Tiny bubbles on some of my rock

[par4]

I am a newbie and have been lurking here for a couple of months. I populated my tank with mostly "dead" rock, and seeded with 3 pieces of cured live rock. It has been a couple of months since then and a few weeks ago I noticed a greenish-yellow coloration start to grow on this rock. Now some very small bubbles have begun to appear on this rock. It is not slick to the touch and is not "hairy". My water paramaters are all pretty good. Ammonia 0, nitrites 0, nitrates <20, Ph about 8.4, don't test for anything else. Can anyone help a newbie out? What is this stuff?

 

[clord]

bubble algae?

 

[MrChico]

is it oxygen created by the algea? it is a plant

 

[par4]

Clord, thanks for the reply. I don't think I was clear at all about what this looks like. It is like very small air bubbles, just on the surface of the rock. They are coming loose and floating to the top all the time, not being held in place at all. What I have read about bubble algae doesn't match up.

 

[clord]

Does it look like any of these you can click on the small picture too

http://www.reefcorner.com/SpecimenSheets/bubble_algae.htm

 

[par4]

Clord, thanks for the link. They don't look anything like those shown at all. My bubbles are VERY small, most less than 1/16 inch, and clear. Also they don't seem to be attached at all. I can take a turkey baster and with very little effort, dislodge them.

 

[ScubaLuke]

I wonder if they are just air bubbles that where trapped inside of the rock. Have you changed your flow inside of the tank? Pics would be helpfull

 

[par4]

ScubaLuke, Thanks for the reply. I initially thought about what you suggested and I guess it's a possibility. Regarding the flow, I moved my returns slightly a couple of days ago and it seems to have helped a little. At least it's blowing the bubbles off some of the rock. I tried taking some pics tonight and either my camera is having trouble focusing through the glass, or I'm a lousy photographer (likely!). I'll try again when I have some more time. Overall it doesn't seem to be getting any worse, so I will try to be more patient.

 

[Sm0kin]

do you have a problem or even a few microbubbles from your filter/returns? They will collect on rocks if so.

 

[dots]

Algae growth outgas

 

[DaveAngie79]

yep bubbles alge,
i would scrap it off

 

[ttu rob]

if they're micro bubbles and you don't have baffels in your sump, i've heard of people buying a cheap gold fish bowel and placing there return pump in that (under water line of course) to reduce bubbles.

 

[squirmy]

free nitrogen from algae?

 

[AllenFord_SC]

Sound like just micro bubbles kind of like when you first fill the tank with water and they appear on the side of the glass. Adjust your flow to aim more at the rocks and they should disperse. And since no one else did it....

[welcome]

 

[par4]

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate the input. AllenFord_SC, thanks for the welcome, and yes I'll adjust my flow when I do my water change tomorrow and see if that helps. When I peeked in there this AM, there seemed to be fewer bubbles than ususal. I'm going to try to wait this one out. Man, I really HATE having to be patient!

 

[Palancar]

I seem to remember this same problem a couple months into it. Around that same time I increased my flow which fixed this among other problems.