Bubble Traps

[Haskellf]

I just purchased the BakPak2R Protein Skimmer and noticed that it states as a description "...provides an effective way to reduce bubbles caused by system imbalances." In addition, you can purchase an option called a Bubble Trap.

Now why would you want to trap bubbles (with the exception of using it as a skimmer)? Aren't air bubbles a good system to airate (spelling) your aquarium. Also, the ocean is constantly churning and rolling causing a lot of bubbles. So why is a bubble trap necessary?

I'm curious because right now my skimmer is working perfectly, however, there are a whole slew of micro bubbles exiting the skimmer, which is kind of cool looking I have bubbles forming on the walls of the back aquarium, but overall, I think this would be like a reef?

 

[ChrisRD]

I think the concern some folks have is that micro bubbles can irritate corals and sponges by collecting on them and creating air pockets. With strong enough circulation in the tank I personally have never had a problem like that, but I suppose it could happen.

In some cases, like seahorses for example, it is thought that the air bubbles can actually be dangerous if the animal is ingesting them while eating/breathing.

Personally, I just find them annoying to look at. The bubbles will settle down in time as your skimmer breaks in, but to totally eliminate them, you may have to eventually get the bubble trap.

As for whether or not micro bubbles are an issue on a real reef, I would think given the amount of water movement on a natural reef, it would be very unlikely that any significant amount of microbubbles would dwell in a given spot for long.