Bubbles under sand bed

[Reef Queso]

Is there a way to tell if the bubbles I can see through the the glass under my sand bed are oxygen, sulfide, or hydrogen?

[seabass]

Generally, there is no need to worry about them. How deep is your sand bed, and how old is it?

[Reef Queso]

It's 2" deep and two and a half years old. I've never stirred the sand however I do have 4 nassarius and probably 100 of their babies.

[seabass]

Are you having any problems which make you concerned about them?

[Reef Queso]

Nope just noticed this and I've never seen this before.

[ezcompany]

I haven't had problems stirring older sand beds before. I definitely don't know what gas it is.

[Subsea]

one more likely possibility is free nitrogen gas from denitrification.

[NYfishies]

I would stir it just to release the bubbles (which will form again). Maybe stir 25% of the sand per week over the next 4 weeks. That way if it is a buildup of an unknown gas you wont release all at once.

 

If it was a deeper sand bed I'd vacuum it.

[Reef Queso]

I like the "free nitrogen gas from denitrification" theory the best. I'd like to think that my nitrogen cycle is working as it should. This is a two year old saltwater aquarium.