Aquafighter Fuel Tank Water Absorbers

Aquafighter is your ultimate weapon for cleaning and removing water in diesel marine fuels. The revolutionary design of these water absorbers actively captures and removes both free and emulsified water from diesel fuel directly in the tank, and keeps it water-free at all times.

Free and entrained water accumulates in your tank through air condensation, fuel supply, ineffective filtration, leaks, accidents and improper system design. Unfortunately, this provides the ideal conditions for microbial contamination (‘diesel bug’) to grow, leading to significant problems including blocked filters, pump damage, engine failures, tank corrosion and poor fuel efficiency.

What are the benefits?

Water is the enemy of stored fuel, but Aquafighter:

Delivers long-term & short-term savings on maintenance and capital equipment
Prevents diesel bug from forming (see the FAQs at the bottom of the page for further info)
Works directly in the tank (no fuel removal needed)
Eliminates the need for most additives, minimises the use of biocides
Non-toxic, safe to handle and safe for the environment
Reduces filter replacement by around 60%
Reduces the need for tank cleaning
Protects tanks from corrosion
Exceeds EN590 standards – 100% efficient at reducing water to <65ppm
Stops the domino-effect of water damage from the tank through the fuel system to the engine

How does Aquafighter work?

Aquafighter filters contain a uniquely formulated powder composed mainly of superabsorbent polymer (SAP) which absorbs and locks the water away from the fuel matrix – it can absorb up to 300 times its own weight of water.

A water-indicating dye provides a visual display of water absorption by turning the product red in the presence of water. This gives a clear indication for users inspecting their tank to recognise how ‘full’ the filter is when they need to be replaced. The powder is packaged in a specially designed fabric membrane allowing water to be absorbed whilst keeping the expanded polymer and trapped water secured within the filter ready for removal.

Aquafighter products come in wide range of sizes and shapes to suit tank openings, sizes & configurations – more details in the Specification tab.

Click image to enlarge.

Product codes:

Aquafighter Anaconda 00960225
Aquafighter Twin Anaconda 00960226
Aquafighter Medium Canvas 00960228
Aquafighter Large Canvas 00960227
Aquafighter Finger 00960220
Aquafighter Snake 00960221
Aquafighter Twin Snake 00960222
Aquafighter Triple Snake 00960223
Aquafighter Quad Snake 00960224
Aquafighter Fuel Station Mat 00960229
Aquafilter Refillable Dipstick Indicator 00960232
Aquafilter Dipstick Indicator Refills x5 00960233

Aquafighter brochure - Star International PDF Resource

Aquafighter installation instructions - Star International PDF Resource

Aquafighter MSDS - Star International PDF Resource

How does Aquafighter work in a fuel tank?

Demulsifies water by physico-chemical adsorption of water molecules to less than 65ppm total fuel water content with maximum efficiency.

Aquafighter causes water to release naturally from fuel and it achieves this without adding to or altering the fuel, unlike certain fuel additives would do. After market additives can cause corrosion themselves.

Attracts & captures water immediately upon release from the fuel molecules Isolates water in its protective gel to permanently segregate it from the fuel & tank environment so your fuel & tank is protected at all times.

Aquafighter will encapsulate the water preventing corrosion, microbial growth & re-emulsification until it is removed from the tank).

Isolates water in its protective gel to permanently segregate it from the fuel & tank environment so your fuel & tank is protected at all times.

Aquafighter will encapsulate the water preventing corrosion, microbial growth & re-emulsification until it is removed from the tank.

How often do they need to be replaced?

Replacement intervals vary by tank size and conditions (typically 3-24 months depending on configuration).

What is diesel bug?

Diesel bug is a generic name for the microbial contamination that grows in diesel fuel. This has become a particular problem since the move to biodiesel, which is more likely to attract water.

Microbial contamination includes bacteria, filamentous moulds and yeasts. They feed on the hydrocarbons in the fuel and create biomass, biofilms and damaging by-products.

These microbes only need small amounts of water, often from condensation and, at the interface of fuel and water, they feed on the fuel and can create thick mats known as biomass. They can also coat surfaces and ‘climb’ up storage tank walls by creating what we know as biofilm.

