a real aiptasia laser

[Ron Reefman]

A young friend of mine is using a 1 watt laser pointer (there are 2 watt versions out there as well) to kill unwanted polyps in his DT. I borrowed it yesterday and tried it on some aiptasia in my tank (yes, I have let an aiptasia situation get out of control). I was careful and called a laser pointer manufacturer and asked some questions and read all the safety tips. The laser can shine through the GLASS of an aquarium and it isn't harmed. They couldn't tell me one way or the other about acrylic (but it's clear and their best guess was "no problem"... but that's just a guess). So I tried it on an aiptasia near the front glass. You focus the laser, light up the tentacles of the aiptasia and they shrink until into the central disk. Then holding the light on the central disk for several seconds (time depends on several factors) and it starts to shrivel up until you end up with what looks like a melted plastic lump that is charcoal colored. I also worked on one about a foot into the tank. It took a little longer and focusing was a bit more difficult, but it worked. I'm going to do more today and may even try to shoot a video to post.

Has anybody here ever heard of somebody using a laser on their tank?

[jacob.morgan78]

I'll take one please.

Where can you find them for sale?

I'm looking forward to the video!!

Thanks!

[Agua Salado]

Deal extreme has lasers. I wonder what color would be better green or purple. Probably not red.

[firebirdude]

Green is always strongest.

[insanefishguy]

Peeked my interest...

[Cipher43]

Any pics of the laser you used?

[jacob.morgan78]

Originally Posted by Cipher43

Any pics of the laser you used?

or a link?

[KhanhQ83]

Interested in seeing your video. I'm battling with aiptasia as well. I like the idea of killing them without getting my hands wet.

[dbartkow]

I am very interested too! Looking forward to that video and more details about the laser!

[T Diddy]

I suppose my concern would be not cooking ALL of the tissue. As you know, a failed kill results in half a dozen more pedal lacerations...but hey, I'd get a lot of pleasure out of frying aiptasia with a frickin laser!

[Jvak]

Im pretty sure that any thing above a 5mw laser pointer is illegal in the states, The green one I have is 5mw and can be seen from over 10k feet and it has not effect on anything in my tank.

[Arizonah13]

Would love to see a video of the aiptasia destruction!

[Ron Reefman]

Originally Posted by Jvak

Im pretty sure that any thing above a 5mw laser pointer is illegal in the states, The green one I have is 5mw and can be seen from over 10k feet and it has not effect on anything in my tank.

The 1 & 2 watt lasers are not illegal and are sold on the internet and at some (only a few) retail stores (like gun shops). They aren't cheap. This one was purchased used for about $150. New 1 watt lasers start around $200 and change and go up to $350, 2 watt lasers for around $400 and up to as much as $650. I'll find a few links and post them.

T Ditty, I know what you mean about killing the whole thing. But so far I've been able to 'melt' them down to nothing but a charcoal lump. The 1 watt laser used in the atmosphere (not in the water) produce a temperature of about 400+ degrees.

As you can see in the attached video, if the laser isn't properly focused, it doesn't do much of anything. About 50 seconds into the video you can see the laser beam get narrower and the aiptasia really reacts. And at the end when I got a flashlight to highlite the dead aiptasia, I had some trouble even finding the burned remains.

Here are a couple shots of the laser:





Here is the video I just shot. I hope you enjoy it.

[Arizonah13]

Freaking awesome. Thanks for posting the video. Looks like FUN!

[NatureNerd]

Please be extremely careful. That is a serious eye hazard. Protective, appropriately rated goggles are a must. A stray reflection would result in near instantaneous eye damage.

[Ron Reefman]

Originally Posted by NatureNerd

Please be extremely careful. That is a serious eye hazard. Protective, appropriately rated goggles are a must. A stray reflection would result in near instantaneous eye damage.

You are 100% right about being careful. These are not toys and can be extremely dangerous. The laser manufacturer provides safety glasses with the laser and I wear them all the time! I also keep the laser close to the glass and never look at the reflection even with the glasses. But what a great way to destroy unwanted critters in the tank.

[Allmost]

Great Idea ! I work in a biophotonic lab in a hospital so gonna look into it more.

