Elaine Hill
New Member
I set up a 3ft X 1ft X 1.5 ft aquarium approximately 18 months ago. About 4 months after it was established I noticed that the gravel was turning black in places and that the pH was becoming more acidic. I took some of the gravel and water to my local dealer who said that the problem was anaerobic bacteria in the substrate producing hydrogen sulphide. On their recommendations I removed the fish etc. , cleaned the tank and replaced the gravel with fresh gravel. The problems seemed to be sorted out. I read what I could find on the problem and the advice for dealing with it was the same.
I recently decided to get a larger tank (Jewel Rio 240litre) which is approx. 4ft X 15" X 20". All of the gravel, sand, plants etc. added were new, except for one piece of bogwood from the old tank. All went well until about 7 days after setting up the tank when I noticed some darkening patches (not black, just going greyer) under the bogwood. As a precuation I moved the fish back into their original home (which had been steralised and washed out) and have steralised and washed out the new tank. The only thing to move with the fish was the water and filters, all gravel etc. was added fresh. A week later I have noticed patches of darkening gravel and sand if I look under the tank. This is in a densely planted area and under a rock.
I have 2 Bristlenose plecs, 4 corydoras, 2 moth fish, 5 Harlequin rasboras and one golden gourami. The fish are all healthy and the pH is 7.5 I change 20% of the water weekly and use a gravel cleaner, the tank is well planted and well illuminated for around 10 hours per day, and is located away from direct sunlight. I have had the current fish for about the last year - no additions or losses.
I have wracked my brains but cannot think of anything that I am doing wrong. I appreciate that I did tansfer one piece of bogwood on the first move but I did not tranfer anything on the second, other than water and filters. All of the advice I have received on this problem has said keep the water but this would appear to be the only place where cross contamination could have occurred on the second move. The only way that I can personally think of ruling it out when I move the fish back would be to start my big tank from scratch with completely fresh water and add the fish a few at a time, so I keep 2 tanks running for several weeks.
The other possibility is that I may have discolouration spreading in the substrate which is just that and I am panicking unduly, but having had the problem once I really don't want it again.
Any advice gratefully received as I am rapidly losing confidence in my ability to keep fish! In contrast, I have 3 coldwater fish whose gravel has never given me cause for alarm and a thriving pond. I am located in northern England.
I recently decided to get a larger tank (Jewel Rio 240litre) which is approx. 4ft X 15" X 20". All of the gravel, sand, plants etc. added were new, except for one piece of bogwood from the old tank. All went well until about 7 days after setting up the tank when I noticed some darkening patches (not black, just going greyer) under the bogwood. As a precuation I moved the fish back into their original home (which had been steralised and washed out) and have steralised and washed out the new tank. The only thing to move with the fish was the water and filters, all gravel etc. was added fresh. A week later I have noticed patches of darkening gravel and sand if I look under the tank. This is in a densely planted area and under a rock.
I have 2 Bristlenose plecs, 4 corydoras, 2 moth fish, 5 Harlequin rasboras and one golden gourami. The fish are all healthy and the pH is 7.5 I change 20% of the water weekly and use a gravel cleaner, the tank is well planted and well illuminated for around 10 hours per day, and is located away from direct sunlight. I have had the current fish for about the last year - no additions or losses.
I have wracked my brains but cannot think of anything that I am doing wrong. I appreciate that I did tansfer one piece of bogwood on the first move but I did not tranfer anything on the second, other than water and filters. All of the advice I have received on this problem has said keep the water but this would appear to be the only place where cross contamination could have occurred on the second move. The only way that I can personally think of ruling it out when I move the fish back would be to start my big tank from scratch with completely fresh water and add the fish a few at a time, so I keep 2 tanks running for several weeks.
The other possibility is that I may have discolouration spreading in the substrate which is just that and I am panicking unduly, but having had the problem once I really don't want it again.
Any advice gratefully received as I am rapidly losing confidence in my ability to keep fish! In contrast, I have 3 coldwater fish whose gravel has never given me cause for alarm and a thriving pond. I am located in northern England.
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