Why are bubbles bad?

[mikediii]

Im a little confused about this... Im still pondering and learning the wonders of SW aquaria. I have been a FW hobbiest for some time now. In my FW tank, I use Air stones and such to make bubbles. Are bubbles bad for a Marine Aquarium? Do you use Powerheads without air inlets and avoid airstones? Or am i misunderstanding something. If anyone could clear this up I'd apreciate it

 

[ruaround]

air bubbles can get lodged in a fishes gills, they dont add any GPH turns, they can cause bubble algae, they can cause stress to the fish causing ICH or popeye, they cause salt creep which in turn causes irregular salinity/SG, when bubbles pop the water can get on your lights causing the life off your lights to decline rapidly, also the water can get into you ballast causing a short, also affects your light spectrum...
some periodic air bubbles are alright IMO though...

 

[pdherrin]

I too am into the bubble effect. I have had my 125 gal up for about 1.5 years. I have had ich problems in the past, but now stay away from certain fish that are ich prone. Don't know for sure if it's related to the bubbles. My local fish store states that it's not good for coral so I tend to place the coral away from the bubbles. I have a long tip and bubble tip anenome and they both plant themselves right on top of the bubbles from time to time. I like the bubbles and as long as all my creatures are cool, I'm giving it a shot. I would be careful to make sure you keep some air going through the stone at all times since harmful gases, (amonia?) can build up inside the stone. I also keep the flow cut back to a peaceful rate. I'll post a pic here when I get a chance.
See ya
Paul

 

[granny]

I also run airstones, but not in my reef tank-inthe FOWLR tanks.
micro bubbles all over your tank are harmful and an irritant to the fish-the confined upward stream of an airstone is NOT harmful to your fish and does aid in moving water to the top of the water column, which can help in nitrate gas release as well.
I have NEVER had ich in ANY of my tanks, swear to God.Thomas and I talked about this before-Healthy fish in well kept tanks rarely suffer from disease. Their immune systems are able to 'fight off' the little buggers.
I have had gold fish and koi in outside ponds get flukes or bacterial infections, but never had an ich or fungus outbreak in my SWF tanks. and I have been keeping fish for
OVER 40 YEARS.

 

[pdherrin]

Here are two pics of my tank with air bubbles. I have a 360 degree tank so here are both sides. I know... I need more coral... working on it!
Paul

 

[saltfan]

Air stones or air bubblers in the tank act like skimmers themselves, if you've had them in a salt tank for some time, then you would have noticed that they collect crap in teh bubbles and bring them to the surface, pop, and release the crap, on the glass canapy, or on the canopy itself. You can run them, its not going to hurt anything. Skimmers don't work in Fresh Water set ups, so you never see how the bubbler(skimmer effect) works there.
Yes, people use powerheads in the tank to move the water, to the surface and generally to keep the water form having dead spots in it.
Hope this helps ya out some.

 

[mikeyjer]

I used to run airstone in my salt tanks as well. It just cause too much salt creep. My fish didn't mind it though, never cause ich, pop eye or any problem but salt creep. Too much bubbles can be a major problem though!!! Especially with corals and live rock, fish as well. :happyfish

 

[mikediii]

Wow! Thanks for so many good responses people. Really helpful information. I was really wondering about that. Thanks again.

 

[saltysand]

are airstones harmful to starfish?