Home ​​​​>​​​​ Knowledge Center​​​​

René Mondt
Specialist Mechanical equipment | February 26, 2021 | 5 min. reading time

There are 5 types of silo cover systems. Not every cover system fits every type or location of the silo. For example, a SiloDome deck is not suitable for a silo larger than 15 m in diameter and an anti-algae fabric no larger than 8 m in diameter. It is better not to leave the latter on in the winter, whereas you can with a SiloDome, GeoBubble or LP-Deck (Open and Close). Do you have a silo in a windy place? In that case the GeoBubble is not suitable.

In addition to location, size and seasonality, there are mainly various personal preferences that make the difference. From ease of installation and cleaning to opacity. The table below shows the biggest differences between the 5 water storage cover systems.

The purpose of a cover system for your silo is to prevent algae growth, pollution and evaporation of water. With a good "roof" on your silo you thus promote the water quality in the water storage. This is critical to plant health. But what is a good "roof"?

There are 5 different cover systems, none of which is the best. We list them for you. 

    1. SiloDomeⒹ
A SiloDomeⒹ is a completely closed cover against sunlight and dirt. 

• Size: made-to-measure and suitable for silos up to 15 m diameter.
• Purpose: to keep out dirt, such as leaves when there are many trees nearby. The system improves water quality in the water storage.
• Material: aluminum frame, supported by an aluminum pole. With, depending on the size, reinforcement rings to limit the forces on the silo. The SiloDomeⒹ has a fabric-reinforced fabric of the PES/PVC RM 1 type (0.70 mm thick, weight 900 g/m²). Tensioned with elastic bands all around.
• The cover is also available in the standard open anti-algae cover, in case it’s not necessary for the cover to be closed. (polypropylene 220 g/m² black)

Advantages SiloDomeⒹ: 

• Construction and frame are light so that there is little strain on the silo.
• Easy, fast installation with relatively little manpower and without cranes.
• Silo is always accessible through reinforced manhole in the cover.
• Wind resistant

Disadvantages SiloDomeⒹ:

• Can only be up to 15 m in diameter

    2. GeoBubble floating cover (AG Cover)
GeoBubble is a floating canvas. It resembles a "swimming pool liner" with weightings.

• Size: available in any size.
• Purpose: to remove light and thus prevent algae growth.
• Material: 0.5 mm thick polyethylene - it floats on the water through the air channels (GeoBubble).

Advantages of GeoBubble:

• It is an opaque deck
• Relatively simple installation
• Easy to clean

Disadvantages of GeoBubble:

• GeoBubble is wind sensitive. So, installation can only be done in sheltered places.

    3. Open LP Deck (floating cover)

• Like the GeoBubble, an open LP Deck is a floating, robust system.
• Size: Available in any size.
• Purpose: to remove light and prevent it by algae growth.

Material: a tube in a ring shape with a light PE fabric over it.

Advantages of an open LP Deck:

• Wind resistant
• Draining
• Light-tight

Disadvantages of an open LP Deck:

• When you have to be in the silo, the cover must be removed from the LP-DECK.

    4. Closed LP Deck (floating cover)
Just like the open LP Deck, a closed LP Deck is a floating, robust system, but completely closed.

• Size: applicable to any water silo, both on new and renovated silos.
• Purpose: to prevent algae growth and pollution, such as blowing in leaves when there are many trees in the area.
• Material: equipped with pre-mounted vents and a rainwater drain hose at the bottom of the deck. Dense LP-Deck is also available in reinforced PES/PVC RMI and in a totally insulated version.

Advantages of a closed LP Deck:

• Wind resistant
• It separates the water from the outside air

Disadvantages of a closed LP Deck:

• Silo accessibility
• Silo must be empty before mounting

    5. Anti-algae fabrics

• Anti-algae fabrics are the "traditional" type of cover system.
• Size: floating any tank size, if the silo is outside, spanned a maximum of Ø 8 m.
• Purpose: to remove light and thus prevent algae growth.
• Material: Polypropylene 220 g/m² black - woven fabric.

Advantages of anti-algae fabrics:

• Price
• Simple installation

Disadvantages of anti-algae fabrics:

• The top ring can be damaged by factors such as the weight of wind blows or snow on it. This is never possible with a floating system, nor with a SiloDome, which slope.
• When dirty, the pores will clog, clean regularly.
• It must be disassembled in winter. If this is mounted outside and there is a layer of snow on it, the weight of this will pull the walls together.

What is a good cover system for your water storage largely depends on 3 things:

• The size: there are cover systems with a specific size or custom-made fabrics. You can have almost all screens installed on silos under 15 m diameter.
• The location: not all systems are wind resistant. A silo in a sheltered place can have any system. But is the water storage located in a wind-sensitive location? Then the GeoBubble system is less suitable.
• Open or closed system: with a closed system, such as the SiloDome, GeoBubble and a closed LP-Deck, the water surface is completely covered. This ensures that you have as little dirt as possible in your water. This is not the case with an open system such as an open LP Deck or anti-algae fabrics.

Although closed systems are dirt-resistant, even with a closed deck your silo is not dirt-free. Dirt from the greenhouse roof can wash into the silo.    

Covering system manufacturers regularly use the claim: "100% algae free". Nevertheless, in practice algae growth can occur in systems with cover. This is because the sludge layer of the system functions as a breeding ground and in some cases still provides sufficient light for the development of algae growth. A solution for this is the Moleaer system.

The Moleaer (Nanobubble) Clear system keeps the water storage clean and digests the sludge layer in a natural way. These types of systems aerate the water storage to maintain the Ecosystem in a natural way.

Read more about Moleaer and how to increase the amount of oxygen in water.

Can't find your answer? Fill out the contact form and our specialist René Mondt will get back to you. On weekdays, even within 24 hours.