Bubbles in substrate

[gamma]

I think I'm on the tail end of an algae bloom w/ my new tank. I don't know if it had anything to do w/ the algae bloom, but I can see where the substrate touches the glass that there are a lot of bubbles formed. Bubbles are rising up from the substrate all the time. The tank is a little over 4 wks old w/cycling done.

Should I be concerned about this?

Will the bubbles go away?

[JohnO]

How deep is the substrate? ( loaded question for those who know me ) LOL

I would be more concerned if you didn't have bubbles. From my recollection the bubbles are Nitrogen and are part of the normal Nitrogen cycle. In all it just means that every thing is working in a normal way.

John

[gamma]

The substrate is about 3" deep. So there should always be bubbles?

[NUGIO]

mine always does same depth as yours

[JOER0178]

i think its the anerobic bacteria converting the nitrates to nitrogen gas. got the same thing

[Jason McKenzie]

Joe is correct. It tends to be less noticable as the tank ages but bubble in the sand is a very good thing.

J

[Speedy]

This is a very controversial subject. Local Marine biologists argue that unless water is moving through the substrate, only the top surface area is subject to healthy bacterial growth.

Others argue that it is a must to have the entire sand bed sifted regularly. Whether through the use of several sand sifting creatures or by hand movement of the sand. This makes sense, you don't want to have too much gas build up under the substrate and then once it has accumulated to an extreme have all that gas released into the tank. Key term here is "accumulated to an extreme", any large sudden change to the tank won't be benefitial.

That's just my opinion.

[JOER0178]

only aerobic bacteria (those that require O2) will need water movement, anerobic bacteria grow in areas w/o O2 thats why people use a DSB more area devoid of oxygen.

Those bubbles you see are a natural way of gas exchange as stated above. The only thing i would not do is stir up the sand bed with your hand, this will cause an ammonia spike since you are bringing up die off . Not only that but Nitrates will also rise, no one wants another cycle if it can be prevented.

[JohnO]

[quote author=GaMmA link=board=Sand;num=1083272960;start=0#2 date=04/29/04 at 19:21:51]The substrate is about 3" deep. *So there should always be bubbles?[/quote]

Yes, there will always be some bubbles that come up from the sand bed if the anaerobic bacteria are still converting Nitrates to Nitrogen. What you are seeing is the very end of the Nitrogen cycle. You see this effect more pronounced with people who have deep sand beds as the Nitrogen is in fact expelled by the bacteria in minute amounts. The minute amounts collect together in the sand bed until a large enough bubble builds up to break through the surface of the sand and escape.



John