I actually started using OCT to look at the skeleton of SPS for easier Identification, this seems like another great example.

the laser used though, would probably not burn the aiptasia fully, depending on its wavelenght, it would pass through and heat up/ burn the rock behind it. also salt water has too much scattering ...

but thanks for the great Idea for a project :P

[chefgreg]

The sizzling and popping noise made me choke laughing soo hard. I gotta get one of those for the future.

[jacob.morgan78]

Why does everything cool have to be expensive!?!?

Oh well

[DustinB]

I wonder if this would work on vermetid snails as well. I would think so.

[Ron Reefman]

Originally Posted by Allmost

Great Idea ! I work in a biophotonic lab in a hospital so gonna look into it more.

I actually started using OCT to look at the skeleton of SPS for easier Identification, this seems like another great example.

the laser used though, would probably not burn the aiptasia fully, depending on its wavelenght, it would pass through and heat up/ burn the rock behind it. also salt water has too much scattering ...

but thanks for the great Idea for a project :P

I've only started to experiment with this laser. And believe me, it burns them right down to the LR. And sure it heats up the LR as you finish it off, but that just means you are killing the aiptasia down to the very bottom.

As for the saltwater scattering the beam... not so much. I've taken out several big aiptasia that were over a foot into the tank.

The bigger issue is trying to cook the aiptasia with 78F degree water flowing around trying to cool it off. I've already found that turning off the pumps (CL & sump return in my case) and letting the water settle down really helped.

[Ron Reefman]

Originally Posted by DustinB

I wonder if this would work on vermetid snails as well. I would think so.

I haven't tried it on anything but aiptasia so far. But the owner has used it to kill off several unwanted critters in his tank... even a shrimp that was killing his peppermint shrimps. Snails should be an easy target.

[Cipher43]

Is it just me or should you be careful shining it through your glass. My fear is that if it heats 400+ degrees and you have a cold liquid on the other side could it cause a crack.... I may be just overthinking it but i know if you have a cold windshield and turn on a super hot heater you have a chance of cracking it.... would hate to try and kill the aiptasia and end up with water on my shoes

Love the video btw.... The crackle is a scary/ awesome sound lol

[Allmost]

Originally Posted by Ron Reefman

I've only started to experiment with this laser. And believe me, it burns them right down to the LR. And sure it heats up the LR as you finish it off, but that just means you are killing the aiptasia down to the very bottom.

As for the saltwater scattering the beam... not so much. I've taken out several big aiptasia that were over a foot into the tank.

The bigger issue is trying to cook the aiptasia with 78F degree water flowing around trying to cool it off. I've already found that turning off the pumps (CL & sump return in my case) and letting the water settle down really helped.

yes thats what I mean, it heats up the area, boiling the aiptasia, while you can actually build a laser to focus the beam inside the anemone [possible with correct optics even], to heat up the water internal to it ! like how we kill tumors currently, and not effect organs around it ! should be interesting I'll do some work on it on the weekend and post what I find.

[Ron Reefman]

Originally Posted by Cipher43

Is it just me or should you be careful shining it through your glass. My fear is that if it heats 400+ degrees and you have a cold liquid on the other side could it cause a crack.... I may be just overthinking it but i know if you have a cold windshield and turn on a super hot heater you have a chance of cracking it.... would hate to try and kill the aiptasia and end up with water on my shoes

Love the video btw.... The crackle is a scary/ awesome sound lol

Thanks, shooting the video was fun.

As for the glass. The laser lens has a glass cover and I keep the laser tip close to the aquarium glass (even touching it). As you can see in the video, even if the laser is just a little out of focus it doesn't do anything. I did an aiptasia that was very close to the front glass of the tank and when I was done the glass had no heat build up at all. That said, if you focus the laser at the glass, there may be enough 'stuff' that tints the glass green to cause a heat build up. Some day soon I'll test that idea on a small junk 1g tank I have. And as I stated before, I'd be VERY careful using it thru an acrylic tank. Acrylic is clearer than glass, but it also softer and more likely to melt. Even a little melt would cause an imperfection that would pi** me off big time!