Frequently Asked Questions

1. How does SonicSolutions® work?

SonicSolutions kills and controls algae in two ways:

a. Blue/green algae: SonicSolutions hits the harmonic frequency of the gas vesicles (vacuoles) inside the blue/green algal cell and pops them. This causes the algal cell to sink to the bottom of the body of water. There, out of the direct sunlight, it cannot photosynthesize and it begins to starve and become weak. The bacteria at the bottom of the body of water then consume the blue/green algal cells.
b. Other algae: SonicSolutions hits the harmonic frequencies of the chemical bond that adhere the cytoplasm to the cell walls. When this happens the cytoplasm inside the cell visibly contracts away from the cell walls. In this state the cell can neither consume any food nor get rid of any waste. The cell starves to death over time.

2. Does it have any effect upon fish or other aquatic wildlife?

SonicSolutions is safe for use with other aquatic life including fish, frogs, snakes, turtles, and even otters. In fact, SonicSolutions devises are being used in installations at fish farms and in koi ponds to save fish from the toxic effects of algae.

3. Will it kill duckweed, water meal, milfoil or cattails?

SonicSolutions only kills and controls algae and has no effect on either beneficial or invasive species of aquatic plants.

4. How long does SonicSolutions take to work?

Typically, you will start to see a significant change in the pond’s algae color (from green to brown) in 3 to 4 weeks, or less. In a water body with thick algae, and/or very high nutrient levels, a complete kill may take as long as 4 to 5 weeks. During this time, as the algae dies, it will turn brown and may remain floating on the surface or just sink to the bottom depending on the species. We recommend removing any dead brown algae floating on the water.

When the water appears clear after the initial algae kill, you may get a secondary algae bloom. This happens because sunlight can now reach the bottom, residual algae allowing spores to germinate. Do not be concerned. Leave your SonicSolutions device in the water and it will kill and control the secondary bloom as well. This kill/bloom sequence may repeat two or three times as the “reservoir” of spores is exhausted. After that, the water should stay clear. Major rain events can sometimes reintroduce spores that will result in an algae bloom. Leave the SonicSolutions device in place and it will kill subsequent blooms.

5. What size unit will I need?

There are five different SonicSolutions models, each with different power levels. The unit size you will need depends upon:

a. the surface area of your pond or lake (in acres)
b. the amount of nutrients in the water, including those coming into the body of water from other sources
c. the shape of the body of water
d. the location of your water site in relation to the equator

Contact your dealer or SonicSolutions for help determining the size and number of units required for your location.

6. Can I just buy one device and keep moving it around to other ponds?

To be effective, SonicSolutions needs to operate 24 hours a day subjecting the algae to a constant bombardment of the ultrasonic signal. It is also essential that the entire water body is receiving the signal.

7. How expensive is it to operate?

SonicSolutions is very inexpensive to operate because it only uses approximately 10 watts of power. That’s like running a small light bulb in your home.

8. What if there is no electricity at the pond?

SonicSolutions sells three 24-volt models that can be operated with the optional SonicSolutions Solar Power System. You can even tap into any golf course irrigation electricity if it operates on 24-volts (if it uses AC power, you will need a converter) and is continuously powered. See handouts for solar information.

9. How can I tell if my transducer is working?

Look at the two green lights on the power supply box.
a. The solid green light indicates that the power supply is receiving electricity.
b. The blinking light indicates that the driver is sending power to the transducer to generate the ultrasonic waves.