Microbubbles and their effects on critters

[gramma royale]

Hi all,

I have what I would consider to be a minor microbubble problem in my tank. Other than being an aesthetical nuisance, will microbubbles harm the critters in the tank? I guess I'm afraid it would be like a human breathing, and every once in a while a droplet of water somehow flies into one of your nostrils.

Thanks!

Mike

 

[seapug]

what tends to happen is microbubbles accumulate on the undersides of rocks and corals and eventually create large air pockets that can cause tissue necrosis.

 

[gramma royale]

ah shoot! Yea, that's a problem. Guess I should work on fixing that then.

 

[bbwilson329]

I just fixed the same problem by putting a large sponge just before my return pump. Now the water is crystal clear and it looks so much better.

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

How old is the tank? Many new tanks exhibit this problem and it tends to go away once things are "slimed up" a bit.

Unless you see evidence of the air bubbles collecting, it's not likely doing any harm. But it sure can be ugly!

 

[gramma royale]

It's a new tank, about a month old, but the sand and the rocks are all from a previous tank that was torn down the same day my tank was set up.

 

[Chris&Mel]

i'm at war with them my self, first the filter now my skimmer!!!! micro bubbles are a swear word in our house

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

devil's advocate here

devil's advocate here

I deliberately introduce microbubbles into my reef aquarium by using the venturi on a MaxiJet powerhead. I think it looks really kewl and the bubbles facilitate moving DOC's to the sump (and skimmer) very quickly.

 

[fasteddie99]

I have them too, I use a HOB skimmer. I have to be carefull and unplug the skimmer before I do ANYTHING to the tank. even feeding. If it goes bizerk for any reason, it takes a few hours for it to settle down. I tried putting more sponge in the overflow, and different setings but nothing seems to help. I just need to break down and set up a fuge.

 

[seapug]

Gary, I've seen your technique used on a couple tanks. Definitely novel and probably quite effective in tanks with good, strong flow through the rocks and high rate of system turnover.

I tried it once on my tank after seeing another post of yours. The water was noticably clearer after it all settled but I ended up with a couple large air pockets under some shelf rock that were a pain to get rid of due to how my aquascape is arranged. Plus, the salt spray coated by lights and left me cursing myself (once again) for not positioning the tank beneath studs in the ceiling so I could hang the fixture.

 

[crvz]

Some good thoughts so far, but just to add I've read that seahorses are very negatively affected by microbubbles in the tank. I don't know much about it, but something to research if that's ever a direction you chose to go.

 

[loosecannon]

Crvz; Is right. Thay are bad for all Crabs, shrimp, and other Invertebrates!

 

[Reverend Reefer]

that is so cool gary! someone told me that microbubbles burn coral but i guess that isn't the case if you have them in your beautiful reef!

 

[gramma royale]

Gary, do you have the venturi on permanently or for only a period of time?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13954119#post13954119 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gramma royale
Gary, do you have the venturi on permanently or for only a period of time?

my MJ venturi is on/off cycled with a timer (ACjr). I have some very sensitive critters. I've never seen any of my reef animals severely affected by microbabbles. Saltcreep can be an issue with microbubbles.