Microbubbles and red algae

[reefgirl300]

Hi everyone!

I am new here but no a new reefer. I have had saltwater tanks my whole life. I eliminated all but one (which is kind of 2). My main display tank is a 300 gallon tank with a 90 gallon tank running in tandem that was originally used as a drag tank but due to lack of time, I allowed it to grow plants and pods for my fish to eat and a quarantine for one very mean clownfish. My tank has been running like this for 10 years now.

My biggest issue is that is started getting microbubbles. It started out of nowhere. I did put a new protein skimmer in last November but even unplugging it doesn’t stop the bubbles. It wasn’t causing microbubbles for the first 5 months it was installed but they are coming from somewhere.

I have tried everything I can think of. I have unplugged every pump and attachment one by one. And anything short of turning everything off completely like a power outage, nothing has stopped them. My sumo level has been the same for ten years. I have put filters socks on everything that dumps into the sump to no avail. I have tried sponges to have all sources dumping into the sump hit a sponge first and still nothing. I am at my wits end with this and I need help.

As an additional issue, my rocks are red. It’s not Cyanobacteria and it doesn’t scrub off. I put all new light on and I made zero difference. This is a secondary complaint but I figured I’d throw it all in.

Thanks everyone! I will try and upload pictures in a few minutes

 

[reefgirl300]

 

[Mastiffsrule]

#WelcometoR2R

Micro bubbles drive me nuts too. From no where my return pump spits some out every so often. I’m wondering if it is micro bubbles though if they don’t go away after shutting down 1 pump at a time. But you mentioned they go away with a total shutdown. We’re you able to see which return or pump was spitting them out?


I would assume it has to be pump or skimmer related if it does go away when shut down. Not sure how long you turned each. I would try at least 3-4 hours each if it will not hurt anything. Maybe something spawning?

My only other thoughts is if you started dosing or using anything new. Also maybe a small hole somewhere sucking in air.

Hopefully another will come across with other ideas