Powerhead question

[BBN]

I was wondering if I could use the bubbles on the powerhead in my 55g. It's about 270gph without air and I assume 220-240 gph with the air blowing through too. It really causes alot of bubbles on the upper half and don't know if that's ok.

I have:
Yellow Tang
Regal Tang(he's small and I'm going to get a 150g tank soon)
Lawnmower Blennie
Mandarin goby
Yellow tail damsel
about 12 hermit crabs

I have some dime size feather dusters on the rock and a rock with about 7-8 mushroom corals on it. Will these air bubbles blowing around the tank affect any of my critters? Thanks

 

[Dale W.]

Is there a specific reason that you want to run air?

 

[BBN]

Not really. Seems to make the water look more "lively." I woun't use it if it could harm anything though.

 

[OrionGirl]

Air bubbling at the surface will increase evaporation and salt creep--both which can change the water's salinity and require more attention (topoffs and cleaning of the salt). While most critters are tolerant of air bubbles (consider how much air the pounding ocean water brings into the reefs!), sponges specifically will not appreciate the bubbling. Personal choice--I don't want them in my tank.

 

[BBN]

Sounds like a good explanation. I've added a bunch of rock today so that's helped change the look and landscape. I've also noticed my fish wanted to hide in the rock when the air bubbles were floating so I'm not going to run it with air. Thanks for you guys' help.

Just another question on this thread to not waste space on the board. Could I run an undergravel filter using sand as a substrate? Thanks

 

[OrionGirl]

Nope, UGF won't work with sand, and a deep sand bed won't work with a UGF. The sand will pack in, preventing the water flow through most of the bed, and the water flow that does exist will prevent the formation of anaerobic bacteria--the ones that break down nitrates, specifically.

 

[BBN]

Thanks OG. Should I vacuum that sand with waterchanges or leave it alone. Thanks for all of your help.

 

[Marvin]

It is my understanding (which im still new to all this) that when you have a DSB w/ a cleaner crew, that you no longer need to do vacuuming. The cleaner crew should take care of all the stuff on the bottom.

I had Crush coral but i recently did a swap to DSB. The coral did require some vacuuming cuz i does get pretty icky down there.

 

[BBN]

Thanks Marvin. I kind of suspected that, but I needed some confrimation.