Creating bubble columns under water in Minecraft using soul sand is a common method for vertical transport or decoration. The key is ensuring the water blocks above the soul sand are source blocks.
Understanding Soul Sand Bubble Columns
Soul Sand, when placed at the bottom of a body of water, generates a bubble column that pushes entities upward. This effect requires the water blocks directly above the Soul Sand to be full water source blocks. If the water above is flowing water (created by placing water next to blocks or leaving gaps), the bubble column may not form correctly or at all.
A common and effective way to ensure the water column is filled with source blocks, especially in newly created or modified water areas, is by using kelp.
Step-by-Step Guide Using Kelp
The provided reference outlines a reliable method to create a functional soul sand bubble column using kelp. Here’s how you do it:
- Start with Sand: Temporarily place regular Sand at the location where you want the bubble column.
- Plant Kelp: Plant Kelp on the sand block.
- Grow the Kelp: Either wait for the kelp to grow naturally or use Bonemeal to quickly grow the kelp until it reaches the very top of the water column. This action automatically fills all the water blocks the kelp grows through, turning them into source blocks.
- Break the Bottom Kelp: Once the kelp reaches the surface, break the lowest block of kelp (the one planted on the sand). Breaking the bottom block will cause all the kelk blocks above it to break as well, clearing the column. The water source blocks created by the kelp will remain.
- Replace Sand with Soul Sand: With the water column now filled with source blocks and the kelp cleared, break the temporary sand block and immediately replace it with Soul Sand.
- Activate the Bubble Column: As soon as the Soul Sand is placed, the bubble column will activate, pulling anything directly above it upwards.
Following these steps ensures that the water column above the soul sand consists entirely of source blocks, which is essential for the bubble column mechanism to work as intended.
