Use of Lasers in Controlling Pest Algae and Corals

[cheetofingers]

That video is awesome. The most interesting part is watching the zoas surrounding the lasered aiptasia recede in unison.

[revhtree]

Yep forum link is fine.

[CreatiVe2]

That video is awesome. The most interesting part is watching the zoas surrounding the lasered aiptasia recede in unison.

thanks. I hope to make a new video SHORTLY with my new 1.2W waterproof laser

quick note: none of my 'pests' have come back since "treating" them

although some are hard to get in the rockwork, so i buried the 'deeper' ones with joes juice after they were melted.

[swannyson7]

LOL, I see CJO is already on there trying to buy one, as are a few other reefers looking to experiment

[jpguppy]

Would it not be possible to use a slightly lower power laser for a more extended period of time? i.e. a 1W to reduce some of the dangers to others?

[CJO]

LOL, I see CJO is already on there trying to buy one, as are a few other reefers looking to experiment

Parts are on there way.. should be here Monday or Tuesday

Would it not be possible to use a slightly lower power laser for a more extended period of time? i.e. a 1W to reduce some of the dangers to others?

I don't have any direct experience yet, but I would think that you could do what you said. However, there will be a point where you won't have enough power for it to be useful and it would likely still be powerful enough to have all of the same dangers.

If you are looking at doing this, please have and wear proper eye protection for everyone in the area.

The biggest issue to me is that there doesn't seem to be a good way to protect the fish. If they are looking in the wrong direction at the wrong time, you might blind them. I've been thinking about trying to come up with a shield made from one of the protective glasses that you could connect to the end of the laser with a long tube. This would help you aim it and would also help to protect your fish.

CJ

[bige]

Thats real cool. Does it work above water or does it go under water?

[CalmSeasQuest]

Would it not be possible to use a slightly lower power laser for a more extended period of time? i.e. a 1W to reduce some of the dangers to others?

A 1 watt laser poses a similar threat, perhaps even more as using a lower power laser will require more lase time to effect the same result. As duty cycles can be less than a minute, you might be forced to re-aim and re-lase a target that a higher power laser would have taken out in a single lase, thereby increasing the risk of reflection. More lase time also increases the risk of injuring livestock in the tank as just looking at the laser end-point can lead to eye damage.

I think more power is better, as long as the proper safeguards are in place for the user, the livestock and any observers (including other pets.)

[CalmSeasQuest]

The biggest issue to me is that there doesn't seem to be a good way to protect the fish. If they are looking in the wrong direction at the wrong time, you might blind them. I've been thinking about trying to come up with a shield made from one of the protective glasses that you could connect to the end of the laser with a long tube. This would help you aim it and would also help to protect your fish. CJ

+1, I agree this is a real risk. I thought about the safety glass material, but it is seems very expensive and would be hard to fabricate into a cylinder. I think an even simpler solution would be to use a short section of PVC or acrylic pipe, place on the end of a rod. This would allow a single person to place the protective cylinder over the area being lased to shield it from any livestock.

[CalmSeasQuest]

Thats real cool. Does it work above water or does it go under water?

There are waterproof "hosts" (the term for the casing that holds the laser diode and components), but it works very well through the glass or acrylic.