Alternative Algae Control

8/13/2019 Alternative Algae Control

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What Is Algae?

Interesting Facts Number of Species: 70000 to 100000

Wide Range of Construction: Single Cell Filamentous Silicon shells (diatoms) Colonial

Similarities to Plants, Bacteria andMicroscopic Animals


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Local Algae Types

Oedogonium,Lyngbya,

Diatoms and

SomeEpiphytes


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Local Algae Types

Microcystis Colonial Blue-green Algae


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What Causes It To Bloom?

Algae Respond to Available Nutrients Primary Nutrient: Phosphates

Secondary Nutrient: Nitrates Sources: Lawn Fertilizer

Decaying Detritus (leaves, grass, etc.) Natural Sediments (phosphate deposits)

Rain Runoff (nutrients from soil)


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Bloom Effects?

Problems Associated With Blooms

Pond Scum, Floating Mats, Green Water Odors Safety Issues From Toxins

Drainage Issues Fish Kills


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The Ugly Side of Algae


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The Ugly Side of Algae


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Common Algae Control Methods

Typical:

Copper Sulfate (Blue Crystals) Peroxide (Sodium Percarbonate Crystals) Pond Dyes For Shading Herbicides (Endothall)

Secondary:

Precipitate Phosphates With Flocculants Alum or Aluminum Sulfate Polyacrylamides Polymers

Ultraviolet (smaller ponds)


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Issues With Common Control Methods

Typical:

Copper Sulfate Over Dosing => Fish Kills Peroxide Strong Oxidizer (handling safely) Pond Dyes Artificial Appearance and Passive Herbicides Chemical Residual and Fish Kills

Secondary:

Flocculants (Alum and Polyacrylamides) Eventual Re-Release of Nutrients Need for Mixing into Water Body Potentially labor intensive

Ultraviolet Not cost effective for larger ponds


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Alternative Control Methods

Strategy:

Attack the Root Cause Excess Nutrients Take Care of Transient Blooms Without Chemicals

Using Ultrasonic Devices

Increase Oxygen Level to Improve Fish Habitat Bioaugmentation with Beneficial Bacteria Combine

Natural Calcium with Phosphates to Form anInsoluble Phosphate Mineral (Hydroxyl Apatite)


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Methodology


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Sonic Solutions, LLC:Ultrasonic Underwater Generation

The Basic Operation

FrequencyGenerator

To Power

Piezo TransducerEmits 79 FrequenciesOver the Algae Critical

Ultrasonic Range.

Float

Power Controller110, 220 VAC50/60 HZ or

24 VDC Solar.

24 volt DC

50

cable std.Extensions of 50

or 100

availableout to 250

max.


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Ultrasound Transducer Output Pattern Largest Unit

Blue-Green Algae

(cyanobacteria)Kill Range

Green AlgaeKill Range

Size of a FootballField with End Zones


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Effects Of Ultrasound On AlgaeCentre for Aquatic Plant Management, UK Work

Commissioned by Sonic Solutions, LLC

This picture was taken after 14 daysexposure. The cells have continued toshrink, with some forming densercircular brown agglomerations in thecenter of the cell. There is someevidence of cytoplasm leakage from thecells, indicating further damage to thecell walls.

The picture on the right was taken after 21days, and shows complete breakdown ofcell structure.


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Algae Biological Parts Make ThemSusceptible To Critical Resonance Vibration

Gas Vesicle:Rigid hollow cylindricalstructures with conical endsmade of proteins. As blue-greenalgae create carbohydrate massor better termed ballast duringsunlight hours, they will gainenough weight to be heavierthan water and sink. Thisallows them to find necessarynutrients near the bottom or atlower depths. As the

carbohydrate ballast isconsumed, they slowly rise tothe surface.


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Blue-Green Algae Can HaveThousands of Gas Vesicles

Above Ref: Gas Vesicles , Anthony E. Walsby, Microbiological Reviews, March, 1994

Above Source: Texas A&M, Corpus Christi, Dr. Paul Zimba, Microcystis Aerugenosa, Note White Areas Indicating Gas ExcapedDue to 24 hours of Ultrasonic Treatment,February 2012


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Blue-Green Algae With Ultrasonically DamagedGas Vesicles Before/After


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Macrophytic Algae Not Controlled With Ultrasound

Chara Nitella

If it looks like a plant, it is unlikely that

ultrasound will harm it.

Pithophora


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Types of Algae Not Controlled With Ultrasound

Euglena

PediastrumTypes

Oscillatoria

Scendesmus

CylindrospermopsisRaciborskii


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Before and After Results Using SonicSolutions Ultrasound


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Before and After Results Using Sonic Solutions Ultrasound

Pictures Courtesy

Lake Doctors of Florida

After 90 Days onBlack Mat Lyngbya


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Before and After Results Using SonicSolutions Ultrasound


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Advantages of Ultrasonic Algae Control

! 100% environmentally friendly.! No generation of by-products.

! No genetic mutation of survivors.! Simple to install.!

Very little maintenance is required.! No chemicals or additives needed.! Very low energy consumption.! Relatively inexpensive to purchase.!

Large water bodies are no problem.! Wall biofilm where significant quantities ofbacteria are produced can be significantlyreduced or eliminated.


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Disadvantages of Ultrasonic Algae Control

! Macrophytic or plantlike algae are more difficult to eliminate or areunaffected.

! Thick plants or these plantlike macrophytic algae structures canprevent ultrasound vibration to reach other parts of the water to betreated.

! A line of sight to the algae must be available for the transduceroutput to be effective.! A few algae types will not be affected by ultrasound (some

euglenoids, oscillatoria, scendesmus, macrophytic, and somecolonial types like pediastrum are resistant).

! Patience is required as weeks are sometimes needed for fulleffectiveness.


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Completing the Water Trifecta

Aeration: Sub-Surface Bubbler with Compressor on Bank

Floating Surface Aerator or Aerating Fountain

Beneficial Bacteria:

Powder or Sinking Pellets

Dose at 1 lb per surface acre per monthCost is about $15-18 per month per acre


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Aeration Examples Sub-Surface Bubbler


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Aeration Examples Surface Aerating Fountain


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Aeration Benefits: Improves Fish Health and Growth

Increases Aerobic Bacterial Action

Reduces Odors from Anaerobic Bacteria

Provides Environment for Rapid SludgeDigestion and Removal


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Bacterial Bioaugmentation Seasonal strains for

Winter (39 65 F) Spring/Fall (60 75 F)

Summer (greater than 75 F)

Pellets for removing edgewater sludge, leafdebris and nutrients


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Bacterial Bioaugmentation Benefits Abates Excess Phosphates by Mineralizingthem with Calcium to Form Hydroxyl Apatite

Substitutes Aerobic Digestion for Anaerobicto Eliminate Sewer Smells


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Summary: Ultrasonic algae control is now a viable and cost

effective way to control most nuisance algae types.

This technology offers an environmentallyfriendly approach, eliminating many chemicals and

chemical handling issues.

Aeration and Beneficial Bacteria help eliminate thesoluble phosphates that drive algae growth and

improves the health of the entire pond.


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Questions?

Documents

Alternative Algae Control