air bubbles behind the eye (GBD)

[cuda6872]

I have a chalk bass that is a very good eater & very active. About 3 weeks ago I thought he contracted popeye, (overnight swelling from behind the eye from 2-3 air bubbles) but after the past 2 weeks I noticed something that might change that diagnosis. after a few days it starts going away. Within a 12 hr period after a waterchange this air bubble behind his eye swells back up. (first apearance was after a waterchange) I'm at a loss as all the books I have do not mention gas bubbles other that in seahorses. A look on the web gives me conflicting answers. (some says it is fatal, others says it is not) I do not use air pumps/stones. filter system is a tidepool with a protein skimmer that I rigged to dump the clean water back over the bio-wheel (been running like this for almost 3 yrs & no bubbles pumped into the main tank) I do have thick growth of sawblade calurpa around the return pump.
When mixing water for a water change i leave a 270gph powerhead in the bottem to mix the salt for 3-5 days with no airation. Anybody have any ideas as the cause of this condition or what I might do to keep this from reaccuring?

 

[Percula9]

What is your water source? GBD is caused by water being saturated with nitrogen. When you make your salt water you should aerate the water to drive off gases other than oxygen. Basically it's like the bends in a human being. I heard epsom salts can relieve the problem. Perform treatment in a sick tank.

 

[Teremei]

My powder blue has this too. He had some ick at first but he's looking better now. But he's developed what looks like a large clear bubble on his right eye with a smaller bubble next to it. It's not TOO large but it is worrying. Anything I can do for him in the reef? As I can't catch him too much LR.

 

[cuda6872]

Same problem here Too much tank & rocks to catch the lil booger. Any known ways to safely reduce nitrogen levels in a reef system?

 

[cuda6872]

Same problem here Too much tank & rocks to catch the lil booger. Any known ways to safely reduce nitrogen levels in a reef system?

 

[cuda6872]

Same problem here Too much tank & rocks to catch the lil booger. Any known ways to safely reduce nitrogen levels in a reef system?

 

[Teremei]

If it makes you feel any better. My powder blue's eye (right one) is looking a little better. The bubble is smaller.

I did a water change, and almost opposite from you, it actually helped it a little, not hurt it.

 

[cuda6872]

I've not done any waterchanges since my original posting & my chalk basses gas bubble has been growing & shrinking, growing & shrinking. I'm still at a loss about what to do as I can't catch him.

 

[Teremei]

I'll keep you updated on mine's bubble. Hopefully someone else will chime in with us. I've searched and this is really rare to happen.