Algae Analysis Testing For Ultrasound Use

At this time we no longer offer algae analysis in order to pre-qualify ultrasound for use in a pond setting.

There are a couple of reasons for this.

With the older, Sonic Solutions systems, over a 10 year period, we saw about a 70% success rate with the devices in all types of installs. This includes residential and commercial ponds, waste water facilities, and industrial applications. With the new ultrasound systems we have now, we are seeing improved results, which is continues to reduce the risk of a system not working for someone.

More importantly though, we have found that ultrasound must be looked at as a primary algae control tool, but not necessarily a complete one. For example, in most large ponds, we will find a variety of algae species...often 4 or 5 different types. It has not been uncommon to have ultrasound control all of them, thereby clearing the pond of algae entirely.

There are instances though where one of these algae may be resistant (usually due to their cellular structure) to ultrasound, so it won't be affected as much, and could continue to bloom while the others are killed off or damaged. When this happens the pond's appearance may not change much so it appears the device isn't working well at all, despite it's ability to affect most of the algae in the pond.

It's also possible that a pond owner may have full control over algae for a number of years, but in a particular season, an algae strain that is, as yet, uncontrolled, comes into the pond. They then may experience a short term bloom.

When this occurs we deal with the algae issue in several other ways (biological nutrient reduction, a chemical algaecide, etc) to knock it down, and rely on the ultrasound for the brunt of the long term control.

Current research and historical data has shown that ultrasound will control the vast majority of algae species found in ponds, but it most likely will never reach 100% due to the cellular structure of some algae types (Chara for example). Nevertheless, it has greatly reduced or eliminated the use of various treatments to control the plants in large ponds where the cost of such treatments would become exponentially expensive as time passes. At around $20 per year to operate, ultrasound has provided some substantial cost savings to pond owners who have used it over time.

And for those instances where an unwanted plant starts to bloom, there are various alternative treatments that can be used short-term to eradicate the problem.

Please contact us if you have any further questions.