Bubble Wand... Good or Bad?

[K-Gannon]

So I was thinking of putting a bubble wand into my display to use as a background along the back of the tank, for added water movement and oxygen... Is this a bad idea or will it be alright?
I have a 29Gal FOWLR right now moving onto a reef tank when I get the hang of it!

 

[Lupin]

I don't see how it would be bad. The additional amount of oxygen would really be appreciated by several aquatic specimens.

 

[K-Gannon]

That's what I figured! Just thought I'd ask because it doesn't seem to be a common practise! I put it in though and my hermit crabs are all over it filling their shells with air to make it easier to carry them! Smart little buggers! Thanks.

 

[Sonicblast12]

Well, plain ole water movement and surface agitation is better.

The bubbles can cause salt creep, and can elevate the PH over time.

 

[Subliminal]

Yeah, I'd say bad...you don't see many people using bubbles in a SW environment.

Actually, sometimes it can be a real challenge to get rid of bubbles, much less add them to the system...

 

[Amphiprion]

It would work just fine, though it would be sort of unsightly. As subliminal said, it doesn't look very natural (nor does it in freshwater, either). Sonicblast also brought up an important point--you will get greater oxygen exchange through surface agitation than through a bubble wand.

 

[mrtuskfish]

Well, plain ole water movement and surface agitation is better.

The bubbles can cause salt creep, and can elevate the PH over time.

I agree; the bubbles do little (really, nothing-IMO) to introduce oxygen; that is done at the surface, agitation of the surface helps. That's why you can keep more fish in a long tank than a tall one of the same volume--more surface area. If you like the looks, I think they look artificial, but that's just me---it won't hurt anything. But like Sonicblast said; they do contribute to salt creep.

 

[1wizz]

I used to run a bubble wand dispersing fine bubbles along the back of my tank in which algea grew in abundance (sea grapes and halimeda) but as marine fish are known to fare poorly with such fine bubbles i put the death of my much loved scooter down to them as he seemed to love playing in them, unfortunatly i only worked this out after the death of another playfull scooter.
I have since removed the bubble wand a repleced it with a one way valve which releases large bubbles and imho the tank works better with the added oxygen (be it a small amount) and the suface water movement that this generates jmo
hopr this helps.

 

[mrtuskfish]

I used to run a bubble wand dispersing fine bubbles along the back of my tank in which algea grew in abundance (sea grapes and halimeda) but as marine fish are known to fare poorly with such fine bubbles i put the death of my much loved scooter down to them as he seemed to love playing in them, unfortunatly i only worked this out after the death of another playfull scooter.
I have since removed the bubble wand a repleced it with a one way valve which releases large bubbles and imho the tank works better with the added oxygen (be it a small amount) and the suface water movement that this generates jmo
hopr this helps.

The big bubbles won't any measurable amount of oxygen; IMO, you'd do better with a powerhead (don't use the venturi) angled upwards to disturb the water surface.

 

[1wizz]

Somthing is always better than nothing.
If oxygen(and i have never measured it) was not aparent then the magro algea would not of benefit from the bar as mentioned and died off when it was removed, that said small bubbkes are a problem. jmo