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Hello,

This may be a sily question but I have to ask. I have a tank that's been established for a year. It has a number of large 'flatish' rocks in it. I want to remove some of the rocks. Is there any reason to be concerned that there may be toxins underneth them due to an anarobic environment? Or, am I being overly paranoid?

Thanks

Eric

Dont want to say it is impossible cause nothing really is but mpre than likely youre going to be alright.

If it's regular gravel, yank the suckers. It's a good idea to do a water change afterwards as well. When you lift them up gobs and gobs of broken down organic matter and some of your gravel bed bacterial colony will be released into the water cloumn. This can lead to algae blooms and generally foul the water. Yank the rocks, water change, then let everything settle, you'll be alright.

---

Back in the saddle!

Like Nowherman said, a good vaccuming will probably get most of those critters, IF any are there. Since you will be vaccuming, you will at the same time be removing water, thus making a water change.

I'd say you're pretty much covered by doing this.

Sponge

Last edited by Sponge_Bob at 21-Dec-2005 16:01

Even if there were anaerobic bateria underneath the rocks, and even if there were sulfer released, as soon as the sulfer hits oxygen it will be instantly reacted to something harmless. And, you know there is oxygen in the rest of the water since the fish are alive.

Harmless? Like sulfur dioxide and sulphuric acid?

There "will" be a lot of gunk under all the rocks this is natural. As you shift them do a good deep cleaning to remove as much as possible. If possible do one area at a time. This will depend on the size of your tank. You will also have to do a good water change as well. Before you start do a complete filter clean so that it can assist in cleaning the extra muck that will be floating around.

You might consider doing this over several water changes.

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S doesn't just exist by itself, It will most likely be found as hydrogen sulfide H2S. H2S is formed by the reduction of sulfates by anaerobic bacteria. H2S is one of the most deadly compounds, to terrestrial or aquatic creatures, but in water and in the presence of oxygen it becomes sulfates:

H2S + 2 O2 --> HSO4(-) + H(+)

Yes, on the right hand side is sulfuric acid, but in very low concentrations, it is quite safe. Not only that, but the ions (the right hand side terms with + or -) will quickly equilibriate with all the other chemicals in the water and most likely form salts.

A very toxic molecule is converted to a salt, and the reaction rate is very very quick, so any H2S that may be uncovered will be very quickly converted into harmless compounds in well-oxygenated water.

Last edited by bignose at 21-Dec-2005 19:07

Yes, I'm aware anaerobic bacterium don't just shoot out free radicals of sulfur. However, lest I no longer remember my AP chem, which might be the case:

2H2S + 3O2=>2SO2 + 2H2O

I doubt this occurs naturally in water--I think it's combustion. In any case, reactions of sulfur and oxygen *do* produce harmful substances. That was kind of the underlying point.



EDIT: "think" as opposed to "tihnk"

Last edited by Cup_of_Lifenoodles at 21-Dec-2005 21:02

After you remove the Rocks, do a Gravel vac. & there shouldn't be any problems. Just remove as much dirt as you can.


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