In balanced environments, destructives have sufficient oxygen for biomass decomposition - organics make up the largest volume fraction in sediment - we recommend treatment for volume decomposition around 10% loss on ignition of dry matter.

Dead organic biomass forms dark sludge at the bottom of the water body - this causes a lack of oxygen. As a result, toxic putrefactive gases are produced. Gentle aeration changes the environment: aerobic microbacteria are attracted, metabolise the organic matter and bind pollutants to the sediment.

Continuous aeration creates a continuous aerobic environment and constantly breaks down sludge. The nitrate from nitrification can maintain the aerobic environment as an oxygen donor. There, the further degradation of nitrate to nitrogen takes place. In the aerobic milieu, phosphorus compounds are permanently retained.