Micro and nano bubble tank treatment

[millertyler22]

Is there a way to do this without a sump?

 

[Squamosa]

Is there a way to do this without a sump?

No return pump?

You could place a wooden, air block behind a wave pump and let the air get sucked through, as any air is better than none

However, for real efficiency, a return pump with a bit of head height is ideal.

 

[Zoaeasy]

Do you keep your skimmer running or will it foam over?

 

[millertyler22]

No return pump?

You could place a wooden, air block behind a wave pump and let the air get sucked through, as any air is better than none

However, for real efficiency, a return pump with a bit of head height is ideal.

Would the micro bulbs dissipate once it's off on there own?

 

[Squamosa]

Do you keep your skimmer running or will it foam over?

Keep the skimmer running, it will just pull out more organics that the bubbles have picked up and sent to your sump

 

[Squamosa]

Would the micro bulbs dissipate once it's off on there own?

Micro bubbles will rise to the surface and pop, perhaps causing some salt creep (you should be aware of this), whereas true nano-bubbles move randomly in the water column before bursting under the surface

 

[b4tn]

I ran across this method on Facebook and I am very interested in giving it a try. My only issue is that my Tank is located in the center of the house no where near a fresh air source. Is everyone just setting the pump on top of the tank?

 

[Squamosa]

I ran across this method on Facebook and I am very interested in giving it a try. My only issue is that my Tank is located in the center of the house no where near a fresh air source. Is everyone just setting the pump on top of the tank?

It would be better to have your pump draw in fresh air and not stale, CO2 saturated air from inside the house.

My pump is on a shelf next to the DT and because we live in a warm climate the windows and doors are always open, so air circulates through the house

 

[TheEngineer]

This is interesting. Have you seen any effects on zoanthids or other soft corals?

 

[TheHarold]

Can anyone send me a wood air stone for a few bucks? Cant find one

 

[b4tn]

I found these on amazon. Are people using the 2 or 3 inch version?
http://www.amazon.com/Lees-2-Inch-W...&qid=1458827583&sr=8-1&keywords=lees+diffuser

 

[Squamosa]

This is interesting. Have you seen any effects on zoanthids or other soft corals?

Because my focus is primarily sps corals, I run a ULNS and have never had great success with soft corals (the few that I have had tend to waste away).
However, my zoanthids, morphs and Cataphyllia sp. are full, open, bright and growing now, coincidence.............I don't know?

I think it can only do softies the world of good

 

[Squamosa]

I found these on amazon. Are people using the 2 or 3 inch version?
http://www.amazon.com/Lees-2-Inch-W...&qid=1458827583&sr=8-1&keywords=lees+diffuser

I use the 2 inch or ~50 mm version, but I don't think it would matter

 

[TheEngineer]

Because my focus is primarily sps corals, I run a ULNS and have never had great success with soft corals (the few that I have had tend to waste away).
However, my zoanthids, morphs and Cataphyllia sp. are full, open, bright and growing now, coincidence.............I don't know?

I think it can only do softies the world of good

My tank is almost entirely zoanthids, save for one hammer coral and an old acan from another tank. I might consider giving this a go and see what it does.

 

[Squamosa]

I found these on amazon. Are people using the 2 or 3 inch version?
http://www.amazon.com/Lees-2-Inch-W...&qid=1458827583&sr=8-1&keywords=lees+diffuser

I use the 2 inch or ~50 mm version, but I don't think it would matter

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Now THAT would look cool.
A question for any physics or hydrodynamics engineers following along- would running the return line under pressure be beneficial? Say, run an oversized return pump (ideally a pressure rated pump) and have it throttled way back (with the valve as close to the return outlet as possible) to pressurize the water in the return line? Would this help to "compress" the bubbles before they enter the tank? What kind of psi would be needed to compress the bubbles? Would running a longer return line (to allow more time for the bubbles to be exposed to the increased pressure) do any good?

A contact time effect would presume there is something going on between the bubbles and the water that is important, such as a skimming effect, rather than a direct effect of moving bubbles on the coral itself.

A pressure effect is a lot more speculative. That sounds unlikely to be important to me, but without knowing what, if anything, might be useful in this process, it is impossible to say without trying it.

 

[Squamosa]

Here is a growth comparison over time picture, of one of my unidentified Acropora sp.

I really like the even growth of the axial branches that go 360 degrees around the base

 

[rjl45]

Truly fascinating!
Question: I have a small 24gal nano, and don't have space for a skimmer. Would bubble treatment still help? Would mechanical filters help filter the suspended particles? Thanks!

 

[Squamosa]

Truly fascinating!
Question: I have a small 24gal nano, and don't have space for a skimmer. Would bubble treatment still help? Would mechanical filters help filter the suspended particles? Thanks!

Good questions.
I've never given much thought to tiny nano-systems such as yours, but turning your whole tank into a skimmer would certainly boost the waste removal process and biology.
A mechanical filter of some sort would certainly help to collect detritus the bubbles inevitably trap.

Give it a go and let us know the results

 

[Squamosa]

Another comparison picture, this time of my Millipora