Mixing Sand Substrate

[CBTF]

Ive heard this should be done to release harmful gasses. is this a must? the reason I ask is because i have many rocks, logs and the such in my tank and it would be a large pain in the rear to have to move them around.

Im also really picky about clear water and this stirrs everything up (my sand is fine, and also old food.)

Im not saying that i'll never mix it up, because of course I will.. but if I were to leave it a few months will anything happen? Im pretty sure its safe but I wanna make sure.

It's a 10g with nice filtration.

 

[Torrean]

Consider putting some malaysian trumpet snails in there. They stir substrate I believe,

 

[tttnjfttt]

I've heard you do need to do so because pockets of ammonia can build up within the sand. I have also heard of peple loosing fish over this. I know it is a pain in the butt, i've got alot of rocks in my tank, some balanced on others to make caves, so i know what it is like doing that

 

[CBTF]

No more snails for my tank, i have some apple snails and the betta tries to snack on them. My dwarf frog tends to mess stuff up all the time, but then there's the issue of sand under the stupid ornaments.. what would you guys say about a 50/50 mix? Gravel and sand. Still need to mix it?

 

[tttnjfttt]

yeah, its the compacting issue also. if you have sand, you need to mix. Pick one ornament to mix up a week, that should solve your problems

 

[Torrean]

I have a question I'd like to add onto this thread. I don't remember where I heard this but I seem to remember hearing the MTS snails eat other snails? Is this true? It may not be MTS snails though. Might be another kind of snail or maybe I just stuck a few things together in my mind and this popped out. Anyway...anybody know if this is true?

 

[Bignose]

How thick is the sand? If it under an inch, I would not worry about it too much.

The main concern people have about sand would be anaerobic bacteria build-up. Anaerobic meaning without air, though more accurately, without oxygen. If you didn't know, the ammonia and nitrite reducing bacteria require oxygen to work (to convert ammonia to nitrite and to convert nitrite to nitrate).

Anywho, under anaerobic conditions, bacteria start to get their energy from other sources, like reducing sulfur instead of oxygen. And a by-product of that is hydrogen sulfide, yes, one of the deadliest compounds in nature.

But, there is relief. In water, as soon as hydrogen sulfide comes into contact with any oxygen, it will become harmless. So, even if there is a pocket, and even if you accidentally stir it up, it will become harmless as soon as it hits your well-oxygenated water. And you know your water is well-oxygenated since your fish are living in it, and they need oxygen.

So, there really isn't anything down there to worry about, so my recommendation is to not stir it at all. Just vacuum the top of the sand to get the uneaten food off the top. If uneaten food on the top is a constant problem, you probably should be feeding less, maybe a lot less.

p.s. Another source of energy anaerobic bacteria may use is actually to convert nitrates to nitrogen gas. This is what living rock and living sand does for some marine tank setups. There is no way that I am aware of that "pockets of ammonia" could form the substrate. If there is oxygen present, ammonia will be converted to nitrate, if there isn't oxygen present is will be reduced to nitrogen gas. As far as I know, ammonia would be consumed by the different bacteria species in either case.

 

[plecoguy]

as the previous person stated...in saltwater tanks anaerobic bacteria is somthing desired, thus methods of a deep sand bed or a plenium (sp??). works the same in fresh water, the anaerobic bacteria will feed on your nitrAtes. i never stir my sand (my fish do somtimes). never had a problem, dont expect to either

 

[Torrean]

Isn't another concern about anaerobic bacteria colonies black splotches in the sand? The Hydrogen sulfide may not be a concern because of the oxygen but I know I wouldn't want black splotches under all my ornaments. Again not sure where I heard this before and I haven't experienced it in my tanks because I have gravel (and I vac) so i'm not sure if it's true.

 

[CBTF]

Bignose, thank you very much for that. The sand is only about an inch. This is good news, since I absolutely love the way it looks. My dwarf frog stirrs up the sand sometimes too. I think i'll take your advice and vacuum it to keep clean.

My only complaint about sand is how dirty it can get with fish waste and old food.