Bubbles coming from Substrate

Tickyty · 03/12/2012, 09:47 AM

I have a 90 gallon RR corner overflow tank. My substrate is a combination of live sand 25% and crushed coral 75% with about 50 lbs live and 50lbs base. I am experiencing bubbles releasing from the substrate. It is not a deep bed approximately 2-3" in most areas. Is this possibly nitrogen being released due to the break down of waste by the tube worms and other creatures living in the bed? The tank is 6 years old but I moved last November and I just converted it over from a predator tank to a mixed reef. I have never experienced this in any system I previously had. Shoudl I be concerned? Nothing seems to be really affected by this.

I am using a Magnum 350 canistier using carbon and phos-ban with a 18w Turbo Twist UV. I also have a 30 gallon sump with a Eshopps PSK150 skimmer, 200 micron filter sock that is changed weekly.

Currently I have LPS and a couple softeis in the tank, fish are in a QT to rid tank of MI. (Hippa, 2 yellow tail damsels, blue fin damsel) all small. Here is the list of coral.

Wellso Brain
Button Pollyps
Toad stool
cabbage
clove polyps
mushrooms
mini max carpet

The following are frags

frog spawn
hammer
green trumpet,
favia
Montipora spongotus
star pollyps

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

wonderz · 03/12/2012, 10:03 AM

When you see the bubbles, do you smell anything? I think the worst scenario is when the bubbles are hydrogen sulfide. You will be able to smell it like rotten egg and see it as dark/black spot in your sandbed. Otherwise the bubbling can be either from algae in the sandbed releasing oxygen which probably would be from the top 1 or 2 inch of the sandbed or are nitrogen bubbles that you mention, which would be from the lower part of the sandbed.

I am surprise you didn't experience it when you are running a predator tank since I would think they are more messy and more stuff lands on the substrate.

In general crushed corals tend to trap more debris than finer sands, so you might just have to vacuum more closely if your cuc wouldn't able to get to it.

Tickyty · 03/12/2012, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wonderz

When you see the bubbles, do you smell anything? I think the worst scenario is when the bubbles are hydrogen sulfide. You will be able to smell it like rotten egg and see it as dark/black spot in your sandbed. Otherwise the bubbling can be either from algae in the sandbed releasing oxygen which probably would be from the top 1 or 2 inch of the sandbed or are nitrogen bubbles that you mention, which would be from the lower part of the sandbed.

I am surprise you didn't experience it when you are running a predator tank since I would think they are more messy and more stuff lands on the substrate.

In general crushed corals tend to trap more debris than finer sands, so you might just have to vacuum more closely if your cuc wouldn't able to get to it.

No sulfur smell, nor do I have the black spots. I notice up against the glass that it is around the top of the bed however. Never thought about algae causing the problem. I did treat my algae problem with H2O2 about a month ago but that would be an outlying potential cause. Thanks for the post.

Reef264 · 03/12/2012, 10:32 AM

I don't know about sand bubbles, but I've always periodically had bubbles come from my rocks.

BigCountry74 · 03/12/2012, 11:20 AM

diatoms on the sand more than likely

Tickyty · 03/13/2012, 11:44 AM

Just an update on this issue. I received some help from someone who explained the gas issue to me.

Sand bed full of nutrient from filthy fishies just laying there waiting to be processed, you converted to corals, corals carry all kinds of flora and fauna, they were hungry and got busy in your sand bed, the bubbles will be nitrogen and this is a VERY good thing as your sand bed is actively working, don't be tempted to stir it, just let it be and this phase will pass fairly quick

wonderz · 03/13/2012, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tickyty

Sand bed full of nutrient from filthy fishies just laying there waiting to be processed, you converted to corals, corals carry all kinds of flora and fauna, they were hungry and got busy in your sand bed, the bubbles will be nitrogen and this is a VERY good thing as your sand bed is actively working, don't be tempted to stir it, just let it be and this phase will pass fairly quick

Don't think I heard of nutrient in sand bed converting to corals before.

