What lurking underneath those hollow ornaments

[tennisball]

So, while doing a water change today I decided to move a hollow piece of driftwood just to make some variety for my little Hercules (baby figure 8 ). This is a resin driftwood, not a real driftwood. I HAD intended to use real driftwood, but I really liked the look of this aritificial one, and I decided I'd prefer not to have the water discolored (although in some ways I actually like the dark water). Anyway, I was going to flip the thing over (forgetting that its hollow) and when I did, I think I released some pretty toxic water! It didn't look dirty, but could actually smell something chemical, I believe it to be ammonia. I tested the water- Ammonia= 0.6, Nitrite=0.1, pH=7.9 and SG=1.005. I continued with the water change (taking out a bit more than I had intended). Has anyone else experienced this? I think I might just switch the decor to real driftwood after all.

[purplecandle]

perhaps Hydrogen Sulfide gas from the air pocket.

[tennisball]

Really? It could have been the smell. Is there anythign I should do? Can I prevent it from happening again?

[J-P]

that is actually fairly common when ornaments sit undisturbed for a long time... It is probably best to drill some small holes in the top so the gases can escape.

[LilGreenPuffer]

I've heard about it happening before. It can be really bad if you don't make sure it gets stirred up often enough. Drilling holes would be best - just make sure they're not the right size for fish to get stuck.

[jus85411]

before getting real driftwood make sure it wont rot or anything in the brackish water your F8 needs as an adult. other than that be glad you caught the gas when you did before it could get worse and spike your levels even more!

[RTR]

No ornament or decor should ever sit undisturbed for any period of time unless it is over RFUG and is either solid or drilled to allow flow-through.

Any and all real driftwood will decay in BW faster than in FW. But it still decays, even in FW.

HTH

[j_wishbone]

perhaps Hydrogen Sulfide gas from the air pocket.

if u have sand as substrate eithout turning it it creates a stench...

Is that the same gas??

[Pufferpunk]

Yep. If you upturn the ornament every time you do a WC, it will release the gas.