Bubble Injection

Sixdinnersquid

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I've decided to hook up an intermittent air pump to my tank's return pump. The pump injects many tiny bubbles into the tank on a 10s on/10s off period, creating a minor surge and performing an "in-situ" protein collection function.

Two short videos here:

Aside from the risk of reducing the return pump's life, does anybody see any problems with doing this? (I didn't ask the Royal Gramma, who is not a fan.)

Scott
 
I've decided to hook up an intermittent air pump to my tank's return pump. The pump injects many tiny bubbles into the tank on a 10s on/10s off period, creating a minor surge and performing an "in-situ" protein collection function.

Two short videos here:

Aside from the risk of reducing the return pump's life, does anybody see any problems with doing this? (I didn't ask the Royal Gramma, who is not a fan.)

Scott
Why are you doing this? What are you trying to accomplish? Im lost.
 
Micro bubbles can travel across the gills and cause air bubbles to form inside of the fishes eyes. Folks have used micro bubbles in the past to help remove detritus from the tank and into the filtration but not on a continuous process.

Salt creep is the other possible negative with bubbles
 
Ive done similar things to help with cyano.
Your tank looks very clean. Are you trying to encourage or discourage growth of something or just closer replicate a natural environment?
 
Ive done similar things to help with cyano.
Your tank looks very clean. Are you trying to encourage or discourage growth of something or just closer replicate a natural environment?
Closer replication of the natural environment. I know that bubbles are uncommon below just a few feet, so that's not part of the goal - I'm really just looking to supplement the surge action provided by my Neros and to remove additional protein from the water column. But fundamentally, this is an experiment divorced from a rigorous theoretical backing. Not sure how much modulation of the flow or enhancement of protein removal is happening.

The tank has been much dirtier in the recent past.
 
Last edited:
Ive done similar things to help with cyano.
Your tank looks very clean. Are you trying to encourage or discourage growth of something or just closer replicate a natural environment?
Closer replication of the natural environment. I know that bubbles are uncommon below just a few feet, so I'm looking to supplement the surge action provided by my neros and to add additional protein removal to the water column. But fundamentally, this is an experiment divorced from a rigorous theoretical backing.

The tank has been much dirtier in the recent past.
Cool. Would love to keep getting updates on this as you keep trying it out.
 
I doubt any amount of bubbles will have a material affect on flower provide any sort of notable surge effect. If protein skimming is the goal then you can accomplish that by just turning up the skimmer. Bubble scrubbing can help with detritus removal but that is usually done for discrete periods of times (ie, one a day or once a week), not continuously. I used to do bubble scrubbing but didn’t think it made much of a difference and I got tired of wiping down the salt creep.
 
I've decided to hook up an intermittent air pump to my tank's return pump. The pump injects many tiny bubbles into the tank on a 10s on/10s off period, creating a minor surge and performing an "in-situ" protein collection function.

Two short videos here:

Aside from the risk of reducing the return pump's life, does anybody see any problems with doing this? (I didn't ask the Royal Gramma, who is not a fan.)

Scott

I dont see a purpose in this but rather a risk for popeye and other similar issues/
 
And it turns out the fish aren't fans either. Experiment discontinued.
 

HOW MUCH DOES A FISH’S FEEDING REQUIREMENTS AFFECT YOUR STOCKING DECISIONS?

  • A lot! - I avoid fish that require frequent or specialized feeding

    Votes: 9 25.0%
  • Quite a bit, but an automatic feeder can change my answer

    Votes: 6 16.7%
  • It depends on whether my nutrient export can handle it

    Votes: 5 13.9%
  • It depends on how badly I want the fish

    Votes: 10 27.8%
  • Not much. I’m willing to adjust my routine

    Votes: 9 25.0%
  • Not at all. Feeding demands don’t limit my stocking choices

    Votes: 6 16.7%
  • I usually learn about the demanding feeding schedule after buying the fish!

    Votes: 2 5.6%
  • I haven’t really considered this before

    Votes: 3 8.3%
  • Something else (see my comments in the thread)

    Votes: 1 2.8%
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