A Question About Sand

[SLIM]

About 3 weeks ago i change my substrate from gravel to sand.
Iv read online and on this forum that its a good idea to stir up the sand at least once a month
to prevent poisonous gases building up under the sand.

The problem i have is over the last few weeks my tank has become pretty heavily planted
plus i also have afew large heavy rocks as part of my aquascape.
Only about a 3rd of the floor is exposed, maybe less and the sand is about 2" deep.
How can i stir up the sand without moving or removing the rocks and without uprooting my plants?
Is there an easy way of doing this??
I know there are some snails out there that will dig through the sand thus doing do job for you
but to be honest i really dont want any snails.

Jus so you know, all my photos below are old and are of the tank before it became planted and before the sand went in

Thanx for any advice

 

[James9114]

From what i have heard sand should only be 1 and a quarter inch thick maximum, this way you won't get any bad gases as your corys will help stir it up daily.

 

[minnnt]

Most of my fish like digging in it so that should be enough to disperse any gasses. Maybe it would be for yours too?

 

[StandbySetting]

There's no need to disperse of the gas, the anaerobic bacteria which colonizes in these pockets produce Hydrogen Sulphide as a product of anaerobic respiration, it is one of the most harmful substances known to man, but it is oxidized on contact with water to produce a harmless but smelly Sulphur dioxide.

2H2S+ 3O2 -> 2SO2 + 2H20 is how it works, the two products are Sulphur dioxide and water.

 

[Lufbramatt]

does anyone know anyone thats actually lost a fish because of these gases? it seems to me that its a bit of an urban myth.

 

[Malawi-LW]

I have argos play sand in my tank and have never lost any fish due to not stiring the sand ect

 

[SLIM]

Thanx for the great advice everyone.
Thats a relief knowing i aint got to re-arrange my whole set up once a month just to stir up my sand.

 

[StandbySetting]

The only danger posed is oxygen depletion but in our set ups this wont happen, in natural lakes the substrates are much deeper and the volume of water per area of substrate is a lot less also, which is why I think it is falsely documented as being detrimental in an aquarium.

 

[SLIM]

The only danger posed is oxygen depletion but in our set ups this wont happen, in natural lakes the substrates are much deeper and the volume of water per area of substrate is a lot less also, which is why I think it is falsely documented as being detrimental in an aquarium.

Thanx again standbysetting. Youve always given me great advice.
How do you know so much? lol
Infact how are you on strange fish behaviour? Link to my other topic