Pure Aquatics was engaged by SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium to redesign and upgrade its backwash recovery filtration system, addressing inefficiencies in water use and improving overall sustainability outcomes. The existing system had reached the end of its operational life and was no longer capable of meeting performance requirements.

The objective was to develop a system capable of capturing and treating backwash wastewater for reuse—significantly reducing saltwater consumption while maintaining strict water quality standards essential for aquarium operations. This required a robust solution capable of handling high solids loading while delivering consistent, reliable filtration performance.

The upgraded system incorporates high-capacity mechanical filtration using AFM® activated glass media, delivering superior removal of fine particulates compared to traditional sand filtration. This is complemented by advanced carbon filtration, which removes dissolved contaminants and ensures the treated water meets reuse standards.

Despite the increased capacity, the system was engineered with a compact footprint, allowing seamless integration into the existing plant space. The result is a high-performance, space-efficient solution that reduces operational costs while improving environmental performance.