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I'm assuming anerobic pockets of bacteria are visible, if you happen to notice them is there a safe way of "popping" () them without harming the fish. How many can be released @a time, would airline tubing gently inserted into the substrate work?

^_^

[hr width='40%']"There’s an emptiness inside her. And she’d do anything to fill it in.
And though it’s red blood bleeding from her now. It's more like cold blue ice in her heart.
She feels like kicking out all the windows. And setting fire to this life."

Hi,
Rather than trying some extraordinary means of trapping
them and ridding the tank of them, I would install a
couple of airstones running quite lively, and stir up
the pockets of anerobic bacteria. The excess air and
currents should eliminate any fish problems, and a
syphon should rid the tank of the debris.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Interesting thought.

Getting rid of the gas if you can would be a good idea if you can accomplish it, because [1] hydrogen sulphide is very soluble in water, and [2] lethal to fish in small concentrations. In my chemistry classes at school I was told that if it smells like rotten eggs, then it's unpleasant but bearable. If it starts to smell sweet, then get out of the area fast, because in those concentrations in air, it's as deadly to humans as cyanide.

My home town is home to various chemical factories, and a couple of years ago, one of them leaked hydrogen sulphide into the atmosphere. In quantities sufficient to cause respiratory arrest if inhaled. Which gives you an idea how dangerous a gas it is. That was an interesting emergency to put it mildly ...

I'd definitely experiment with some way of getting rid of the gas if it was in my aquarium, and your idea sounds as good as any Babel.




Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

FRANK, despite rather careful attention an army of MTS in the tank they developed under the sand, airstones as far as I can figure really wouldn't help .

What I ended up doing was pressing my gravel vac into the sand and wiggeling it enough till the bubbles made their way thru the sand and up the tube, away from the fish. It didn't work perfectly, but I hope it reduced the impact a bit.
Looks like I need to start being more careful .

^_^[hr width='40%']"There&#8217;s an emptiness inside her. And she&#8217;d do anything to fill it in.
And though it&#8217;s red blood bleeding from her now. It's more like cold blue ice in her heart.
She feels like kicking out all the windows. And setting fire to this life."

That was going to be my recommendation is to suck it out with the gravel tube. I ran into a pocket and it shocked me just how many bubbles were coming up. I just kept going back and moving the gravel in that area until the bubbles stopped. The bucket stunk and the surrounding air, but fish were fine.

That is the problem I have with substrate I can't shove my gravel tube to the glass with. I've delayed a fully planted tank not quite understanding how to deal with it, but now know that good root systems can prevent it, as well as snails.

Got room for kuhli loaches? They'll keep it stirred, if all you have is sand.

I do have only sand except for one "pot" of aquatic plant soil in the corner.
*considers kuhlis*

^_^





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