microbubbles in display: might they help skim an aquarium

Gary Majchrzak · #1 10/27/2007, 10:36 AM

We've all seen them at one point in time in our own aquarium or someone elses: microbubbles- the same size as those seen in protein skimmers. They must be attracting DOC's in the water, right? Contact time can be incredible- I've counted certain clusters of microbubbles circulating in my display for 10, 15, 20 seconds or more before going down the drain.
Does anybody else out there use this as a way to skim out DOC's to their protein skimmer located in the sump?

dendro982 · #2 10/29/2007, 04:41 PM

Not using, but had seen them mentioned here and here , scroll down to kyounge long post.

I'll try some day too.

Gary Majchrzak · #3 10/29/2007, 07:24 PM

thanks for those links.
I've never seen anybody else use this idea let alone mention it.

dendro982 · #4 10/30/2007, 06:47 AM

There was one more, only can't find the link, some basic old article about are skimmers necessary or not - mentioning Lee (I may be wrong), who used airstone for creating bubbles on the surface and paper towels to remove it. As an example of rudimentary skimming.

Sorry if I mixed something up - it was long time ago.

MSU Fan · #5 11/13/2007, 01:23 PM

I believe either this month (November) or last month's (October) TOTM has a micro-bubble generator mounted before his return pump that comes on after a certain duration and fills his display tank with microbubbles like you are describing. Apparently they cover the corals and rocks and clean them off. Very interesting idea...who knows, maybe the people with microbubble probs are keeping their corals clean?