Use of Lasers in Controlling Pest Algae and Corals

[CalmSeasQuest]

Originally Posted by Whiterabbitrage

Has anyone ever put their laser in a plastic bag and used it from inside the tank? My boyfriend assures me that it will work but I am skeptical. It would allow me to get to some pests that are behind rocks though...

I own and tested a water-proof laser and posted the results earlier in this thread. It performed OK, but as it was lower power, was not as effective as a larger laser used from outside the tank.

The focus is critical, when I tested the water-proof version, it initially failed as there was air trapped beneath the lens rendering it ineffective. I don't think the plastic bag idea is viable, as I think the bag itself would not function the same optically as the glass or acrylic and would likely interfere with the focus, or be melted.

[miserkris]

Calm seas quest and others...

Does anyone know if high powered.. like 1.7w blue 445nm lasers that have a RECTANGULAR end point work for killing pests in dt?

I have one ...but it only inconvenienced them. ...i don't hear the popping or cracking sound that happens when u fry them right.

Maybe mine doesn't focus well?

Please advice. Thx

[CalmSeasQuest]

Originally Posted by miserkris

Calm seas quest and others...

Does anyone know if high powered.. like 1.7w blue 445nm lasers that have a RECTANGULAR end point work for killing pests in dt?

I have one ...but it only inconvenienced them. ...i don't hear the popping or cracking sound that happens when u fry them right.

Maybe mine doesn't focus well?

Please advice. Thx

I'm not familiar with rectangular optics, but the focus is absolutely critical for this use. I've found that even the most powerful laser will be ineffective if the beam endpoint isn't focused to a very small dot. You can use the "sizzling and popping" sound as an indicator you've achieved the correct focus.

[uny2bld]

Subscribed!

I was looking at this laser: http://www.wickedlasers.com/arctic but now I'm reading this thread and others and am considering other options...

if you were to buy just one laser, which would you reccomend?

[CalmSeasQuest]

Originally Posted by uny2bld

Subscribed!

I was looking at this laser: http://www.wickedlasers.com/arctic but now I'm reading this thread and others and am considering other options...

if you were to buy just one laser, which would you reccomend?

IMHO, based on the reviews of Wicked lasers, I would not purchase through them and at $600+ for ~2W, you can have a much better/higher output unit made for less money.

[uny2bld]

Originally Posted by CalmSeasQuest

IMHO, based on the reviews of Wicked lasers, I would not purchase through them and at $600+ for ~2W, you can have a much better/higher output unit made for less money.

Thanks for the input.

Would you reccomend Survival Laser II as one of the better options?

[CalmSeasQuest]

Originally Posted by uny2bld

Thanks for the input.

Would you reccomend Survival Laser II as one of the better options?

Yes, one of my early lasers was from Survival, it was a quality product. I'd also recommend spending some time at LaserPointerForums.com. It's a great resource with many talented builders. I just noted a 3+W 445nm unit available in the for-sale section for $349. It appears to be a MONSTER...

Diode : 445nm 9mm diode
Output diode : over 3000mW
Output buck driver: 2.4A current
Lens : G2
Power supply : 2x 26650 Li-ion rechargeable battery.
Duty cycle : 5min on/ 2min off.

Make sure you've read and understand the safety requirements, have appropriate eye protection and a way to secure the laser when not in use.

Good luck!

[uny2bld]

Originally Posted by CalmSeasQuest

Yes, one of my early lasers was from Survival, it was a quality product. I'd also recommend spending some time at LaserPointerForums.com. It's a great resource with many talented builders. I just noted a 3+W 445nm unit available in the for-sale section for $349. It appears to be a MONSTER...

Diode : 445nm 9mm diode
Output diode : over 3000mW
Output buck driver: 2.4A current
Lens : G2
Power supply : 2x 26650 Li-ion rechargeable battery.
Duty cycle : 5min on/ 2min off.

Make sure you've read and understand the safety requirements, have appropriate eye protection and a way to secure the laser when not in use.

Good luck!

Awesome! Thanks so much for the advice

[seafish]

I recently bought a Spider3 arctic blue light laser 2W for our aiptasia problem in our 180gal tank. The glass is 1/2" thick. After watching some videos online, seeming it should not be that difficult, attempted my try at removing these critters. After several tries I am not getting the results I was hoping for. I am leaving the light on them for quite some time.

[Whiterabbitrage]

Why aren't you getting the results you expected? Are the Aiptasia retracting too quickly to be fried? Is the laser not focusing the beam enough to fry?

[seafish]

Is the idea to aim at thecenter of them? And also the tips that wicked lasers sent are more patterns.

[seafish]

Is there any cap for the wicked laser that can adjust the beam? I shot across to the tempature sensor on the back of my tank, approx. 24" to see what I could raise it to. With the full charge and full power, I raised it from 77' to 86-88'. It seems thats not enough increase to make an impact. Is my Arctic Laser a bad purchase?

[CalmSeasQuest]

Originally Posted by seafish

I recently bought a Spider3 arctic blue light laser 2W for our aiptasia problem in our 180gal tank. The glass is 1/2" thick. After watching some videos online, seeming it should not be that difficult, attempted my try at removing these critters. After several tries I am not getting the results I was hoping for. I am leaving the light on them for quite some time.

I'm not familiar with that model, but 2 watts should be enough to gain results assuming you're able to focus it. The focus is absolutely critical for this use. I've found that even the most powerful laser will be ineffective if the beam endpoint isn't focused to a very small dot.

You can use the "sizzling and popping" sound as an indicator you've achieved the correct focus.

[seafish]

The tips that came with the laser are just the straight beam and several novelty pattern tips. None are an adjustable focus tip.I did some expermenting with the intensity of the beam. While holding the laser, ran my other hand across the beam. I found that I could stop my hand for a couple of seconds before feeling the heat of the beam. I haven't gotten the sizzling sound yet.

