bubbles in my sand

trd47 · 09/29/2007, 06:19 AM

Hey I've had my tank running for about a month and a half and notice that air bubbles are coming out of the stand, when its stirred up. does anyone have any input to this?

Haksar · 09/29/2007, 06:58 AM

Hello All,I am a newbie and would like to know the reason also.

WaterKeeper · 09/29/2007, 07:39 AM

They are more likely carbon dioxide or possibly nitrogen gas than oxygen although if you have algae growing on the sand bed surface it might be oxygen when the lights are on. Don't forget that the purpose of the sandbed is to act as a waste processing plant. Materials that settle in the bed are consumed and the waste product contains carbon dioxide that bubbles from the bed. If the bed is functioning properly there is also denitrification going on where nitrate is reduced to nitrogen gas. This to exits the bed as bubbles. Overall bubbles are normal and nothing to worry about.

Hi Haksar

To Reef Central

Haksar · 09/29/2007, 08:56 AM

Hi Waterkeeper,thank you.

trd47 · 09/29/2007, 11:35 AM

thanks wk! one less thing to worry about.

haksar welcome

WaterKeeper · 10/01/2007, 10:50 AM

Yes, a bit of the bubbly is good for everyone.

trd47 · 10/02/2007, 02:00 AM

water keeper or anyone else I have two more questions

1. is it ok for me to stir up the sand to get rid of the bubbles?
2. I notice when I was doing some reaquascapping I notice when I remove rocks from my send bed, which is about 2inches or less the sand is black what is this?

edit: I don't know if this makes a difference but the ones with black sand under them were burried deep almost two inches and these rocks are live.

mouscacha · 10/02/2007, 03:48 AM

I'm not so sure if disturbing the bottom would be a great idea. Your sand is doing what it's supposed to. You could possibly kill the bacteria helping to filter your water, or worse still, kill your fish from excess gas. The later being highly doubtful, but playing safe is always the best option.

I'm interested to know what that black stuff is too. My guess is bacteria. After picking up some sand from the beach, the top area stayed yellow and the bottom turned grey-black. The grey-black area was stink like live rock. One thing everyone says about live rock and sand is to make sure to keep your rocks above the sand. The rock can sink all the way to the bottom of your tank from those pesky inverts.

trd47 · 10/02/2007, 04:04 AM

hey mouscacha you from oahu too cool! Ok I just don't like see the bottom of my tank exposed.

as for the live rock yeah its sinking lower and lower. man does this I have to yank the rocks out that sank beyond the sand bed?

mouscacha · 10/02/2007, 04:21 AM

Ay! Howzit fellow Haaaawaian! What part are you from?

trd47 · 10/02/2007, 04:36 AM

honolulu

09/29/2007, 06:19 AM	#1
trd47 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 344	bubbles in my sand Hey I've had my tank running for about a month and a half and notice that air bubbles are coming out of the stand, when its stirred up. does anyone have any input to this?

09/29/2007, 06:58 AM	#2
Haksar Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Dubai Posts: 1,041	Hello All,I am a newbie and would like to know the reason also. __________________ Haksar

09/29/2007, 07:39 AM	#3
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	They are more likely carbon dioxide or possibly nitrogen gas than oxygen although if you have algae growing on the sand bed surface it might be oxygen when the lights are on. Don't forget that the purpose of the sandbed is to act as a waste processing plant. Materials that settle in the bed are consumed and the waste product contains carbon dioxide that bubbles from the bed. If the bed is functioning properly there is also denitrification going on where nitrate is reduced to nitrogen gas. This to exits the bed as bubbles. Overall bubbles are normal and nothing to worry about. Hi Haksar *To Reef Central* __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

09/29/2007, 08:56 AM	#4
Haksar Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Dubai Posts: 1,041	Hi Waterkeeper,thank you. __________________ Haksar

10/01/2007, 10:50 AM	#6
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	Yes, a bit of the bubbly is good for everyone. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

09/29/2007, 11:35 AM	#5
trd47 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 344	thanks wk! one less thing to worry about. haksar welcome

10/02/2007, 02:00 AM	#7
trd47 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 344	water keeper or anyone else I have two more questions 1. is it ok for me to stir up the sand to get rid of the bubbles? 2. I notice when I was doing some reaquascapping I notice when I remove rocks from my send bed, which is about 2inches or less the sand is black what is this? edit: I don't know if this makes a difference but the ones with black sand under them were burried deep almost two inches and these rocks are live.

10/02/2007, 03:48 AM	#8
mouscacha Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 348	I'm not so sure if disturbing the bottom would be a great idea. Your sand is doing what it's supposed to. You could possibly kill the bacteria helping to filter your water, or worse still, kill your fish from excess gas. The later being highly doubtful, but playing safe is always the best option. I'm interested to know what that black stuff is too. My guess is bacteria. After picking up some sand from the beach, the top area stayed yellow and the bottom turned grey-black. The grey-black area was stink like live rock. One thing everyone says about live rock and sand is to make sure to keep your rocks above the sand. The rock can sink all the way to the bottom of your tank from those pesky inverts.

10/02/2007, 04:04 AM	#9
trd47 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 344	hey mouscacha you from oahu too cool! Ok I just don't like see the bottom of my tank exposed. as for the live rock yeah its sinking lower and lower. man does this I have to yank the rocks out that sank beyond the sand bed?

10/02/2007, 04:21 AM	#10
mouscacha Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 348	Ay! Howzit fellow Haaaawaian! What part are you from?

10/02/2007, 04:36 AM	#11
trd47 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 344	honolulu