Re: [APD] Ultrasound, sonication of algae

[Thomas Barr <tcbiii at yahoo_com>]

Sonication does work quite effectively.
I use one in a lake.
They do work well.
They are very effective for BGA's and green water, they take a
bit longer for filamentous forms of algae.

I think the cost will disuade you from the use in a tank.
Probably around 1200$ or so for the little one.

I use a LG sonic XXL model.

I think they can harm some thin leaf plants, at least I hope so,
as I'm using this method to kill Hydrilla.

I think at low levels, the effect on most plants is
insignificant.

I know it does not harm to pond weeds that are close to the
unit.

If the plant is very fine, delicate, then they will be more
suspecptible. Hyrilla is only 2 cells thick for the leaves, no
stomata.

So some of the worse weeds, Eurasian Milfoil, Egeria densa,
Hydrilla can be controlled via this method and we can raise
weevils in mass to attack the Hyacinth so no herbicides are
used. 

The probelm is: no one has tried these methods and tend to frown
upon anything other than herbicides. The weevils will certainly
work at high levels, but we have been unsuccessful at growing
them on artificial media, a key to being able to raise billions
of them for dispersal, much like you would a herbicde spray.

The weevils do not reproduce in CA because it's too cold, so if
we could put a bunch out there during the spring, summer and
fall, they could eat most of the weeds, then we could mop up the
isolated pockets with some herbicide and greatly reduce labor
and beat the weeds way back.
The weevils beat the weed back in Lake Victoria very
successfully, but it's nice a warm there.
The weevils have passed inspection for CA and there is no
requirements for the use of ultrasound for weed control in CA.
A typical new herbicide registration process runs no less than
2-3 million $$$.

Herbicides/insecticdes, fungicides/antibiotics tend to have a
usable life of 30-40 years before the weed gains resistance.
Good old evolution adapting to the very strong
enhanced/artifical selective pressure. 

The physical methods such as sound, tillage, flooding, draw
downs, competition, timing of planting can greatly reduce the
amount of work, cost etc.

Same deal for us. 
Our weeds are mainly algae, our crop are the plants.

No one has tried the ultra sound in marine weeds, but many
marine mammals use the ultrasound frequency, while few animals
in FW systems do.

I had considered using those small ultrasound fogging units and
set up a frequency timer for aquarium applications.
A company could make them for 100-200$ pretty easily.

Regards, 
Tom Barr

www.BarrReport.com


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