Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Controlling unwanted plants ultra sonic treatment for Algae?

I saw in a catalog that there is an ultrasonic treatment for algae. the ad did not talk about the affect on fish or other plants. Does anyone know about this approach to FA and Chara control?

Was that in Stoney Creek's catalog? I think I saw it too.

I was just looking at their catalog this morning. It is in there.

I am trying to determine if I can use ultrasonic level sensors in my RAS. A bit more digging I suppose.

I don't know how big of a system you'd need for a pond of your size. Does it come with a money back guarantee if it doesn't work??

Different algae will respond differently. Problem as I see it is, they lump all algae into one category assuming all have same sensitivity to the ultrasonic waves and this is not true. The unit was probably tested on just a few problem species.

my concern is that if it is vibrating algae cells to death, what would it do to fish and other plants?

Bill, does it work much at all on a 1/2 acre pond? It sounds too simple (as you said, algae is not all the same). It says that you have to put it closer to affect the chara.

Anyway, my rake is lots cheaper than the $3500.00 price tag.

B

If you keep it dark enough algae is not an issue. I have absolutely none in my indoor systems.

My aquaponic set up that is outside will use a UV clarifier plumbed in. I don't want my plants competing with FA for nutrients and nitrates.

I'd be worried about potential stress on fish with this device in tanks as sound travels better in water than in air.

And I'd be concerned if this was effective at all I would think it would be most effective in small ponds -- very small ponds.

Buyer Beware. As esshup says is it guaranteed that it will work? Probably not.

Forgive me for chiming in here, but I've worked with ultrasound for several years now. It won't work on Chara or aquatic weeds at all. There are a few specific species of algae and this includes both FA and single cell that ultrasound won't control because of their cell structures.

Also it normally just damages the type that will cause green water, as it ruptures their air bladder. This is fine if the pond has some depth to it, but shallow water still provides ample access to sunlight and that will keep the algae alive quite a bit longer.

From everything I've seen, both in application and practice, it's safe for fish. The frequency of the sound waves it creates are pretty well tuned to algae resonance. I can say that when it fits the need, it can work exceptionally well on larger waters...meaning bigger than a backyard koi pond. It's being used more and more in industrial settings as well such as waste water, power plant cooling intakes, etc.

But it's not a silver bullet. We actually started a rental program last year for these because despite my request for water and algae samples and looking at these under a microscope to try and qualify a particular setting, nothing will actually confirm results like putting it in the actual pond.

I hope this helps clarify things a little bit.

Mark

Mark, welcome to the forum! thanks for the great info.

Hey bringing up an older thread to see if anyone has any more experience with ultrasound on algae. I am trying to get a rental/ demo for my blue green algae.