Are microbubbles Bad???

[downhillbiker]

I have a HOB protein skimmer that puts out micro bubbles every once in a while. Is this bad? What does this affect if it is bad? How can I prevent this? No sump, and cant do sump at this time.

 

[cloak]

Not bad, just unsightly. I kinda like them though. I've got my pumps so close to the waters edge that every five seconds or so the tank will get a good dose of microbubbles. Been doing this for years without any problems.

 

[drstupid]

what kind of skimmer? i had a remora on an old tank, and got the preskimmer box for that, which helped a lot. the return from the skimmer ran into a sack of carbon. you could probably rig something similar.

 

[downhillbiker]

its a viaaqua multi skimmer deluxe and i love the way it pulls skimmate, but i dont like the bubbles too much. i will do something similar, and look into different designs. i wonder if i could just build a box around the outlet and fill that with carbon.

 

[kar93]

Micro bubbles can irritate corals.

 

[jimwat]

I've heard it can be a problem if you have seahorses.

 

[TheMcs]

I get microbubbles that accumulate under some of my SPS, makes for an interesting growth pattern, such as a plate coming off the middle of an acro branch. Don't think they're necessarily harmful though.

 

[nalbar]

#14

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-01/eb/index.php

 

[downhillbiker]

thanks for the info and the link. i agree with the link. i didnt see how micro bubbles could be bad for corals or fish because there are tons of those bubbles on the reef.

 

[vanmo92]

SNorkeling in hawaii, there are large waves on the reefs a lot of the time, I see more micro-bubbles than I have ever seen in any tank, so I would think if they exist in nature they they probably will not cause harm. I do think they are to be avoided, but if you have a few of them in your tank, it will not cause harm.

 

[kar93]

Good link, I always thought they was harmful to corals.

 

[downhillbiker]

yeah kar93. i posted this because i had heard that too, but it didnt make sense. my eyes were opened to this new information. once again...good link.