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NEWSLETTER

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P.O. Box 400 - New Hyde Park, N.Y. 11040

E-mail: newsletter@alken-murray.com

Websites: http://www.alken-murray.com 
 http://www.clear-flo.com

 http://www.even-flo.com

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 Vol. 3: Issue No. 11

  November 1999

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General

Apology for Late Newsletter Posting

So much has been going on in late October and early November, that we were unable to post this newsletter on-time.

Claudia and Ken Both Have New, Y2K Compliant Computers and Are Now On-Line

Reach Claudia at claudia@alken-murray.com. Reach Ken at ken@alken-murray.com. All of our hardware is now Y2K compliant, so we are ready - as long as the electric company etc. still functions. You can still reach Valerie at valerie@alken-murray.com.

New Phone Lines at Fenton Farm, Inc. Allow Better Access to the Virginia FAX Line

The Virginia fax line is now accessible most of the time, as its only other function is processing credit cards. We have installed two extra phone lines, dedicated to Valerie and Ken's computers, and have an additional internet account, so that Valerie and Ken can receive e-mail and do research simultaneously.

Ken's Custom Software Has Been Tested Y2K Compliant

Customized software that manages manufacturing, formulary, product pricing, and client databases, has all been tested as Y2K compliant, and is ready for the new millennium.

Alken-Murray Website Awarded "Editor's Pick" by America On-Line Search

We are honored to be designated an "Editor's Pick" website by AOL.

Color-Coded Product Information Bulletins are Coming

The following colors will be implemented soon, probably by the end of the first quarter of 2000. Many of the color combinations harmonize with our website pages for these product lines.

  • Aquatic applications = light & dark blue on white
  • CF 7000 line = light & dark green on white
  • CF 4000 line = orange & brown on white
  • Enz-Odor/Treat-A-Loo= black and cyan on white (product bottles will continue black and red on white)
  • Polymers= dark green on white
  • Bio-Nutrients= black and white with green highlight on white
  • Chemical water treatment - navy-blue on white
  • Miscellaneous formulas - green and yellow on white
  • Alken 860 Demulsifier - yellow and black on white
  • Fuel treatments - land application = red & beige on white
  • Fuel treatments, marine steam = light & dark green on white
  • Fuel treatments, marine motor = light & dark blue on white

Reminder - Microbial Factory Closed from December 20th to January 4th for Annual Vacation

Please plan your orders around this, so that your plant will not be caught without the necessary treatments. We will maintain a skeleton crew of support staff, to answer technical questions during the holidays, but we cannot fill bacterial product orders, at that time.

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Alken Clear-Flo® Technical Updates

New Brazilian Distributor - Organon Tecnologia Aplicada, Ltda.

Alken-Murray is pleased to be the new supplier of microbes for the private label finished products of Organon Tecnologia Aplicada, Ltda., manufactured with Alken-Murray microbial formulas. This full-service firm has outstanding service capabilities to compliment our product line and we look forward to a mutually satisfying arrangement. This company will represent all products sold under the names Alken Enz-Odor, Alken Clear-Flo, Alken Bio-Nutrient, Alken Nu-Bind, Alken Treat-A-Loo and Alken Even-Flo. Contact: Sr. Moacyr de Azevedo or Mr. William Robertsno. E-mail: azevedosilva@uol.com.br Phone: 55 11 3873 2818

Introducing - Alken Bio-Nutrient 9

This special low molecular weight, natural humic extract liquid acts as a bacterial growth stimulant, increasing the speed with which the bacteria degrade cellulosic and hydrocarbon material. Bio-Nutrient 9 may extend the temperature range in which our bacteria are effective. This all-natural formula will be offered with certain of our products, where its use is appropriate.

Research & Development is Working on A Number of New Products

Look for updates and client testing opportunities in the next six months.

10% Discount on Cold Weather Formulas for November-December

Alken Clear-Flo 1001, 7001 and 7018 - all sizes. Hurry, discount ends when the plant shuts down for the Christmas holidays.

