In this posting we will talk a little more about ultrasonic algae control. The discovery that ultrasonic waves in water kill algae was made over sixty years ago in submarine sonar experiments. It took some before this observation was applied to the control of algae in ponds, pools and other water bodies.
Effective ultrasonic algae control devices transmits a complex pattern of ultrasonic vibrations through the water causing the vacuoles inside the algae cells to resonate and break the same vibrations are harmless to humans, animals, fish and aquatic plants. Once broken, the algae cells no longer possess the ability to grow and reproduce. The pond or pool will become clearer and healthier from destruction of algae and other harmful root-parasitic fungi (single-celled) without having to apply environmentally harmful chemicals for this purpose. The microscopic pictures show the ultrasonic effects on healthy, dying and dead algae cells.
It is important to note that not all organisms called algae are killed by ultrasonic waves. Species that are killed might take longer than others to die. In swimming pools for example, the toughest ones are the black algae which mostly grow in the joints of the tiles; however, they surely will be killed in due time. Another hard type is filamentous algae. Some patience is definitely required here, as they bond together forming masses which absorb the ultrasonic vibrations hindering the overall effective range. They will be killed, it just takes longer.
There are over twenty thousand kinds of algae, which react in various ways after their demise. The most common algae are the so-called “roaming algae”, which enter the water by wind and rain, these will be killed the quickest. Others may take a couple of weeks, but will be dead in due time. Even though some algae die rather fast, others may take up to six weeks before the effects are visible to the naked eye. There are some species with different cell structures that are unaffected by ultrasound. The only way to be sure is to have a sample of the algae tested by a trained biologist who can identify the species in the water. Spartan Environmental Technologies and its partner Algae Control US provide this service free of charge.
Spartan supplies the LG Sonic brand of algae control systems. The LG Sonic algae control devices are scaled for different sized water systems with application ranges of 10, 30, 50, 100, and 150 meters, so you can fit your system with the right device or combination of devices from a water garden to a 4.5 acre pond with a single unit or lakes, and reservoirs with multiple units. Contact Spartan for more information on ultrasonic algae control to see if it is correct for you pond, pool or lake.