Sand bottom tanks

[Jag586]

I've heard it was bad... I had 3 inch sand bed never stirred it up for 6 months finally, stirred it up pretty good amount of gas came up but no smell water stayed stable nothing I guess it could be bad if it some how got mixed into the entire water column but it just goes straight to the surface and releases into the air

Sent from my LS670 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

 

[Slippery K]

I have about 3" depth of sand in my sw tanks and Iv never noticed any gas bubbles. Maybe the horseshoe crab gets rid of them before I can. Its almost like watching Bugs Bunny when he tunnels underground. You just see a moving lump of sand going around the bottom of the tank.

 

[Countryboy]

file:///Users/Home/Desktop/Tropical%20Fish/Ron%20Shimek's%20Website...Deep%20Sand%20Beds.webarchive

 

[Shenanigans]

What it is in a nutshell- in deeper sand, nutrients get packed down. Oxygen cant really move around the compact sand and anaerobic bacteria grows and feeds on the compact waste. The gases can build up. Simply, if the gases get released in mass at one time it can suddenly drop your pH change your water chemistry. The real negative side is the sudden change in pH. I wouldnt worry about sand 1" or less.

To answer OP, in order for this to be an actual problem, you really have to neglect/never sift your sand. Simply sifting it every few months will airate or move the waste around. If you are actually worried about the negative side, simply sift your sand during a water change like most of us do anyways. It doesnt have to be every WC, but if you do it then, whatever toxin or gas that is released will simply get changed out with your water and wont be able to suddenly drop or change your water chemistry

 

[rwellbaum]

i never stir my sand my fish are large enough that they do it for me

 

[DIDYSIS]

I have never done anything with my sand. I think this is a myth. Or my sand is not deep enough or my fish move it around for me.

Sent from my DROIDX using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

 

[Inglorious]

That's one of the reasons why I try to keep MTS in my tank, they keep the sand stirred up for me...and make nice crunchy snacks for my CL's

 

[mr.bigglesworth]

Its cause by anaerobic gas pockets which contains nitrogen gas. Oh and natural gas. The anaerobic bacteria thrives in areas containing ZERO oxygen. Like as in they die when in contact with oxygen. Think of it like a decaying swamp. If it was oxygen rich decay wouldn't be possible. Btw, anaerobic bacteria is the cause of smamps smellyness. So a buildup of it will STINK!

 

[guano]

That's one of the reasons why I try to keep MTS in my tank, they keep the sand stirred up for me...and make nice crunchy snacks for my CL's

+1
There's a sticky that talks about sand and gas
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...-Cons-Problems-and-Solutions-Cause-and-Effect

 

[Leptoe]

If you neglect cleaning the sand every so often you will find that the sand will have a very unique manure like smell. IT IS REALLY BAD. I have learned my lesson. Now I clean my sand with every water change.