aa-ac04-8e6d63f67591%22:%91%22button_bg_color%22,%22button_border_color%22%93}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
<\/span> Home<\/span><\/a><\/span> E<\/span> <\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> About AST Over 20 years of Innovations in Bead Filter Technology Aquaculture Systems Technologies, LLC (AST) was founded in October 1995 to\u00a0manufacture and market \u201cBead Filter Technologies\u201d which were first developed at Louisiana State University\u2019s Civil and Environmental Aquatics Systems Laboratory in the early 1990s by Dr. Ron Malone. Today, AST\u2019s product line features a variety of different filtration\u00a0products utilizing Bead Filter Technology. These products\u00a0can handle a wide range of filtration needs and span a variety of industries including aquaculture and fish hatchery systems, home koi ponds, wastewater filtration, and many more.\u00a0 AST\u2019s main office has been located in New Orleans for 20 years and recently opened an office in Louisville, Colorado. AST is excited to continue moving forward with new research and development projects and will continue to provide\u00a0great filtration products for many years to come. Our Biofilter Technology Bead Filter Basics Bead Filters were first developed in Louisiana State University\u2019s Civil & Environmental Aquatic Systems Laboratory in the early 1990\u2019s by Dr. Ron Malone. Bead Filters are generally classified as \u201cexpandable granular biofilters\u201d or EGB\u2019s and are distinguished from other filters by the use of plastic floating granular filter media. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-268","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nAbout AST: Innovators in Bead Filter Systems & Biological Filters<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"AST\u2019s advanced product line features a variety of different filtration products utilizing bead filter technology. Learn more.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/astfilters.com\/aquatic-systems\/about-ast\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"About AST: Innovators in Bead Filter Systems & Biological Filters\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"AST\u2019s advanced product line features a variety of different filtration products utilizing bead filter technology. Learn more.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/astfilters.com\/aquatic-systems\/about-ast\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Aquatic Systems\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-06-03T16:50:12+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/astfilters.com\\\/aquatic-systems\\\/about-ast\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/astfilters.com\\\/aquatic-systems\\\/about-ast\\\/\",\"name\":\"About AST: Innovators in Bead Filter Systems & Biological Filters\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/astfilters.com\\\/aquatic-systems\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2015-11-19T20:16:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-06-03T16:50:12+00:00\",\"description\":\"AST\u2019s advanced product line features a variety of different filtration products utilizing bead filter technology. Learn more.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/astfilters.com\\\/aquatic-systems\\\/about-ast\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/astfilters.com\\\/aquatic-systems\\\/about-ast\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/astfilters.com\\\/aquatic-systems\\\/about-ast\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/astfilters.com\\\/aquatic-systems\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"About AST\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/astfilters.com\\\/aquatic-systems\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/astfilters.com\\\/aquatic-systems\\\/\",\"name\":\"Aquatic Systems\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/astfilters.com\\\/aquatic-systems\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"About AST: Innovators in Bead Filter Systems & Biological Filters","description":"AST\u2019s advanced product line features a variety of different filtration products utilizing bead filter technology. Learn more.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/astfilters.com\/aquatic-systems\/about-ast\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"About AST: Innovators in Bead Filter Systems & Biological Filters","og_description":"AST\u2019s advanced product line features a variety of different filtration products utilizing bead filter technology. Learn more.","og_url":"https:\/\/astfilters.com\/aquatic-systems\/about-ast\/","og_site_name":"Aquatic Systems","article_modified_time":"2024-06-03T16:50:12+00:00","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/astfilters.com\/aquatic-systems\/about-ast\/","url":"https:\/\/astfilters.com\/aquatic-systems\/about-ast\/","name":"About AST: Innovators in Bead Filter Systems & Biological Filters","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/astfilters.com\/aquatic-systems\/#website"},"datePublished":"2015-11-19T20:16:00+00:00","dateModified":"2024-06-03T16:50:12+00:00","description":"AST\u2019s advanced product line features a variety of different filtration products utilizing bead filter technology. Learn more.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/astfilters.com\/aquatic-systems\/about-ast\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/astfilters.com\/aquatic-systems\/about-ast\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/astfilters.com\/aquatic-systems\/about-ast\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/astfilters.com\/aquatic-systems\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"About AST"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/astfilters.com\/aquatic-systems\/#website","url":"https:\/\/astfilters.com\/aquatic-systems\/","name":"Aquatic Systems","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/astfilters.com\/aquatic-systems\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/astfilters.com\/aquatic-systems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/268","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/astfilters.com\/aquatic-systems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/astfilters.com\/aquatic-systems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/astfilters.com\/aquatic-systems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/astfilters.com\/aquatic-systems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=268"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/astfilters.com\/aquatic-systems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/268\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/astfilters.com\/aquatic-systems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=268"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}