air bubbles?

[edawgm]

So I have been noticing that I have air bubbles in my sand. :unsure Every time I clean my glass and stire up the sand they flout up. Why are they there? Or should I say how did they get there? Is this supose to happen? I does kind of worry me.

Thanks

[Ping]

If this happens mostly when the lights are on, they are usually oxygen bubbles. Nothing to worry about.

[edawgm]

They are down in the sand. By this I mean they form about 1 inch to 1.5 inches down

[JimD]

You know that your DSB is working when your nitrates are being kept low and detritus doesn’t accumulate on top of the sand bed, i.e. the critters in it are consuming it. You should also see lots of worm tunnels, etc. in the sand bed, down to a depth of about 2 to 3”. Bubble pockets are also a good sign.

[edawgm]

cool thanks for the input JimD. I don't have alot of tunnels, but in some places I do where the sand is not disturbed as much. But what are the bubbles? How are they made?

[urban79]

Worm farts LOL

[edawgm]

roflmao

[jroescher]

What Urban said. Really!

Bacteria and other critters in your sand bed consume the detritus. The ammonia (NO4) is broken down into nitrates (NO3). More bacteria and other critters consume the nitrates and break it down to nitrites (NO2). And even more and different bacteria deeper in your sand bed consume nitrate and break it down to nitrogen, the bubbles you see, which harmlessly float away. It's 'live sand', and works only if you have a deep enough sand bed.

At least that's my understanding of it.

[caferacermike]

I was told by a retailer once that if you see the bubbles then your sand bed is not being turned over enough, the bacteria are working correctly as intended. They recommended hand turning once a month if you see bubbles. The thing you don't want is for a large pocket of these gases to build up and then release at once.

[edawgm]

Thanks for the replies. This helps out alot. I do have a few things in there to turn over the sand but I guess just not enough. I guess I will be going finger diving today. But all in all, I take it is a good sign :D

Thanks

[JimD]

cool thanks for the input JimD. I don't have alot of tunnels, but in some places I do where the sand is not disturbed as much. But what are the bubbles? How are they made?

Under the right conditions, dictated by oxygen levels, certain bacteria will convert waste to >nitrogen< gas which bubbles out of the sand.