Re: [APD] Ultrasound, sonication of algae

[Dave Wilson <aqua_green at bigpond.com>]

Hello Tom,

Here in the top end of Oz, the Darwin River has a nasty outbreak of Cabomba
caroliniana that has escaped from some ones aquarium or most likely a pond.
I was wondering if you think that sonication may help with that plant.

I am interested to find some details of the effectiveness of sonication
against aquatic plants.   Do you have any reference material on the
effectiveness of sound destroying vascular plants.

Cheers
Dave





On 18/2/06 11:58 AM, "Thomas Barr" <tcbiii at yahoo_com> wrote:

> 
> 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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