Tickyty · 03/14/2012, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wonderz

Don't think I heard of nutrient in sand bed converting to corals before.

I cut the comment from another location and what he was referring to was I converted my tank from a predator tank to a Reef. That is what that comment meant.

gmate · 03/14/2012, 01:26 PM

If you have a deeper sand bed (3ish+ inches) you seem to be describing the escape of n2 gas, a very normal thing. Too much at once can cause a crash though.

03/12/2012, 09:47 AM	#1
Tickyty Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Cedar Rapids IA Posts: 125	Bubbles coming from Substrate I have a 90 gallon RR corner overflow tank. My substrate is a combination of live sand 25% and crushed coral 75% with about 50 lbs live and 50lbs base. I am experiencing bubbles releasing from the substrate. It is not a deep bed approximately 2-3" in most areas. Is this possibly nitrogen being released due to the break down of waste by the tube worms and other creatures living in the bed? The tank is 6 years old but I moved last November and I just converted it over from a predator tank to a mixed reef. I have never experienced this in any system I previously had. Shoudl I be concerned? Nothing seems to be really affected by this. I am using a Magnum 350 canistier using carbon and phos-ban with a 18w Turbo Twist UV. I also have a 30 gallon sump with a Eshopps PSK150 skimmer, 200 micron filter sock that is changed weekly. Currently I have LPS and a couple softeis in the tank, fish are in a QT to rid tank of MI. (Hippa, 2 yellow tail damsels, blue fin damsel) all small. Here is the list of coral. Wellso Brain Button Pollyps Toad stool cabbage clove polyps mushrooms mini max carpet The following are frags frog spawn hammer green trumpet, favia Montipora spongotus star pollyps Any help would be greatly appreciated.

03/12/2012, 10:32 AM	#4
Reef264 Where's The Reef? Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Southaven, Ms Posts: 2,098	I don't know about sand bubbles, but I've always periodically had bubbles come from my rocks. __________________ I'd rather Die on my feet, than Live on my Knees. Current Tank Info: 150g SPS Reef, 2x250w 14k Pheonix Metal Halides w/T-5 Actinics, 2 Tunze 6095's, Tunze 7096 controller, Ozone, Precision Marine Skimmer, Reef Octopus Bio-Churn Bio Pellet Reactor, GFO & Carbon Reactor, Ozone Reactor, ATO, Reef Keeper.

03/12/2012, 11:20 AM	#5
BigCountry74 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,761	diatoms on the sand more than likely __________________ 135g mixed reef (retired) http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2132815 Current 40g reef http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2483250 Current Tank Info: 40g bare bottom reef

03/12/2012, 10:03 AM	#2
wonderz Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 284	When you see the bubbles, do you smell anything? I think the worst scenario is when the bubbles are hydrogen sulfide. You will be able to smell it like rotten egg and see it as dark/black spot in your sandbed. Otherwise the bubbling can be either from algae in the sandbed releasing oxygen which probably would be from the top 1 or 2 inch of the sandbed or are nitrogen bubbles that you mention, which would be from the lower part of the sandbed. I am surprise you didn't experience it when you are running a predator tank since I would think they are more messy and more stuff lands on the substrate. In general crushed corals tend to trap more debris than finer sands, so you might just have to vacuum more closely if your cuc wouldn't able to get to it.

03/13/2012, 11:44 AM	#6
Tickyty Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Cedar Rapids IA Posts: 125	Just an update on this issue. I received some help from someone who explained the gas issue to me. Sand bed full of nutrient from filthy fishies just laying there waiting to be processed, you converted to corals, corals carry all kinds of flora and fauna, they were hungry and got busy in your sand bed, the bubbles will be nitrogen and this is a VERY good thing as your sand bed is actively working, don't be tempted to stir it, just let it be and this phase will pass fairly quick

03/14/2012, 01:26 PM	#9
gmate MASC Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Littleton, CO Posts: 2,267	If you have a deeper sand bed (3ish+ inches) you seem to be describing the escape of n2 gas, a very normal thing. Too much at once can cause a crash though.