wave breaking reef effect

MrDJeep123 · May 2, 2014

Does anyone here have their setup fixed to create a false wave break agitation effect? Basically, my idea is that the Vortech pump ramps up and an air pump set on a timer matched to when the pump is on full or every so often throughout the day. The air pump comes on and bubbles get blown into the tank via the return pump. Just as a wave would do when it breaks between reef crest and reef flat.

Hope that makes sense as to what I'm trying to convey. I don't see any issues with this...but I wanted to get second thoughts.

calvo15290 · May 2, 2014

I wold not do that the bubbles can hurt the tank & coral

MrDJeep123 · May 2, 2014

calvo15290 said:
I wold not do that the bubbles can hurt the tank & coral

How so?

calvo15290 · May 2, 2014

The bubbles can be come micro bubbles and harm your coral and fish the big ones can get trapped and kill live rock and coral kinda like taking it out of the water.... Micro bibles killed my fox face

MrDJeep123 · May 2, 2014

calvo15290 said:
The bubbles can be come micro bubbles and harm your coral and fish the big ones can get trapped and kill live rock and coral kinda like taking it out of the water.... Micro bibles killed my fox face

I'm not sure I think I understand how bubbles would kill live rock...part of photosynthesis cause true microbubbles. All types of corals survive a wave break which causes MASSIVE amounts, more so than what I'm talking about. Most corals are plucked from these areas anyways.

How did they kill your fox face?

calvo15290 · May 2, 2014

It gets cought in his gills. And it gets under the live rock because we don't have the massive and random flow it won't dislodge

ReefMadScientist · May 2, 2014

To note, wave makers are not entirely a good idea for most tanks unless you have a good sounds tank that can withstand the constant wave motion such as Elos.

I have my Jabao on wave making mode but the waves tumble instead of in one motion.

MrDJeep123 · May 2, 2014

ReefMadScientist said:
To note, wave makers are not entirely a good idea for most tanks unless you have a good sounds tank that can withstand the constant wave motion such as Elos.

I have my Jabao on wave making mode but the waves tumble instead of in one motion.

I just have a Mp10 set to random (yellow?) and two small koralias for specific placed flow. I'm not looking for wave making per se. I'd prefer my tank not be sloshed around. I just thought the break effect would be cool in conjunction with high pulsed flow at random intervals through the day.

davocean · May 2, 2014

Yellow would be reefcrest mode, what I use myself.
The problems w/ what you want to do are this, micro bubbles, air getting to any sponge could cause dieoff of that, and it may bother some corals.
Just having my return run low and causing air bubbles makes some of my corals slime up.
I think random flow as you have now is plenty.

MrDJeep123 · May 2, 2014

davocean said:
Yellow would be reefcrest mode, what I use myself.
The problems w/ what you want to do are this, micro bubbles, air getting to any sponge could cause dieoff of that, and it may bother some corals.
Just having my return run low and causing air bubbles makes some of my corals slime up.
I think random flow as you have now is plenty.

d'Oh! I didn't think of the sponge. I have two and would prefer to keep them alive. From my research, I don't think bubbles are an issue to corals. But air to sponges would obviously be an issue...

ermartin · May 2, 2014

I don't know enough to say its good or bad but ive seen lots of examples where the tank its used on look pretty fantastic. Ive always wanted to try it but just never got around to it. here is a quick example

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvdXWPRKIIw

ReefMadScientist · May 2, 2014

ermartin said:
I don't know enough to say its good or bad but ive seen lots of examples where the tank its used on look pretty fantastic. Ive always wanted to try it but just never got around to it. here is a quick example

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvdXWPRKIIw

LOL!!! That is the most silliest thing I have ever seen. Looks like you are low on top-off instead of a wave-break. Plus, I am sure your tank live stock will love sucking on bubbles.

davocean · May 2, 2014

It's funny, I never run low on water level, but it's been a weird week and mine got low just last night.
If I saw this post before I filled I would have taken a pic of how much slime from corals was floating around.
I too keep decorative sponge, so that is an issue for sure, but on top of that I have a lot of sponge just on rocks that is typical, and I'm sure you do too.
Both would be affected.

MrDJeep123 · May 2, 2014

ermartin said:
I don't know enough to say its good or bad but ive seen lots of examples where the tank its used on look pretty fantastic. Ive always wanted to try it but just never got around to it. here is a quick example

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvdXWPRKIIw

Actually, I just read this. I believe it's the same tank in the article.

Tank of the Month - April 2008 - Reefkeeping.com

My return is in the middle of the tank and I would time to when the pump starts to ramp up or in full ramp. I do know that the slime is waste expulsion. That's a good thing. However, I don't know if doing it often is a good thing. The fish, I haven't come across any evidence that bubbles have caused them to die specifically from that. If it weren't for the sponges, I would do this.
I just can't believe I forgot muh sponges...:frusty:

ReefMadScientist · May 2, 2014

OP,

just put a straw in the main tank and when you want to show off bubbles just blow in the straw lol

MrDJeep123 · May 2, 2014

ReefMadScientist said:
OP,

just put a straw in the main tank and when you want to show off bubbles just blow in the straw lol

I'm good, thanks.

MrDJeep123 · May 2, 2014

ermartin said:
I don't know enough to say its good or bad but ive seen lots of examples where the tank its used on look pretty fantastic. Ive always wanted to try it but just never got around to it. here is a quick example

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvdXWPRKIIw

I was reading the comments on the video. It is the same tank in the article I finished reading. This is taken from the guy of the tank:

Ive been doing this multiple times daily for over 4-years with no visible signs of irritants. The bubbles dissipate within a few minutes of the end of the 1-minute cycle. The fish typically duck into the rock when the cycle starts. I wonder how fish fair in the wild near the surf with similar circumstances.

ReefMadScientist · May 2, 2014

MrDJeep123 said:
I'm good, thanks.

LOL

. It is an interesting concept you do not see too much. Keep us updated if you make something like this.

TJ's Reef · May 2, 2014

This is a very old and effective concept in keeping Marine/Reef Tanks. Just Google 'Surge Tanks' or 'Surge Boxes in Marine Aqauriums'. Most all Acropora species Coral and many Octocorals thrive under these conditions. The only downside is having salt spray / salt creep everywhere unless its well covered or have the water-line quite a distance from the top. I'd have to take a closer look to see if it would be detrimental to Sponges but would guess most would do just fine as long as they were not blasted by bubble ridden water. Will have no adverse affect on fish IMHO/IME, have seen most families we keep in our Reeftanks in the Surge-zone of the Natural Reefs.

Cheers, Todd

MrDJeep123 · May 2, 2014

TJ's Reef said:
This is a very old and effective concept in keeping Marine/Reef Tanks. Just Google 'Surge Tanks' or 'Surge Boxes in Marine Aqauriums'. Most all Acropora species Coral and many Octocorals thrive under these conditions. The only downside is having salt spray / salt creep everywhere unless its well covered or have the water-line quite a distance from the top. I'd have to take a closer look to see if it would be detrimental to Sponges but would guess most would do just fine as long as they were not blasted by bubble ridden water. Will have no adverse affect on fish IMHO/IME, have seen most families we keep in our Reeftanks in the Surge-zone of the Natural Reefs.

Cheers, Todd

I'll have to look into those.

I understand with sponges that the water recedes into the channels and that's where air is trapped causing the death in vessels. So if bubbles just sit on the surface, it shouldn't cause an issue? Air is obviously lighter than water so I don't see how it can get trapped inside the sponge.

I'm going to see if there's any more information on sponges and how bubbles would effect them.