Air Bubbles in substrate?

[MonKei]

Over the last few days, I've noticed a lot of really small bubbles coming up from my substrate, often going up with a small peice of sand and then it dropping back when the bubble reaches the top and pops.. and then noticed some air bubbles in my substrate, roughly 2-3 mm in size.. they just started appearing over the last few days.. everything looks to be doing well in the tank, and water tests just fine, so I am not too worried... are these a result of the bacteria in the substrate doing their detoxifying nitrate/nitrite etc to be released into the atmosphere? or is it possibly something that I should worry about? thanks!
-thayer

 

[Anonymous]

are these a result of the bacteria in the substrate doing their detoxifying nitrate/nitrite etc to be released into the atmosphere?

Basically, yes. But I'm not sure about the exact process (what produces what and exactly how).

 

[MonKei]

thanks! this was confirmed by a reef guru at a lfs too. I'll be posting pics

 

[tazdevil]

Nitrate being reduced by anaerobic bacteria to free nitrogen gas is the process, hopefully that's what you've got.