aneirobic substrate :(

[aaronnorth]

My playsand substrate has gone aneirobic is there anthing i can do? I have ordered some MTS to ty and help.

Thanks, aaron (it is my 60l)

 

[Mark Evans]

has gone aneirobic :

whats that mean? 😳

 

[aaronnorth]

It is when not enough oxygen is in the substrate (aeirobic = oxygen) it creates hydrogen suphide (i think - know it has sulphur it as that is what causes the egg smell)

 

[JamesM]

Anaerobic?


I had the same problem with playsand only. Mix some gravel into it, or more coarse sand.

 

[aaronnorth]

Anaerobic?


I had the same problem with playsand only. Mix some gravel into it, or more coarse sand.

yes thats the one lol, i only have it where there is no plants/ gravel. I keep stirring it weekly to try and make sure it doesnt build up to much. Is that the only way?

 

[JamesM]

Its so fine it tends to compact way too much ime. Putting some gravel under it will help. Yes the sand will fall through to the base, but the stones stop it from compacting.

 

[Mark Evans]

ahh, ok. not good then :?

 

[aaronnorth]

not the best option, i have JBL aquabasis underneath, it will create a big mess. I suppose it can be a good reason to rescape

Is aquasoil like gravel?

 

[JamesM]

The wife loves the look of sand so we've also done it in the 4ft tank. I kept most of the gravel in at the back and just covered it. No problems there, but the front started to become a problem, so having a mad moment I mixed everything up and added JBL AB. It created a hell of a mess, but it did settle. And no problems since, and it actually looks a lot better. I'm still desperate to change it though 🙁

AS is like clay pellets I think. Azoo make a knock off version which I got cheap from AE.

 

[Mark Evans]

yes a little like gravel.lighter in weight. great to use. planting etc.

arghh go on...get some 🙄 you know you want to

 

[aaronnorth]

The reason i ask is because i have never had anerobic pockets in gravel.

 

[Mark Evans]

i dont think ive seen your 4 ft'er james you got an image i can see?

mark

 

[JamesM]

Sorry Mark, the 4ft is a mess. A real mess Its only ever had swords and densa in it until recently - Clive sent me half a kilo of crypts and other plants I'm getting rid of it in the new year and starting fresh with a 3x2x2' opti-white.

I did look for some pics to try and show the substrate...







The topping there is mostly JBL Aquabasis.

 

[Mark Evans]

cool, look forward to a journal on your opti white. have you seen an opti whit tank in the flesh?
if no, prepare yourself 😉

mark

 

[JamesM]

Yeah, I went to a glass cutters place the other day and saw a sample. I felt like knocking one out right there tbh

 

[Mark Evans]

 

[Wolfenrook]

Are you sure that it has definitely gone anaerobic? As in smell of rotten eggs/pH swings for no other apparent reason? I ask as you sometimes get gas bubble forming even in a healthy substrate, sometimes they are nitrogen/CO2 bubbles given off during aerobic bacterial activity and are nothing to worry about, you just see them more in finer substrates as they trap them more.

Ade

 

[aaronnorth]

It does smell like eggs, no pH swings and it is only where there are no plants.

 

[Ed Seeley]

I've got sand in all my tanks and have never had any problem at all. I don't stir up the sand but simply vacuum any debris off the surface. I've have never seen any gas bubbles coming out of the substrate at all and not all my tanks are planted so it can't be roots keeping the substrate oxygenated. I think that unless the sand caps with high levels of organics (or carbonates perhaps?) and seals up the lower levels then surely there would be some water movement throughout the substrate. I do use thinner sand amounts on unplanted tanks, but still an inch or so usually.

 

[aaronnorth]

this is quite deep, 3" (2" sand and 1" of JBL AB) It is also turning black 🙁