Gas bubbles releasing from sand bed?

Discussion in 'Water Chemistry' started by vankirk, Aug 31, 2011.

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  1. vankirk

    vankirk Sea Dragon

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    While I was cleaning my glass with a mag float this evening, the vibrations shook the sand bed and released a STREAM OF LARGE BUBBLES. Now I've seen a bubble here and there float up before, but this was significantly more? I'm curious to know why.

    Some back ground.
    The tank has been running for a little over a year.
    The sand bed is 2-3" deep.

    Recent changes.
    Started solid carbon dosing with EcoBak pellets 2 weeks ago.
    Started dosing MicroBacter 7 1 week ago.

    Thank you for your time and information on this.
     
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  3. Seano Hermano

    Seano Hermano Giant Squid

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    Hmm...I just recently noticed bubbles along the surface of my water too. Not sure where they came from...perhaps it could be the sandbed?
     
  4. reefmonkey

    reefmonkey Giant Squid

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    The bubbles are from trapped nitrogen made by the anaerobic bacteria when they break down nitrates.

    If you search you can find a story of this happening on a very large scale in a lake somewhere in Africa. So much trapped gas was released at one time it killed all the air breathing life in a very wide radius around the lake...including almost all of a village of people.
     
  5. reefmonkey

    reefmonkey Giant Squid

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  6. Seano Hermano

    Seano Hermano Giant Squid

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    Would this still be the case in a shallow sandbed too? Mine is 1.5" at most...
     
  7. 55gfowlr

    55gfowlr Zoanthid

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    Sand acts just like live rock, in the sense that when the bacteria get trapped underneath, they turn into nitrifieing bacteria, that complete the cycle and turn nitrates into gas. It's good for your tank to prod the sand every now and then with a stick to release these gasses. That is, of course, if you have animals that live in your sand, then just be careful to not skewer anybody.
     
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  9. Seano Hermano

    Seano Hermano Giant Squid

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    I have lots of snails that like to burrow in the sand, so I try not it mess with it much. I figured they were turning it over enough...I guess not.
     
  10. reefmonkey

    reefmonkey Giant Squid

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    My 75 only has about 1.5-2". All I have to stir ATM is a handful of nass. vibex so I "stir" it with the tip of a baster. Sometimes I'll hit and release a pocket.
     
  11. 55gfowlr

    55gfowlr Zoanthid

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    Mainly you don't want to "Stir" the sand, this could offset the bacterial cycle that you've established. Try and just prod straight down into the DSB till you know nothing is underneath. It's really a never ending battle, I am actually tihnking of getting more ceriths, or Nas's
     
  12. Seano Hermano

    Seano Hermano Giant Squid

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    I go through the sandbed every few days, digging small holes with my fingers. The snails come around and end up turning it over. Though I may add some more nass. snails as well.