Microbubbles

[Dominican]

In researching sump-build info, I've read microbubbles are bad for a tank. Aesthetically, it's obvious, but are there other reasons? What other harm do they do? Just curious.

[RayAllen]

Micro bubbles are not bad for the tank, just aesthetcally unpleasing if they are really bad. I think everyone deals with them at some time. Make sure to add a bubble trap and you will be ok.

[papijames]

Since I don't have an auto top-off to refill my sump for me, I will come home almost everyday and find my skimmer blowing all those bubbles in the tank. so far nothing wrong ever happened. but now that you bring it up Dominican I wonder if that will cause any problem in my tank in a long run:confused::confused:

[Dominican]

Thanks Ray, I can always count on you bro.

James. Like u and Ray are both saying, I think it happens to everyone. I've never noticed any negative effect either, other than ugly bubbles. I just wanted to make sure there wasn't some other ill effect that wasn't obvious.. If you're having to top off every day, you might want want to look into the root cause of so much evaporation. Heat maybe? I used to have to haul a bucket into the living room a few times a week, but now with a chiller it's like 1.5x a week.

[Jonthefishguy]

The above statement of it having no effect is not entirely true. It depends on the concentration of the bubbles. As I have said before in a previous thread, microfine bubbles sticking to gills could obstruct respiratory gas exchange, by blocking ventilatory water flow between the minute lamellae on the gill filament surfaces. If your aquarium becomes clouded, appearing milky with miniscule bubbles that stick on gills and scales or to the glass of the aquarium and decor, these conditions can become potentially toxic and generally unhealthy for the exposed fish.

[coraline79]

Since I don't have an auto top-off to refill my sump for me, I will come home almost everyday and find my skimmer blowing all those bubbles in the tank. so far nothing wrong ever happened. but now that you bring it up Dominican I wonder if that will cause any problem in my tank in a long run:confused::confused:

Your skimmer should be in a chamber that as a regulated water level.

[ErikH]

Dominican, microbubbles can also irritate corals, and spur insane algae growth. I have seen algae grow over microbubbles and trap them underneath. I have 2 29 gallon tanks that I use as sumps. One has a mag5 and the other a mag7. I have found out that with that length, as long as I put my skimmer and overflow on one end, the bubbles will not reach the other side. My mag5 actually sits pretty close to my skimmer's outlet and I have not had any problems with MBs. I did however have an issue with the mag's return portion. The end of the vinyl tubing was not crimped to the mag, and a very miniscule amount of air was causing a major MB issue. I sunk the return down just a tad and have not had a problem as of yet.


PAPI!!!! get yourself an ATO from www.top-off.com (http://www.top-off.com) or the like. IMO automation is a godsend. If you ever want to leave your tank for a few days at a time, this is really your best bet!

[Dominican]

Jon & Eric, those are the sorts of issues I was wondering about, thx. It makes a lot of sense. I also get microbubbles when my water gets low, but not too bad. Now there's a better reason to get an ATO! More toys. :)

Does it have to be a triple baffle to stop microbubbles? Or can it just be a double? It'll be like this...

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|....SKIMMER &...........|...........RETURN..........|.......FUG E&............|
|..LEFT OVERFLOW IN..|...............................|..RIGHTOVERFL OWIN..|
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Hang on editing my crappy drawing!!! Oh well I think that's as good as it's gonna get...