Bubbles On Screen Scrubber

Back in April, two or three weeks prior to the public unveiling of the UAS test, I posed a simple question. In essence, would applying bubbles or Co2 to a waterfall screen reduce or eliminate the Alkalinity depletion evident in some scrubber systems, full text here;
http://algaescrubber.net/forums/showthread.php?1838-Co2-turbo.

Upon the UAS unveiling I decided to implement my ideas on my screen. Details of my tank etc are here;
http://algaescrubber.net/forums/showthread.php?1823-howdy-from-the-uk-day-one

Cutting through the history of the threads, I think that bubbles on a waterfall screen creates a better environment for the screen and hence our displays, and the screens ability to perform.

Several benefits are;

Increased Co2 consumption as opposed to carbonate/ bicarbonate conversion, reducing wasted energy,
Introducing Co2 into the water column, replacing used Co2, creating a more natural display pH,
Increasing oxygen concentration in ours of darkness,
Reduced boundary layer thickness aiding gas exchange,
Greater growth, hence filtering capability.

There are a couple of benefits over the UAS, these being;

Higher light intensities,
Higher water flow,
Smaller bubbles, increasing surface area and gas exchange,
Vastly reduced boundary layer,
No glass cleaning.

The best thing about this improvement is that it's nearly free of cost.

 

Cheers Bud. Now, if you were to try it and get similar results (which im sure you would), then we're talking a mainstream mod, that would be considered a basic waterfall requirement in no time at all.

 

I'm just using a regular pump, with rigid airline jammed into the intake. The pressure reduction causes a venturi action. I know this is a bit of a bodge, but the principle holds, and the results speak for thereselves. I suppose there's loads of ways of doing it. Glad your taking this seriously, I've been researching this for 8 months, and finally people like Crashmushroom, and Wannarace have took the plunge.

 

Here's what I did;


And got this,


And this,


Not exactly proud of my bodging, but a more permanent fix would be very easy. A cheap valve on the airline would provide adjustability, and a silencing effect on the sucking noise produced.

 

Do you have a disproportionate Alkalinity consumption? If not, then I would suggest the other advantages of putting bubbles on the screen would still apply. There's no risk of having too much oxygen.

 

My screens in my sump and I've got no micro bubbles in the display. Just had a closer look, and the bubbles look too large to stay submerged for long. I suppose it would just be another hurdle to overcome if it was problematic in enclosed scrubbers. Isn't Crash using an L2?

 

Looking good Crash, looking very good.

 

Here's a link to Crashmushrooms L2 (with a screen matured using bubbles).
https://www.turbosaquatics.com/vb4/showthread.php?56-Crash-s-new-setup
Thanks Crash.