Killing stuff with lasers

[specialk]

I am sure many of you have seen Melvs Reef videos on YouTube and the episode where he zaps pest anenomes and other garbage with a laser... I am looking into that, and I am looking into the different types of lasers to buy. I am wondering if anyone has experience with this, and what type of laser they bought.

I am doing osme searching around online to get one, and have seen some that say they will burn, and are around $50. I just know NOTHING about lasers but know that they have come a long way in terms of buying a quality one that would work for what I am trying to do (like killing majanos) and also while not dropping $300.

Look forward to feedback on this one ...

 

[specialk]

Actually no worries... a 3 watt laser will do the trick nicely if anyone is ever wondering!

 

[bigroost]

Could you post a link, I am interested as well. I have one Aptaisia that is growing unchecked. I tried peppermint shrimp, but my fairy wrasses didn't know that they weren't supposed to eat him, I mean really don't they know they are supposed to be reef safe . Anyway I'll get a copper band if I have to, but would prefer another option.

 

[wcharon]

Also interested. Also if you have the link of Melvs handy please post.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

You should probably invest in some protective glasses as well. If it will burn aiptaisa it will also burn your retina.

 

[specialk]

WITHOUT QUESTION...

As I have been doing a lot of research on this, and these lasers are NO JOKE. In fact, watch the video that is provided from this site where I just bought the laser from.

And yes note to all ... do your homework and read and watch as many things as you can, because this tool is serious business. Will literally burn and carve out paper like its a light saber.

 

[specialk]

Laser that will work and do the trick for you. But AGAIN, read up and watch videos. Not as easy as just unpacking and turning on.

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

Thats your best bang for the buck

 

[specialk]

I tried everything to get rid of this aiptasia, especially majanos. Nothing seems to work. Even the file fish I bought is not eating them (and they are supposed to)

 

[griff500]

I tried that but they just came back stronger. A Filefish did them in the end.

 

[JoeyRod_Dev]

Keep us posted!!

 

[MadCityReefer]

I have the exact laser Melvin uses in his video and it works great! Even comes with a nice case and some cool adapters for the end of the laser but please keep in mind not all lasers are built the same. Just like anything else you get what you pay for, yes does $300 seem like ridicules amount of money to pay for something just to zap those pesky anemones. Yes it definitely is and I could never justify spending that kind of money on it. My suggestion is to go in on it with a few other hobbyist or local Reef club. My experience was overall positive. It does the trick and there is definitely some pleasure hearing those dang anemones burn in hell but there are there was always those aiptasia hiding in little holes or in places the laser could not reach. My conclusion, it works but only to a degree. Would I buy it again the answer is NO

 

[MadCityReefer]

Double post

 

[Reef_Pilot]

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

 

[PhreeByrd]

I investigated lasers after I saw Melev's posts and videos about it some time ago. I ultimately decided it was not worth the risk of blinding fish, breaking the tank glass, or blinding myself. You can use the laser on pests that are growing on rock or sand. You cannot use it on things that are growing on or next to the glass or you risk breaking the glass from the heat generated. And of course, retina damage is forever.

For eliminating aiptasia, Berghia nudibranchs are by far superior to any other method. And there is no risk to anything, including your sight.

 

[specialk]

I tried that but they just came back stronger. A Filefish did them in the end.

Yah in doing my research I heard that filefish you have a 50/50 shot at them eating the majanos. At this point, 7 days in to adding one into my tank, it looks as if I was on the lower end of the 50. he does not seem to interested .. but it is still early.

Also, I have nasty purple polyps that are overtaking my tank, as well as some polys I want to zap. So I am going to use this to get rid of plenty of things. And going by many of the videos I have seen, it seems to work very very well. The only people that did not have success were people who were using too low/light of a beam.

 

[specialk]

I have the exact laser Melvin uses in his video and it works great! Even comes with a nice case and some cool adapters for the end of the laser but please keep in mind not all lasers are built the same. Just like anything else you get what you pay for, yes does $300 seem like ridicules amount of money to pay for something just to zap those pesky anemones. Yes it definitely is and I could never justify spending that kind of money on it. My suggestion is to go in on it with a few other hobbyist or local Reef club. My experience was overall positive. It does the trick and there is definitely some pleasure hearing those dang anemones burn in hell but there are there was always those aiptasia hiding in little holes or in places the laser could not reach. My conclusion, it works but only to a degree. Would I buy it again the answer is NO

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)

 

[specialk]

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

Great find. Thank you! I am going to see how long it takes to get it ... often anything from Hong Kong... I will get it next year at this time

 

[specialk]

I investigated lasers after I saw Melev's posts and videos about it some time ago. I ultimately decided it was not worth the risk of blinding fish, breaking the tank glass, or blinding myself. You can use the laser on pests that are growing on rock or sand. You cannot use it on things that are growing on or next to the glass or you risk breaking the glass from the heat generated. And of course, retina damage is forever.

For eliminating aiptasia, Berghia nudibranchs are by far superior to any other method. And there is no risk to anything, including your sight.

* Yes this would ONLY be for things on rocks. I am going to post a pic when my lights come on ... want everyone to see this madness I am dealing with

* Nudi's will not eat majanos

 

[Raindog3030]

I tried everything to get rid of this aiptasia, especially majanos. Nothing seems to work. Even the file fish I bought is not eating them (and they are supposed to)

We've had pretty good luck with Burghia nudibranchs so far! We got them from Reeftown. Capt. Jeff was super helpful in helping us determine the number and size needed for our reef. We've had them for just over a week now and all the adult aiptasia seem to be gone. And I'm not convinced the babies I've been sucking off the glass aren't, in fact, hydroids...time to invest in that microscope!

http://reeftown.com

*edit: We don't have any Majanos, and yeah, I don't believe the Burghia will eat them...

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

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.

 

[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.