puzzling situation - possible dumb question

[Star_Rider]

your explanation is very likely the cause.

deep sand substrate can cause pockets of harmful gasses.

it is for this reason I keep MT(malaysian trumpet)snails on hand in my tanks..since the tanks are planted the MTS rummage thru the substrate keeping the substrate 'turned'

it is usually recommended with these deep beds to 'stir' the sand occassionally to preven the formation of these pockets.

Soryy for your loss.

hang in there..keep a watchful eye on the parameters.

 

[magakitty]

Thanks - He started this tank before we learned about deep substrate issues. In fact, we only learned about them when we were setting up the SW tank. I have an over-abundance of MTS in my planted tank, so that will be easy to do.

I am not sure if he ever did a deep vac before on this particular tank. We generally maintain our own tanks - his are the 125 we are speaking of, and the SW, and mine are the 55 g angel/cory tank, the 37 semi-aggressive, the 20 planted community tank and the 5 gal feeder fish breeding tank.

We have a spare 50 gal and a 10 gal. but only have 2 / 20 gal filters to spare - one is running on the back of the angel tank to remain cycled.

We will have to pull all of the rocks tonight
(here's a link to a pic of the 125) http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums...d.php?t=125670

I am thinking that we should pull all of the rocks, set up the 50 and the 10, put the healthy in the 50 and the sick in the 10, and pull some of the substrate out of the 125 and let it finish its re-cycling empty.