Co2 or methane??

Does anyone know for sure what the bubbles are that come out the bottom of the tank? Dustin says c02 but my local pet shop say methane gas!!! Just wondering.

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Permalink Reply by Robert Jango on March 29, 2012 at 6:39pm

I'm thinking sulfer dioxide, but I'm not sure.

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Permalink Reply by Corey Scherrer on March 29, 2012 at 9:19pm

Well if it's plants that are giving it off understand at night they give off CO2 and during the day take it in, most likely it is....however... if there is a great deal of organic waste in the bottom of your tank it will break down and produce methane gas. In this instance you will most likely develop a mold problem depending on the lighting and current (low light & low current is what mold/fungus thrives in). I would do your research and take the right measures to ensure it stops if it were in fact methane gas. Also if you have under-gravel filtration, that will definitely create gaseous problems and this is known to many aquarium enthusiasts. Though some people swear by those types of filtrations systems i don't believe anyone can deny it is an ever present issue.

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Permalink Reply by Barb Thompson on March 30, 2012 at 8:09am

It is a new set up so not too much waste yet. Coming from the soil. I don't think plants make that much gas from their roots?

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Permalink Reply by Jason DuBois on March 30, 2012 at 3:54pm

It's probably just air. When did you dirt the tank?

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Permalink Reply by Barb Thompson on March 30, 2012 at 7:23pm

Last Sunday. I presoaked the dirt a couple days first.

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Permalink Reply by Jason DuBois on March 30, 2012 at 10:14pm

I say air. It's hard to imagine decay happening that quick. Do you have fish in it yet? Are they healthy looking/acting?

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Permalink Reply by Darren G. on April 1, 2012 at 7:38pm

Ya that would be methane seeping up through your gravel if you have organic material under it like dirt.When it rots it lets out methane gas in small amounts. put a match to it and see if it ignites. Its like lighting a fart on fire!