Killing stuff with lasers

[specialk]

Killing things with lasers sounds like tons of fun...but in my research, it seems this isn't really a viable way to control these kinds of pests in the end.

Oh I'm not gonna wear a darth vadar mask, play star wars music in the background and have tons of fun. And I certainly would rather spend my money elsewhere ... BUT, my tank is in such bad shape and over run with these things (again 3 things I need gone) that it is eaither a total tank tear down (chipping away sps, re-gluing them on to new live rock (live rock of course is not cheap) , etc , etc, etc, etc. (all of those "etc." cost money and A LOT of time, not to mention I have tried pretty much every thing out there to rid my tank of these things) ...

and with a 6 foot long, 125 gallon system, this option seems like a good way to clear things up, and then go from there in terms of better methods to get control of things and manage things from there after. Again, I am going off of several videos (melvs reef being one of them) where people HAVE had success killing off a lot of this stuff. So for me, it is worth a try.

When I clean things up (and it is bad right now) then I will go from there on ways to maintain a clean tank and deal with the problems on a much smaller level then they are right now.

 

[specialk]

This guy is obviously one of the foremost experts in reefing ... if he has had success with it, (and going by the video, he likes it to say the least) and coupled with my mess of a tank and this being the last option... YES I am FOR SURE going to give it a try.

 

[Reefsmoker]

Ok the title is great, but now i need to see lots of death by lazor youtube vids, there goes half the day......

 

[Bpb]

At $300, I would pass too, but you can buy what appears to be the same no-name laser on eBay for much cheaper. At least it appears to be the same aluminum case, glasses, battery charger, etc. I figure for less than $50, it might be worth a try. https://www.ebay.com/itm/445nm-Blue-Light-Laser-Pointer-Pen-Beam-5-Head-2x16340-Charger-Goggles-5MW/311579324890?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Isn’t melev using a 3000mw laser? The ad linked here is for a 5 mw laser. Very different. Power/amplitude here matters in both cost and effectiveness. A blue light alone isn’t all you need. You need a laser with enough power. I have a 1000mw laser I got for $50 on eBay and it is 100% worthless. Even the tiniest aiptasia don’t respond at all. Even if I train the laser on them for 10 straight minutes. Nothing. I think you need sufficient power for it to do anything. Pay attention to the mW listed on these auctions. Anything under 3000 mW won’t be worth your time unless you just need a new cat toy or are putting on a presentation at work

 

[specialk]

Isn’t melev using a 3000mw laser? The ad linked here is for a 5 mw laser. Very different. Power/amplitude here matters in both cost and effectiveness. A blue light alone isn’t all you need. You need a laser with enough power. I have a 1000mw laser I got for $50 on eBay and it is 100% worthless. Even the tiniest aiptasia don’t respond at all. Even if I train the laser on them for 10 straight minutes. Nothing. I think you need sufficient power for it to do anything. Pay attention to the mW listed on these auctions. Anything under 3000 mW won’t be worth your time unless you just need a new cat toy or are putting on a presentation at work

Yes sir exactly. Realized that and in digging around, chatting with people who owned them (and still have them) your best bang for the buck is going to be a 445nM laser. That will slice thru paper, start cardboard on fire, etc. That WILL kill a majano. That basically is 2 watts. 3 watts is ideal, and I saw a guy use a 4 watt and absolutely FRY the majano.

But yes ... the strength of it is obviously key. Many places do not sell them here in the states, because the liability is too high. have to order them from china (ebay) or I found a store in Seattle that has a shop in China that they get em from.

 

[specialk]

Isn’t melev using a 3000mw laser? The ad linked here is for a 5 mw laser. Very different. Power/amplitude here matters in both cost and effectiveness. A blue light alone isn’t all you need. You need a laser with enough power. I have a 1000mw laser I got for $50 on eBay and it is 100% worthless. Even the tiniest aiptasia don’t respond at all. Even if I train the laser on them for 10 straight minutes. Nothing. I think you need sufficient power for it to do anything. Pay attention to the mW listed on these auctions. Anything under 3000 mW won’t be worth your time unless you just need a new cat toy or are putting on a presentation at work

Also, just to clarify ... the laser I am getting ( I am NOT getting that one from eBay for that exact reason) is 10,000 mw, 445nm

https://www.htpow.com/cheapest-high-power-10000mw-blue-laser-pointer-for-sale-p-1085.html

so this one should be stronger then his

 

[Bpb]

Whoa! That’s got some juice. I’d be nervous! I bet it works though

 

[specialk]

Whoa! That’s got some juice. I’d be nervous! I bet it works though

lo... yah... I am actually emailing them now to try to get that dialed down a bit. I just want it around 3 watts(4 topps). That one is a 10 watt laser!