[CalmSeasQuest]

Originally Posted by seafish

The tips that came with the laser are just the straight beam and several novelty pattern tips. None are an adjustable focus tip.I did some expermenting with the intensity of the beam. While holding the laser, ran my other hand across the beam. I found that I could stop my hand for a couple of seconds before feeling the heat of the beam. I haven't gotten the sizzling sound yet.

I'm afraid that laser will near useless for our purposes. You need variable optics that can finely focus the beam endpoint - literally to the size of a pinhead.

If correctly focused, it would have instantly start burning your flesh if you placed your hand in front of it. Perhaps you can order optics for it?

[Whiterabbitrage]

Originally Posted by seafish

Is there any cap for the wicked laser that can adjust the beam? I shot across to the tempature sensor on the back of my tank, approx. 24" to see what I could raise it to. With the full charge and full power, I raised it from 77' to 86-88'. It seems thats not enough increase to make an impact. Is my Arctic Laser a bad purchase?

My first laser was an arctic Wicked Laser. It would not destroy any pest. It would not focus its beam. It came with decorative lens only, nothing useful. I asked around Wicked Laser and other laser experts and lens experts and was told there was no way to buy or build a focusing lens for their laser. Ended up having to buy another laser from someone else. Luckily other lasers are way cheaper.

Wicked Lasers equals Wicked Ripoff

[Whiterabbitrage]

Originally Posted by uny2bld

Subscribed!

I was looking at this laser: http://www.wickedlasers.com/arctic but now I'm reading this thread and others and am considering other options...

if you were to buy just one laser, which would you reccomend?

If I were to buy one laser for reef use, I would go to LaserPointerForums dot com and ask around. A hobbiest there built mine and the did a great job for $80.

[seafish]

I would like to know which lasers do the best job for aiptasias. Wattage, Color, Wavelength, and of course Price? Are there any US companies that sell so it eliminates the delay in shipping?

[seafish]

Originally Posted by Whiterabbitrage

If I were to buy one laser for reef use, I would go to LaserPointerForums dot com and ask around. A hobbiest there built mine and the did a great job for $80.

Looks like I am going down the same road. I bought an Arctic laser also. Did you have any better luck with the aftermarket focus tip working or what was your ending solution ?

[olemiss reb]

I have the 501B and 502B from SciFi laser and both are focusable. My 502B peeks at 2404.6mW and makes short work of Aips. The 501B kills them as well but not as quickly.

http://www.sflasers.us/445nm_-_Blue/...8_1863030.aspx

[leetch]

This all reminds me of the movie Real Genius. Next thing you know, popcorn will be filling up your aquarium.

It's all very interesting but the main concern would not only be the dangers but the time involved in trying to eradicate a pest. If I have a full on Aiptaisa outbreak I run much less risk by using a filefish than a laser. Also, the filefish will get the aiptasia that I can't see meaning it's considerably more effective at control.

I'll still tune in to see how things go but it does seem a pretty ineffective way to do things. Just my $.02.

[seafish]

Originally Posted by leetch

This all reminds me of the movie Real Genius. Next thing you know, popcorn will be filling up your aquarium.

It's all very interesting but the main concern would not only be the dangers but the time involved in trying to eradicate a pest. If I have a full on Aiptaisa outbreak I run much less risk by using a filefish than a laser. Also, the filefish will get the aiptasia that I can't see meaning it's considerably more effective at control.

I'll still tune in to see how things go but it does seem a pretty ineffective way to do things. Just my $.02.

The problem is that mine is a reef tank and some of the solutions that will work on the aiptasias (fish, peppermint shrimp, etc.) will also eat the corals in the tank. We have tried the Bergia Nudibranchs several times but never had any luck.

[Whiterabbitrage]

Update of my laser experiences, yours may differ.
*Aipasia, effective if you can fry them down to the base. They retract to hide. If they can hide their base from you they will survive. Plus there are always some behind the rocks you can reach no matter what.
* Xenia, amusing at first due to sizzling but ultimately a waste of time. You would need to cut them with scissors first then fry the base fully. Since the Xenia are light colored they don't absorb the heat as much as other things do and it takes longer.
*Valonia, does not absorb blue laser much. Red would be more effective I think. I can see something going on inside the ball but they don't die.
*Bryopsis, uneffective.
*Bristleworms, works only on those you can corner. Pantyhose traps still work best.

Altogether, I'd say it was a fun experiment that was worth trying but sadly, I feel its a dead end. It does kill pests, but only those you can see and aim at, which in a reef tank,as we all know, is a very small percentage.

[seafish]

Originally Posted by Whiterabbitrage

Update of my laser experiences, yours may differ.
*Aipasia, effective if you can fry them down to the base. They retract to hide. If they can hide their base from you they will survive. Plus there are always some behind the rocks you can reach no matter what.
* Xenia, amusing at first due to sizzling but ultimately a waste of time. You would need to cut them with scissors first then fry the base fully. Since the Xenia are light colored they don't absorb the heat as much as other things do and it takes longer.
*Valonia, does not absorb blue laser much. Red would be more effective I think. I can see something going on inside the ball but they don't die.
*Bryopsis, uneffective.
*Bristleworms, works only on those you can corner. Pantyhose traps still work best.

Altogether, I'd say it was a fun experiment that was worth trying but sadly, I feel its a dead end. It does kill pests, but only those you can see and aim at, which in a reef tank,as we all know, is a very small percentage.

I ordered up the one from Laserpoint with the focus lens, so will see when I get it.

[trueblackpercula]

So do the aptasias come back at all after treatment?