Gas in my sand!

I've got about two inches of sand in my tank and there is always gas bubbles building up. What type of gas is this and is it harmful? I put a diamond goby in a couple of months ago and it only lasted a month. His bottom jaw actually rotted away and you could see the bone going across. Was this caused by the gas? I do stir it occassionally to free the gas. Sould I siphon some out and reduce its depth? I do have lots of snails and one sand siffting star, don't know why so much gas.:-/

MIKE

 

Gas bubbles in 2 inches of sand ? do they perk up all the way or just lay trapped on the surface of the sand ? as for a rotted Jaw on a Goby I never heard or saw that one before I doubt the gas did it.. As for the stirring to release gas I never heard of that one either.. ow old is this tank ? what do you keep in it and what are you feeding ? Maybe tell more about your filtration and tank cleaning methods and water flows with in the tank..You may have somthing in there that ate the jaw.

 

What type of sand is it (where did you get it from)?

Marc.

 

It sounds as though you may have some decomposing organic material mixed in your sand

 

MAybe A DSB reactor?

HI,
With any anarobic bacteria activity you may have bubbles, it could be bacteria breaking down nitrite into a harmless gas. Is it bad maybe not.
Do you have sand stirrers, I ve read on a DSB forum that many of the worms help prevent the sand from becoming locked up due to the natural formation due to the bacterial growth that occurs this keeps it healthy, So maybe some sand stirs I use Nassuris Snails they only eat dietri and only stir the top inch or so of sand, I also use bristle worms (GASP) to help with the process.
So nitrite reduction thru a DSB is something I strive for. A dsb may be the best waste reducer for the buck. with a good skimmer
Doug

Here's a pretty article about DSB's

DSB (Deep Sand Bed) or No DSB? discussion - Saltwater Aquariums

 

I do use Nassuris Snails and the one sifting star. The tank will set up for three years next month. The filtration since set up was an Eheim Pro II 2028 canister and a dual CPR Bak-Pak skimmer. As of two weeks a go I got rid of both and set up a 20 gal sump/refugium and a Coralife 220 skimmer. Wter movement is with a Qiuet One 4000 return pump, 300+ gph PH, and a Wave2K. Here is a look at what I am talking about (my actual tank).
GUY A LFS SAID TO GET RID OF THE GAS BUT HAD NO SUGGESTIONS.

MIKE

 

notsure

hi,
Did you visit that link above, it looks pretty normal to me , I see a worm trails in the sand so you proably have many worms already.
if you have zero nitrite and no problems I would'nt try and fix it maybe alittle more sand to balance the low spots out.. I have a lot of live rock in my tanks but thats me...
Doug

I have bubbles in my piecies of PVC pipe under a screen and 5+ inches of sand over that in my sump and my water levels are pretty good. Thats where the anerboic bugs like to grow out of the oxinated water the bubbles pop ,if they reach the surface, and don't contaminate the water its nitrogen gas a by product of nitrite reduction..as long as your worms stay healthy the sand will be good..

 

My nitrites and amonia are very low, my trouble is the nitrates (20-40) thats why I biult the sump/refug so I put some plants in there. My tangs wont leave anything alone. The low spots are from my stupid maroon clown. No point is smoothing th sand out when he just digs it up and makes a mess. Worst free fish I ever got!

MIKE

 

Its just from algae

Little pockets of air are from resperation...thats all. Happens were light refracts into the first few inches of sand from the angle of the light to the tank wall. Just use a credit card and scrape the algae off.

 

Just read all the posts, dont worry about it, its not harmful gas. The actuality of a build up of toxic gases take a very long time...and is not physically possible in a shallow sand bed.