Tiny Bubbles.. In My Tank, Makes Me Feel..

I have a hugh piece of cheato in my refug and I have never seen bubbles come from it. In fact, I have 2 air stones in the return pump section and I dont have problems with bubbles. I would try the sponge /filter pad before you do anything. Sometimes its the smallest and easiest "fixs" that work. Luna

 

I understand your point. But you're completely discounting what I'm seeing right in front of me. I'm not talking about anything in my fuge. I'm talking about turning off all pumps and powerheads and actually watching thousands of bubbles rise from the algae in the tank. Are you saying those bubbles are going down to the bottom of the tank, staying there, and being released when I turn everything off?

 

Too be clear, this is brown algae, formed on the rocks and sand in the main tank. Not micro algae or chaeto, or anything else in the refugium. There are NO, none, zero visible bubbles in the refugium when the equipment is turned off. It's all in the tank.

 

So this is how it's set up, from left to right:

Compartment 1 = drain from tank and skimmer
Compartment 2 = refugium, live rock rubble and micro algae
Compartment 3 = return pump

I took a longer and closer look at compartment 2, the refugium section which stands between the skimmer and the return. The water in this section is completely clear, with no visible sign of bubbles whatsoever.

 

Ok, now this is where is gets really weird. The only thing I changed was that I had left the UV filter off during this whole time, so the cycle could properly complete. I turned that UV on an hour or two ago and now the water is starting to clear. I mean, it's actually almost clear. WTF?

 

It could also be that somewhere from your pump and the return line, you have a small "leak" that air is getting "sucked" in and producing those bubbles. Is there somewhere around your stand that has " more than usual" salt creep?
I understand what your saying about the bubbles coming from the algae, its just that I have never seen that in my tanks. Luna

 

Ran down to my LFS with water sample in hand. Water tests ok, LFS confirms bubbles are coming from brown algae, and says this is normal.

 

Maybe dinoflagellates?

http://www.3reef.com/forums/algae/dinoflagellates-chrysophytes-62546.html

 

Yup!!!! That's kinda sorta my story and I might stick to it. Maybe. That's how sure of myself I am.;D