Pondscum

The Algae Distiller converts Slime into Algae and Polluted Water. It is a slow processor, so colonies with large amounts of Slime may need several Distillers running at once to keep up. Because it produces Polluted Water, heats up quickly, and has low decor, it is usually best placed far from living quarters or enclosed in a dedicated room.

Its outputs are useful very early and remain relevant into the mid-game, especially once the Swamp Biome is being explored. The building can turn one of the most troublesome swamp resources into two core materials: Algae for oxygen production and Polluted Water for industrial or agricultural use. A single Distiller processes 360 kg of Slime per cycle, producing 120 kg of Algae and 240 kg of Polluted Water.

There are several practical ways to handle the Algae it produces:

• If the Algae is fed to Oxygen Diffusers, the Distiller effectively supports oxygen production, though the conversion is not especially efficient when compared with other oxygen-cleanup options.
• If the Algae is used in Algae Terrariums, it can support more oxygen output, but this setup requires dupe labor to manage the resulting liquids and a steady supply of Clean Water.
• If the Polluted Water is kept instead of being cleaned, it can be reused directly for crops such as Thimble Reed, Arbor Trees, or Pincha Peppers.
• If the Water is passed through a Water Sieve, the setup can be cleaner, but it adds a substantial Filtration Medium cost.

Because both outputs are often contaminated with Slimelung, colonies commonly sterilize the Algae before use. A room filled with Chlorine or an Ore Scrubber can be used for this purpose, while the Polluted Water itself is generally safe to store and use, since Slimelung does not survive long in liquid. Another common safeguard is to place a Buddy Bud near Oxygen Diffusers, which prevents Slimelung from spreading through the air, though this can be a problem for Duplicants with Allergies.

The Distiller is also a significant source of heat. It is an inherently heat-multiplying machine: when processing Slime at 30 °C or warmer, the total heat capacity of its output is about 14.26 times higher than that of its inputs. Colder Slime increases this multiplier slightly, so it is wise to plan for temperature control if the machine is running continuously.