please help! microbubbles killing millie! pics!

[Ralph ATL]

Actually this might be flow, so please tell me what you think. I started this in the SPS group, but it's looking like it might be my lack of knowledge on my controller settings.

I've tried everything that I can think of. Raised ALK, Lowered Alk, changed flow, water changes, tested & tested & tested. What is causing these millies to have microbubbles? I eliminated them from coming in return. This millie is up on right side of tank where the return side is, but return doesn't flow that close to it. This millie does seem to have tons of mucus after feeding selcon soaked brine shrimp. However, in the past it gets "over it". It is more prevalent in the evening.

2 x 150 DE MH 11 hours

PH 8.2
salt 35
Calcium 440
ALK 11.2 (depends on which freakin test kit I use )3 from Salifert say anywhere from 9.9 to 12.8, IO says 10.2)
trates at 0
phosphates >.024
temp 79-80

grape calerpa in fuge since chaeto melted 100 times.
equipment & fish listed below:
Thanks for ANY SUGGESTIONS!!!!!!
Ralph

continued...................


This has been going on for about a month. I believe the bubbles were coming from my skimmer, however, I added back a filter sock & added a baffle, so that should be fixed. (about a month ago, I inadvertently removed a filter sock that I kept on the sponge for ROWA, but I felt I didn't need it anymore due to my reactor doing fine and phosphates have been consistenly below .024) I didn't realize that this sock was also protecting my tank from micro bubbles!
The skimmer was just cleaned. No Algae outbreak besides some cyno in 2 or 3 small spots. 2 inch sand bed for looks. There are some mico bubbles in one other spot, on some cyno at the edge of some live rock at the same level as this millie. It's on some cyno. It's about a 1/2 inch square area.
no bubbles from anywhere else as far as I can tell, & I've been looking pretty close! Could I increase flow to knock off the bubbles?

continued.................................

actually, I noticed a lot of micro bubbles on the underside of the live rock near the bottom. In many places. I only got the Tunze system a couple of months ago, & I've kept it at a very low setting.
both sides were on interval 2, 30% & 40%, pulse at 1.5 seconds, 1 minute interval.

I increased both sides to 30% & 60%, pulse at 2 seconds, 1 minute interval????????
It might be flow.

please suggest!

 

[rvitko]

Have the pumps been cleaned recently and are you sure they are coming from the pumps? Fast growing corals under intense light can produce oxygen bubbles, small patches of cyano and other algaes can as well. I don't think the coral is any imminent danger from the few bubbles. Some of your pictures show a very slight red brown film near the bubbles that look like cyano.

 

[rvitko]

Have the pumps been cleaned recently and are you sure they are coming from the pumps? Fast growing corals under intense light can produce oxygen bubbles, small patches of cyano and other algaes can as well. I don't think the coral is any imminent danger from the few bubbles. Some of your pictures show a very slight red brown film near the bubbles that look like cyano.

 

[Ralph ATL]

yes, you are correct. The bubbles were from the coral & cyno. I didn't realize it, but the flow was not enough. I had the settings on the controller way too low. They were like 30% 40% & 30% 40% at a pulse of 1.5 seconds on interval 2 for 1 minute. I have them both on 30% & 80%, pulse at 3 seconds on interval 2 for 1 minute. The issue seems to be fixed!