Chaetomorpha outgassing

[Heavysledz]

Hi everyone,

I am a newbie to the Saltwater aquarium side of things and am in the process of getting my refugium up and running and have been noticing small micro bubbles out-gassing from my Chaetomorpha when I have the LED grow light on but don't see it when the light is off. Is this normal and is it the Chaetomorpha releasing nitrogen as part of the photosynthesis process taking place while the light is on?

 

[Brew12]

Hi everyone,

I am a newbie to the Saltwater aquarium side of things and am in the process of getting my refugium up and running and have been noticing small micro bubbles out-gassing from my Chaetomorpha when I have the LED grow light on but don't see it when the light is off. Is this normal and is it the Chaetomorpha releasing nitrogen as part of the photosynthesis process taking place while the light is on?

It would be releasing oxygen most likely, not nitrogen. I can't say that I see it on mine, but I'm sure it is occurring.

 

[Heavysledz]

It would be releasing oxygen most likely, not nitrogen. I can't say that I see it on mine, but I'm sure it is occurring.

gotcha....just wasn't sure if this is normal or not?

 

[Brew12]

gotcha....just wasn't sure if this is normal or not?

I'm not sure seeing it is normal, but the off gassing is. I think many of us run enough flow through our chaeto that it strips the gasses off before it can form bubbles. I would consider it a positive sign though!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I would assume it’s a layer of cyano, or trapping of micro bubbles.

I don’t belive chato has a mechanisim like a slime that will allow it to trap gasses.

 

[Heavysledz]

I will try to get a picture tonight if possible. It is in the sump area of my Biocube 32 adjacent to my inTank media basket. There is not much if any turbulance in this area so the water above the Chaetomorpha is relatively calm which allows the bubbles to rise to the surface and sit before they dissipate.

 

[Brice Wagner]

Sorry for the poor color. I see it regularly. Can't say whether it's good or bad just that I am wholey not concerned.

 

[Pistondog]

Common on chaeto ime.

 

[schuby]

I would assume it’s a layer of cyano, or trapping of micro bubbles.

I don’t belive chato has a mechanisim like a slime that will allow it to trap gasses.

I agree with @saltyfilmfolks. It looks like cyano is growing on your chaeto. Adding a small powerhead helped me prevent cyano from growing in my refugium. Without cyano or GHA growing on my chaeto, there are no bubbles in my chaeto.