 

[anit77]

Just so you guys know there a big difference between the one specialk linked and the one Reef Pilot linked.

Specialk product linked is a 10000mw, or 10w, class 4
Reef Pillot's is a 5mw, or 0.005w, class 3

Those two are worlds apart. Do your homework and compare specs before buying.

 

[MadCityReefer]

Yah his video is the one that got me interested. I cant stress enough how bad my tank is with nasty things I want gone.

* Green palys
* purple star polyps
* majanos

I am down to my last 2 things before I do a tank tear down ... that is this laser, and a filefish I added 7 days ago. (and filefish wont get rid of the anything other then the majanos)

Purple star polyps or does it resemble Blue/Purple/Brownish clove polyps. If so I hate those more than anything even aiptasia. Google “fenbendazole” Max Draco

 

[anit77]

I see those points have been addressed before I posted. I'm at work and set my phone down a bit before I finished. Sorry [emoji4]

 

[mfinn]

Having tried the lazer option, one thing that the lazer needs is the ability to change focus points for different depths into your tank.
Also, if your target is aiptasias, then if you can not get at the entire anemone, including the base of the foot, it will grow back.

 

[specialk]

Just so you guys know there a big difference between the one specialk linked and the one Reef Pilot linked.

Specialk product linked is a 10000mw, or 10w, class 4
Reef Pillot's is a 5mw, or 0.005w, class 3

Those two are worlds apart. Do your homework and compare specs before buying.

Yup... thank you sir. anyone buying the one on ebay would be very dissapointed in the results.

Mine is heavy duty and I am actually concerned about the glass ... although it will only be focused on a single pinpoint area for about 10 to 12 seconds, I just want to double check. want to make sure of everything before I start using this bad boy. (Glass is 1 inch thick...maybe a tad bit more)

 

[specialk]

Purple star polyps or does it resemble Blue/Purple/Brownish clove polyps. If so I hate those more than anything even aiptasia. Google “fenbendazole” Max Draco

Yah they are the blue colve polyps... and yes I am with you. I see some and just know that the flood gates are about to open and I am about to have a massive invasion. Which is anothe reason Ia m looking forward to this laser... going to totally burn those things away!!

Also, looked into that remedy awhile back, and for some reason I did not opt to go thru with it. for some reason, and I forget necause it was a while ago, some risks scared me off... possibly because of other stuff I have in my tank.

 

[Reeferdood]

Agree with above, I know because mine can be focused anywhere I point it. They work, but keep in mind they will also blind your fish.....
I have the gattling laser from best laser pointers... 661-228-3822

 

[specialk]

Having tried the lazer option, one thing that the lazer needs is the ability to change focus points for different depths into your tank.
Also, if your target is aiptasias, then if you can not get at the entire anemone, including the base of the foot, it will grow back.

I have the ability to move some rocks around and position them so I can get to them all. My rocks are stacked loosely on one another (but secure) so that I can pick them up and move them. But Ihave SO SO many of them, any help is going to be tremendously appreciated and welcomed.

 

[specialk]

Agree with above, I know because mine can be focused anywhere I point it. They work, but keep in mind they will also blind your fish.....
I have the gattling laser from best laser pointers... 661-228-3822

I was concerned about that, but many videos I have watched, it was not an issue and many did not interfere. (of course that does not mean there can be no harm done like you are saying, I just felt comfortable in going thru with this) ...

also, what power is your light saber ... I mean laser....lol

 

[Reeferdood]

I am not certain, I want to say 5 watt. The beam is purple and it really is powerful when focused. If you are going to do this I would suggest doing it at night when the fish are tucked away.
And, NEVER use it without the safety glasses!

 

[specialk]

I am not certain, I want to say 5 watt. The beam is purple and it really is powerful when focused. If you are going to do this I would suggest doing it at night when the fish are tucked away.
And, NEVER use it without the safety glasses!

If you hold a piece of paper up, and run the laser thru it, will it slice the paper in half basically? (maybe you have not tried it, but have seen it done and it looks really cool)

And ABSOLUTELY on the glasses!!!!

 

[anit77]

When you try to zap something through the glass will it have to be straight on and not much, if any, of an angle?

I'm wondering what the distortion will do when trying to focus the beam. Also i would assume the glass would have to be pretty clean and scratch free. And algae or film would block some of the beam and scratches will deflect some of it as well.