8700 CyanoFluor | Cyanobacteria Monitoring

CyanoFluor Model 8700 – Handheld Fluorometer for Cyanobacteria Monitoring

Recognise Changing Algal Conditions. Make More Informed Water Quality Decisions.

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) can create significant challenges for drinking water supplies, recreational waters, aquaculture operations, and aquatic ecosystems. Understanding when conditions are changing is an important part of protecting water resources and planning effective monitoring programmes.

The Solinst Water Technologies CyanoFluor Model 8700 is a portable, active fluorometer designed to help environmental professionals identify changes in cyanobacteria-related fluorescence within mixed algal populations.

By measuring phycocyanin (PC) and chlorophyll (CHL) fluorescence and automatically calculating their ratio, CyanoFluor provides additional insight into changes in algal community composition.

With results available in less than 30 seconds, CyanoFluor helps users make informed decisions about field monitoring, follow-up sampling, and laboratory investigations.

Look Beyond Algal Abundance to Understand What Is Changing

Not all algae present the same environmental concerns.

Aquatic systems contain diverse algal communities, and the abundance and composition of these communities can change in response to seasonal conditions, nutrient availability, light, temperature, and other environmental influences.

Monitoring chlorophyll fluorescence provides useful information about photosynthetic organisms in water. However, chlorophyll measurements alone cannot distinguish cyanobacteria from other algae.

Phycocyanin fluorescence adds another measurement associated with cyanobacteria, helping researchers and water resource managers understand changes within mixed algal populations.

CyanoFluor brings these measurements together by automatically calculating the phycocyanin-to-chlorophyll fluorescence ratio.

Understanding how this ratio changes over time can provide an early indication of increasing cyanobacterial dominance and help identify conditions that warrant closer investigation.

Rather than relying on a single fluorescence measurement, users gain additional context about the biological changes taking place in the water.

Why the Phycocyanin-to-Chlorophyll Ratio Matters

A rise in phycocyanin fluorescence does not necessarily mean that cyanobacteria are becoming more dominant within an algal population.

The increase could reflect broader growth in the overall algal community.

By evaluating phycocyanin and chlorophyll fluorescence together, the CyanoFluor provides a more informative way to examine changes in relative pigment signals.

Phycocyanin (PC)

Phycocyanin is a fluorescent pigment commonly associated with cyanobacteria. Measuring its fluorescence can help track changes in cyanobacteria-related signals in aquatic environments.

Chlorophyll (CHL)

Chlorophyll fluorescence provides information associated with photosynthetic organisms, offering a broader perspective on the algal population.

PC:CHL Ratio

The relationship between these two fluorescence measurements can reveal changes in the relative contribution of cyanobacteria-associated fluorescence within a mixed algal community.

Tracking this relationship over time may help identify developing conditions associated with harmful algal bloom activity.

The key is understanding the relationship between measurements, not simply collecting more individual readings.

Rapid Field Measurements Where Water Quality Decisions Are Made

Environmental monitoring often involves multiple sampling locations, changing field conditions, and limited time available for collecting data.

CyanoFluor is designed to simplify the collection of fluorescence measurements in these environments.

The handheld instrument analyses raw water samples using a straightforward cuvette-based measurement process.

Insert the sample, initiate the measurement, and review the results directly on the instrument.

With results displayed in less than 30 seconds, field personnel can collect measurements efficiently while moving between sampling locations.

Simplify Routine Field Monitoring

Collect rapid fluorescence measurements without transporting every sample to a laboratory for initial screening.

Compare Conditions Across Locations

Measure samples collected from different areas of a lake, reservoir, or water body to examine variations in pigment fluorescence.

Establish Historical Monitoring Records

Store measurements for later review, helping document changes throughout the monitoring period.

Support Timely Follow-Up

Use unexpected changes or developing trends to inform decisions about additional sampling, laboratory testing, and monitoring priorities.

The result is a practical field measurement tool that helps connect water quality observations with the decisions required to manage monitoring programmes.