Powerheads- Bubbles yes or no?

[hurricanedrift]

When using a powerhead for water movement in a fish only live rock tank is it advantageous or disadvantageous to introduce bubbles into the waterflow? Why?

 

[buzz]

There are several reasons for not introducing air bubbles.
1 - The salt spray from the bubbles popping at the surface will get all over everything.
2 - I have heard that the microbubbles can actually be bad for fish when they take them through their gills.
3 - Detracts from the appearance of the tank.
As long as there is surface agitation, the water gets oxygenated enough.

 

[lesa]

No bubbles

 

[jtroutine]

you dont want bubbles! water movement at the surface is good and what is the best is if you are using a skimmer-lots of gas exchange there. Maybe consider a battery powered air pump and air stone for if and when you have power failure. Low o2 on a sw tanks can be disator

 

[jerseysaltwater]

OK, here's my situation - I have a 26 gal with 40 lbs live sand and 25 lbs live rock. I have a hang on powerfilter, and I bought a maxi jet 900 powerhead for circulation, and a visijet 100 protein skimmer. the skimmer is a powerhead with a venturi attached to an acrylic cylinder. the venturi puts tiny tiny air bubbles into the column, and a stream of these tiny tiny bubbles comes out of the bottom of the column along with the water from the skimmer. If I close the venturi, then the air isn't mixing, and therefore the skimmer is useless. If i allow the air to mix, then i am getting small bubbles in my tank water. what should i do?

 

[buzz]

If you just bought the skimmer, give it time. It probably needs to break in. That is the case with a lot of skimmers, and the bubbles usually go away.

 

[dacia]

I'm glad that I came across this particular thread...I had my powerhead set to make bubbles becuase I thought that it was pretty...and I know that FW fish like them. Didn't realize there was a difference. I'm glad that I found out different before the cycle was complete so I could correct the problem without hurting any fish that I might have had! Now my powerhead is creating a current without all the bubbles. Thanx guys!