how to prevent anarobic gas build up in dirt?

I am going to do a dirted tank in my 125. this is not my first experience with dirt but i noticed in one of my plant holding tanks the other day that anarobic gasses had built up in my dirt and i was wondering how to prevent this from happening again. I thought that and another member elaborated on that since iwould be using multiple substrates dirt and flourite red as my iron source and sand as a cap that if instead of using a layer of dirt then a layer of flourite then a layer sand that if i mixed the dirt and flourite and just capped it with ssand it would prevent the anarobic gasses from building up kind of like how power sand specil does in ammo tanks under aqua soil. would this work ? also does sifting the dirt help prevent the pockets of air ?

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Permalink Reply by Peter on December 11, 2013 at 6:57pm

So long ur cap lets the gasses escape easily u wont get anerobic conditions in ur dirt. If u do make ur cap large were it doesnt let the gasses escape and they start to build up just poke at it with a tooth pick or skewer. Playsand has a reputation on compacting easily and not letting the gasses pass tru. Try using pool filter sand it doesnt conpact like playsand. Sifting the dirt wont make a diff but it will remove lots of woodchips if ur using the miracle grow dirt.

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Permalink Reply by ricky deherrera on January 1, 2014 at 2:59am

update i decided to try something new i have a about a 4 1/2 inch to 5 inch substrate bed first layer is 2 inches of dirt second layer is an inch of flourite third layer is a a little shy of a half inch of dirt last layer is an inch and a half of pool filter sand wondering what your guys' thoughts are on this