Foam Buster
FORGET FOAMING FILAMENTS. Foam Buster supplements key nutrients to stimulate floc forming bacteria to outcompete foaming filaments. These nutrients better balance the nutrient profile to encourage the uptake of simple carbons – short chain and volatile fatty acids. Foam Buster effectively eliminates the main food source of Nocardia, Microthrix parvicella, and other FOG filaments.
$350.00 – $370.00
| Nocardia or Microthrix Treatment | ||
|---|---|---|
| Flow Rate (Gallons per day) | Initial Dose (First 30 days) Once per day | Maintenance Dose (Once per day) |
| 100,000 GPD | 2 lb | 1 lb |
| 500,000 GPD | 4 lb | 2 lb |
| 1 MGD | 8 lb | 4 lb |
Product Details
Foam Buster by Aquafix is a highly effective, biologically-based product engineered to eliminate foaming in wastewater treatment plants. Specially formulated for use in municipal and industrial systems, Foam Buster addresses persistent issues caused by foaming filaments such as Nocardia and Microthrix parvicella. By enriching the microbial environment with targeted nutrients, Foam Buster stimulates floc-forming bacteria that outcompete filamentous organisms, reducing foam and restoring operational efficiency.
The product delivers an immediate impact on fats, oils, and grease (FOG)—a primary food source for foam-causing filaments. Its unique blend of enzymes and micronutrients accelerates the digestion of short-chain fatty acids and other by-products of grease degradation. This not only suppresses wastewater filaments, but also strengthens the biomass’s ability to degrade complex organics, leading to improved sludge characteristics and a more resilient microbial community. When paired with Qwik-Zyme L, Foam Buster provides enhanced performance against tough grease loads and filament outbreaks.
Simple and safe to use, Foam Buster can be added directly to the aeration basin once daily, with scalable dosing based on flow rates from 100,000 GPD to over 1 MGD. Within 30 days, facilities typically observe a dramatic reduction in foam, better sludge settling, and a noticeable improvement in wastewater odor and foam control. Foam Buster is available in 30 lb containers (with 1 lb packets) or 50 lb bulk options, offering flexibility for operators at any scale.
Foam Buster is a long-term solution for biological foam control, avoiding the drawbacks of temporary chemical treatments like chlorination. It supports a stable and healthy treatment process by promoting natural competition between beneficial microbes and problematic filaments. Trusted across the industry, Foam Buster is your frontline defense against filamentous bacteria, sludge settling issues, and unwanted biological foaming.
Case Studies
Nocardia Foam
Challenge
A wastewater treatment plant on the south side of Chicago had an extensive foaming issue caused by the Nocardia filament. All the aeration basins were completely covered and the foam even found its way into the center walls of the clarifier.
1.1 MGD activated sludge municipal treatment plant incoming BOD: 140-160 ppm incoming ammonia: 15-20 ppm.
In addition to the foaming, the plant received exceptionally high spikes of ammonia during the weekends. These spikes would reach up to 60 ppm.
Solution
The operators began applying Foam Buster and Qwik-Zyme L to improve the cold weather degradation of surfactants, grease, and long-chain fatty acids, all which are nutrients for Nocardia.
Results
By the 30th day of the application, 5% of the foam cleared up to 75%. The operators continued a maintenance application to fully clear the plant. By fully degrading the grease and fatty acids, more ammonia and nitrogen was consumed, thus stabilizing the weekend ammonia spikes.
Another piece to the puzzle: This plant’s operator got a tip from a nearby neighbor about suspicious activity. After putting two and two together the operator notified the authorities. It turns out, in this nice community, a resident was producing methamphetamine. As soon as this meth lab was shut down, the wastewater plant stop receiving ammonia spikes. Aquafix was able to help out with the spikes, but the production of methamphetamine will send very high amounts of ammonia and other chemicals to your plant. It is unfortunate, but highly important to keep a watchful eye.
Oxidation Ditch
Challenge
A wastewater plant in Western Pennsylvania has a flow rate of 3 million gallons per day. During the winter months they routinely encounter problems with foam.
Solution
March 1, 2011 they began adding 20 lb. of Foam Buster per day.
Results
3 weeks later: The foam was gone and the temperature of the aeration basins was 75°F.