My Sand Has Gone Grey And Stinks

[Rynofasho]

So is there a need to stir it up or not? I've oft heard about anaerobic pockets, and it is tough to stir especially with live plants and lots of cover. I got MTS for that reason, and they are annoying and never stop reproducing. If I knew I could not worry about that though, I would DEFINITELY leave them out of any subsequent tanks.

 

[StandbySetting]

There's no need at all.

 

[keshinvk]

eewww u need to clean and maybe change gravel

 

[Rynofasho]

Standby, not doubting you, but just curious -- you have any links or reading that justifies that? I've always heard the opposite so it'd be nice to read about what others are saying.

 

[StandbySetting]

Here's the chemistry:

2H[sub]2[/sub]S + O[sub]2[/sub] > 2S + 2H[sub]2[/sub]0

The hydrogen sulfide (H[sub]2[/sub]S) is a product of anaerobic digestion, and on contact with oxygen it is oxidized into sulphur gas and water, the sulphur smells like rotten eggs and is harmless.

The only possible problem is oxygen depletion, but this on wont happen in the hobby, unless you're implementing deep sand beds in which case you may get a problem, but most people don't use deep sand beds.

By the way, in addition to removing H2S by stripping, aeration will provide a nominal reduction of H2S by direct
oxidation. This occurs because aeration increases the level of dissolved oxygen in water, which reacts with
hydrogen sulfide to produce elemental sulfur as shown in reaction 4.

http/www.chastainskillman.com/downloads/articles/WhatsThatSmell.pdf

 

[BigbruiserAl]

just called LFS (MA), and they have said that they dont stock trumpet snails as they are considered a pest, said he had some yellow snails that would do a similar job, is this correct?

Depends which snails, if their apples then no they dont dig much at all

eewww u need to clean and maybe change gravel

hes using sand not gravel

 

[Rynofasho]

Good info, standby, thank you. I think you may have just convinced me to leave MTS out of my new 75.