Walstad aquarium gas buildup in substrate

[@He.knows.nothing]

What you want to look out for is the hydrogen sulfide build up. If your water is well oxygenated (surface agitation, air stones, and plants accomplish this) then your tank will be able to handle it easily as oxygen breaks apart the hydrogen sulfide bonds. If those bubbles don't smell like rotten eggs when they hit the surface, then what youre releasing is probably nitrogen or carbon dioxide which you actually want to keep in your soil because the bacteria and plants are be able to process them and take them in as nutrients. Malaysian trumpet snails and an air stone are basically my go to insurance plans to prevent hydrogen sulfide. The air stone ensures oxygenated water and the snails burry themselves into the sand, making sure that the top 1inch of your substrate remains well circulated with oxygen rich water. That's where the majority of the breakdown occurs and is best to do so since you don't want excess h2s to reach the water column (deadly to fish). Hydrogen sulfide does require anaerobic bacteria in an anoxic zone to be established so if your sand bed is smaller than 3inches you won't ever have to worry about it. Many people fear it and won't build deeper substrates because of this, but if you make sure your aquariums ecosystem has all of it's needs you can easily accommodate a deeper sand bed which breaks down wayyy more waste biologically than pretty much any other filtration I've yet to find. Deeper the sand bed = better the filtration. I do a water change once a month just to remove any chemicals that might accumulate from contact with the air, but the deep sand bed can handle 100% of my fish waste ( 6 angels, 1 severum, 1 blue acara, 1 firemouth, 5 mollies, 2 swordtails, 1 common pleco in a heavily planted 95g with 6inch substrate)

[@ninjason9-759]

Justin Thillens can I ask you some questions? I have this exact issue, and the bubbles do not smell sulphuric. However many of my plants do get blackened roots, which is supposedly a result of hydrogen sulfide. So what is it? Is it a faint smell I’m missing?

[@He.knows.nothing]

@@ninjason9-759 nitrogen will also bubble to the surface. The black roots could just be a nutrient deficiency. When you just start the sand bed there aren't going to be much nutrients for the plants to absorb in the sand layers. What kind of substrate are you using??

[@ninjason9-759]

Justin Thillens I have organic potting soil as the base substrate then an Eco complete cap. It’s basically lava rock gravel. I fertilize the water. The soil should have high nutrients.

[@He.knows.nothing]

@@ninjason9-759 I have a deep sand bed with eco complete in a 10g. Eco complete should be nutrient rich so I don't think that's your black root problem. I do know that eco complete does take some time to sort itself out because the grain sizes vary. Are your plant leaves looking healthy, or are your whole plants suffering?

[@pablomyers]

I came here to learn about my tank, but I found this video very oddly satisfying to watch. Both your voices are so calming which definitely adds to that haha

[@ungodly_athorist]

I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)

[@nickschmitz7044]

#strangerdanger hahahahahahaha

[@Unsensitive]

Could also be Nitrogen bubbles, from different anerobes breaking down your Nitrates.

[@bonsaika9674]

I had the same issue when I started my tank. In fact it is not really a problem. I added my fishes after 3 weeks, and the soil was still releasing gas. Frequently, I had large bubbles poping out. But the fishes where not disturbed by them (they dodged them as they popped). I just managed to let the aquarium "breathe" the ambiant air, avoiding gas to accumulate under the rooftop of the tank, by opening it 2 times per day. After 6 months, no more gas bubbles. It seems that the soil has stopped to produce it in mass quantities. Also the plants have grow very strongly and I think their roots have added their benefits by "mixing" the soil. Now the tanks is 1 year old, and everything is fine.

[@bonsaika9674]

Hey, glad to help. Feel free to ask anything if needed.

[@Banano91f]

yeah @bonsai ka , I cant find anything about this problem on the internet.. i have a tank doing exactly this and im worried (btw i cant send u a private message..) plants are growing strong but i have no fish or even snails cause i read so much against these bubbles then im stll researching, 2 month already

[@shroomslut9817]

Bonsai Ka no it is a problem so of the gases are deadly to some fish not all but some you’re supposed to stir up the sand every week

[@wilfredpadilla6685]

Wow, congrats.

[@jamesjohnson-tk3gx]

Co2 from the organics in the soil decomposing. It's good to keep it in there.

[@mrjamesho]

james johnson no it’s Hydrogen Sulfide and it’s dangerous to plant roots

[@captainwin6333]

Easy to tell if it is, it'll smell bad. If it doesn't smell of anything it could be Nitrogen.

[@Luceium01]

I found bubble that don’t go to the surface, they stay on the ground like rocks

[@kryptkeeper457]

definitely an ASMR trigger for sure...

[@hairamrivera5802]

Dis you use Peat moss as your substrate? I made that mistake, I got a bunch of hydrogen sulfide gas and I had to redo the whole tank. The smell was not pleasant.

[@sahindemirer]

Did you have enough oxygenation in the tank. I have same issue. I don’t want to redo. What did you use when you re-do it and did you have any problem with substrate ?😊

[@hairamrivera5802]

I used compost. Some people use compost and then put sand on top of it. My plants grew well with is.

[@robertflink8017]

Does it smell ?

[@AkbarZeb-p6f]

Yes, it smells like egg farts.

[@sweetnsourgaming7312]

Some trumpet snails may help. Assasins too

[@RebekahRuns]

Please can someone tell me if the gas bubbles that are coming out of my planted tank are good or not? I have a 215 litre tank with organic potting mix and gravel on top, and I'm not sure if the bubbles mean that I have too much substrate. The bubbles have been happening for a long time and I feel that I need to completely change everything in my tank to sort it out.

[@ungodly_athorist]

It'll be fine. They eventually diminish. It's just the natural processes working.

[@TheLousyGames]

Rebekah Samuels buy some malaysian trumpet snails, they will burrow in the substrate and prevent it from becoming anaerobic and toxic

[@lauchlanstill6677]

Rebekah Samuels it is not good clean your substrate

[@whyluigi]

here is why they may be asking about the smell. Ammonia has a very strong odor that is irritating and that you can smell when it is in the air at a level higher than 5 ppm. Therefore, you will probably smell ammonia before you are exposed to a concentration that may harm you. ...You can taste ammonia in water at levels of about 35 ppm. Lower levels than this occur naturally in food and water. Swallowing even small amounts of liquid ammonia in your household cleaner might cause burns in your mouth and throat. (source www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp126-c1.pdf) I say it will depend on the amount of decomposing matter in the substrate/soil therefor will have some ammonia bubbles, no good may kill your fish, it has now happen to me(few losses) sadly still. also it can cause algae issues. cheers to all and best hopes to all planted aquariums.

[@mohammadsiddiqui3564]

This is not that good if you have fish. You'll end up needing frequent water changes else fish will be sick.

[@naizi7777]

N2 and CO2

[@chrislecky710]

Go to the source of the concept, Walstad?? What is that? Who is that? Find out what his or her original intention was. Because either information and context has been lost along the way or that individual didn't have any idea what he or she was doing. No science has gone into producing the Walstad method what so ever. Well at least not in the way its being consistently repeated over and over again. How is it possible that so many people are prepared to copy a concept without any question at all as to its true value. I getting sick of hearing about it.

[@Nutamago]

Have you read the book? It's helpful for your science class.

[@burlisaquarien7568]

A thin layer of sand is a bad choice. A layer of gravel, 1-2 inch thick, would be better

[@lauchlanstill6677]

It’s fine as long as you’re not lazy