What are the effects of diesel bug on fuel systems and tanks?

Diesel fuel contamination can have extremely serious effects on fuel systems and tanks.

It will block filters and clog up injectors, thereby causing problems with fuel gauging systems. When allowed to proliferate over a long period of time, these microbes begin to corrode the fuel system.

Diesel bug fuel contamination can also seriously affect filter operations. The issues are usually related to pump and injector wear, or metering and gauging problems resulting from diesel bug build-up.

Even at moderate levels of contamination filter blockage, this can mean costly operational issues.

What are the symptoms of diesel bug contamination?

If you’re not testing your fuel regularly, and you have a dangerous diesel bug infection, you may not notice it at first.

However, it is inevitable that you will see clear symptoms as the problem worsens. Diesel bug symptoms and effects include:

Poor engine performance (caused by insufficient fuel reaching the engine)
Increased fuel consumption
Altered fuel composition/ degradation of fuel components
Higher fuel usage
Engine failure, in severe cases
Blocked filters
Exhaust emissions
Leaking fuel tanks (caused by corrosion)

If you’re seeing these symptoms, it means significant damage has already occurred.

Diesel bugs, through their metabolism, can induce corrosion over time that can damage the structural integrity of the tank and injectors.

Dealing with this requires expensive mechanical intervention and significant downtime to clean the tank and fuel system.

What is SAP and how does it work?

Superabsorbent polymers (SAP) are materials which can absorb up to 300 times their weight in aqueous fluids. Once absorbed, they do not subsequently release it.

SAP is widely used in the hygiene industry, agricultural world and in various commodity products such as food and cosmetics, making it safe to handle and use.

The water sensitive polymer are cross-linked networks of flexible polymer chains which are shrunk before absorbing water away from the fuel layer. They chemically attract water with an osmotic pressure, when in contact with water these chains are expanded. Water is then trapped tightly within the SAP networks.

Emulsified water found in biodiesel blends will be attracted to and migrate toward the Aquafighter product. Fuel which may contain up to 1500 ppm total water content can be desorbed from its water to concentrations in the range of 65 ppm within days/weeks.

Prior to installing Aquafighter, we recommend that you assess the current state of the fuel and storage tank using. Take a drain or bottom sample from the fuel tank, test each sample for microbial contamination using a Fuelstat test kit. Where sludge and contamination are detected, empty, clean and refill the tank before installing Aquafighter.

Installation instructions

Remove Aquafighter from the sealed bag and disperse the powder evenly throughout each chamber of the fabric pouch.
Insert Aquafighter into the bottom of your fuel tank away from the fuel intake.
Tie off the Aquafighter under the fuel cap or outside of the fuel cap leaving only enough slack to lay the Aquafighter flat on the bottom of the fuel tank .
Check the Aquafighter periodically for water content and replace when at or close to capacity. (Aquafighter is designed for each chamber to fill exactly halfway for easy removal)
Dispose of Aquafighter in the proper waste receptacle required by local law.
Immediately replace Aquafighter in the tank to keep fuel pure and remain protected from water at all times.

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

For more details, see download full installation instructions.

Aquafighter offers a very efficient passive treatment to maintain your fuel on-specification with respect to water concentration, preventing microbial growth and corrosion deteriorating your fuel tanks & systems.
Aquafighter causes the immediate separation of emulsified water molecules from the fuel molecules
upon contact. Typically, it will reduce the total water content of biodiesel blends to around 65ppm.
Aquafighter secures and isolates the water neutralizing it from any potential damage to your tank, fuel, filters or engine. Permanently isolates water in its protective gel, so your fuel & tank is always protected.
Aquafighter powder does not alter the fuel characteristics nor its properties.
Aquafighter products come in various sizes and shapes to suit tank openings, sizes & configurations.

Aquafighter Fuel Tank Water Absorbers

What are the benefits?

How does Aquafighter work?

Installation instructions

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Find out more

Related articles

Need some help?

Aquafighter Fuel Tank Water Absorbers

What are the benefits?

How does Aquafighter work?

Installation instructions

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Find out more

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Need some help?