When Measuring our Bran-Based Bacterial Formulas - 1 quart volume = approx. 1 lb. weight

Reported in the 11/16/99 issue of Water Technology Magazine - Do-It-Yourself Water Test Kit

Silver Lake Research Corp.'s all-in-one test kit, Watersafe, tests water for pesticides, nitrates, nitrites, chlorine, pH, hardness and iron. The kit tests water used in households, including water for drinking, cooking and personal hygiene. For more information, call (888) 438-1942 (United States), (626) 359-8441, fax (626) 359-6601 or visit http://www.silverlakeresearch.com

Extract from the evidence given before the Scottish Parliament Rural Affairs Committee; Tuesday 21st September. Subject. Shellfish Ban. Pages 17 and 18 of 33, as published in the Phycotoxin Newsletter on 11/17/99.

"In the current case, where the algal bloom covers pretty well the whole of the west coast of Scotland, we have examined the nutrients coming out of fish farms, because the theory is that nitrogen nutrients are excreted from fish farms in large quantities. There is no doubt about that. Nitrogen limits the growth of algae. Two of the toxins contain nitrogen, so there is a plausible link.

 

When we examine the water flowing up the west coast of Scotland which is made up of Atlantic water and water flowing out of the Irish sea, we see that it flows very slowly up the coast. Tidal excursion pumps it into and out of sea Iochs and the water from the sea lochs is exchanged, usually in two or three days, with water from the main body of water that flows up through the Minches.

 

The amount of nitrogen that is produced by all the fish farms adds something like 1 per cent to the natural amount of nitrogen in the water flowing up the west coast of Scotland. It is difficult to see how that amount could make a significant difference. In this instance it is unlikely that fish farmers have been a contributory factor.

 

We have had ASP outbreaks on the east coast of Scotland as frequently as on the west coast, but there are no fish farms on the east coast."

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Alken Clear-Flo® Competitor Comparisons


CLEAN-FLO International - Plymouth, Minnesota
.Product. .C-Flo 6... .Clear-Flo 1000... .Blend CF 1000 & 1001...
.Appearance. .Dry free-flowing tan & white particles. .Dry, free-flowing tan to brown powder. .Dry, free-flowing tan to brown powder.
.Preparation. .Freeze dried. .Convection air dried. .Convection air dried.
.Salt or Fresh water. .Both. .Both. .Both.
.Total Count. .NDA. 2 billion CFU/gram. 3.5 billion CFU/gram.
.Working Temperature. .> 55 deg. F. .> 50 deg. F. .> 40 deg. F.
.Working pH. .NDA. 5.9 to 9.0. 6.0 to 8.5.
.Shelf-Life. .NDA. > 2 years. > 2 years.

.Initial Application .

.(15 acre-ft)...

.90 lbs. .2.5 lbs. . 2 lbs.

.Follow-up dose.

.(15 acre-ft)...

.15 lbs every 2 wks. .1.25 lb/week. .1 lb/week.

.NDA = no data available.
...C-Flo 6.... claims to contain microorganisms, bacterial enzymes, nutrients and synergists. Checking the dictionary, in case I had missed something, I could not locate the word "synergist", but instead found the noun "synergism", which is defined in the Random House Classic Edition Dictionary, as "the joint action of agents, as drugs, which, when taken together increase each other's effectiveness". The adjective is "synergistic", and this term properly is used to describe the performance of numerous compatible bacterial strains, nutrients, and catalysts, in which the sum is greater than the simple addition of the ingredients. Perhaps they meant to use the word "catalysts". .
Freeze-dried bacteria have a much lower reactivation rate than bacteria dried with our proprietary process, and this fact is reflected in the much higher dosages required when applying the Clean-Flo product. C-Flo 6.... costs almost double the price per lb. of Alken Clear-Flo 1000...., and is comparable to the price per lb of Alken Clear-Flo 1000-1001.... blended. When dosages are taken into consideration, six months of treatment for a 15 acre-ft pond, would require 262.5 lbs of C-Flo 6.. ($24.00 per lb for a total of $6,300), while you would only need a total of 32 lbs of Alken Clear-Flo 1000.. or a total of 25 lbs of Alken Clear-Flo 1000-1001 blend... ..The cost of treating a 15 acre-ft pond with C-Flo 6.. is therefore 15 times the cost of Alken Clear-Flo 1000 and.. 9.8 times the cost of using the blend of Alken Clear-Flo 1000-1001.

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