It’s hard to imagine how far technology has come with regards to pond care and algae control. Today one of the most “up and coming” tools for algae management is something called ultrasound.

You might be more familiar with the use of ultrasound in medicine, or wide range of other applications, but few would imagine that it would be useful for dealing with algae problems in ponds.

Fortunately for those of us that have ponds, and are fighting algae, ultrasound can have a practical application in our efforts to clear this green growth.

Ultrasound control works by sending out a sound wave at a very specific frequency. When this sound wave comes in contact with the algae cell, it is set up to literally fracture or shatter the membrane of the algae cell. The best way to describe this action is to look at the long standing example of an operatic singer, hitting that perfect high note, and watching the pristine crystal glass around her, shattering in a heap of shimmering fragments.

Ultrasound works in the same fashion and in doing this it has become highly effective at dealing with green water issues, otherwise known as planktonic algae. What’s interesting is that it can also prohibit the growth of other types of algae as well. Even string algae and floating pond scum, and biofilm can be measurably effected by ultrasound.

Along with this wonderful, wide ranging ability, ultrasound also stimulates any existing beneficial bacteria that is in the pond and by increasing the vitality of this element of the pond, it thereby helps in the cleansing and balancing of the pond as well.

Ultrasound has proven to be very safe for fish and wildlife. In tests, fish find the underwater emitter or “transducer” to be of interest, but there is no reaction of fear or discomfort in it’s presence.