Is My Sand Substrate Ok?

[stevenufc]

i have a light coloured sand as substrate, it is now about 4 - 5 weeks into its use and i have noticed that under the surface it is changing to a dark colour (not exactly sure as i am colour blind) seems to be dark blue purple black.....ish


is this normal or am i having kittens for nothing



sorry if this seems really stupid


steve

 

[Betta5]

Maybe poo or algea? Build up of poo or algea you can scrape it with your finger and see if it comes off!

 

[stevenufc]

no i have stirred it up and the sand has changed colour its now darker

my ph = 7.2
ammonia = 0
nitrite is 0.1 - 0.2
nitrate 5

am testing every 2 days fish seem happy enough


steve

 

[dizzied]

Could be anaerobic pockets.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=131373

 

[stevenufc]

dont think they are anaerobic pockets as its immediately under the surface and my sand is only 2cm deep


have hoovered it and done a smal water change will test the water later but water seems ok

 

[Squid]

i have a light coloured sand as substrate, it is now about 4 - 5 weeks into its use and i have noticed that under the surface it is changing to a dark colour (not exactly sure as i am colour blind) seems to be dark blue purple black.....ish


is this normal or am i having kittens for nothing



sorry if this seems really stupid


steve

Sorry if this sounds stupid too, but i looked at my tank a while after i had it and thought the same. I think some of it is actually because of the lighting. The lighting in the tank seems to penetrate to a certain depth, making the top of the sand (a cm, maybe less in some cases) look lighter and giving the impression that the sand is darker below. Does this make sense?

Turn the tank lights out and shine a torch at the side of the substrate (mind the fishies ) and see what it looks like.

Cheers
Squid

 

[stevenufc]

been told by a couple of places not to worry as apparently this happens

something to do with the bacteria

 

[xoedusk]

Can you get a picture? Squid may be right. Here's a picture of what my sand looks like.