White Sand Turning Black

[Starfishpower]

does anaerobic bacteria show up when it forms or is it rather invisible? patches of my white sand are looking like someone sprinkled in some black sand with it. it has done this before but only in small sections and never stayed very long. this new patch is new so it might go away like the others but im just worried that it might be a build up of something bad; and that when i do my water change here in the next day or so it will get disturbed and be released into the water. it could just be uneaten food. i put some sinking catfish pellets in there, in that area, last night for my black kuhli loaches and im thinking maybe that is what is left of them. if i were to have a significant build up of anaerobic bacteria, and knew about it, how should i deal with it? my guess is to drain about half the water into a bucket, immediately remove the fish to the bucket to avoid a shock from change of temperature, and then stir up the substrate in the empty tank and allow the harmful stuff to escape. replace the fish and what not after that of course. ok what do you guys think?

 

[Stacey13]

Not completely sure here, but I believe the black spots are anaerobic bacteria. I have 4 tanks, all with sand substrate. 3 tanks also contain Malaysian Trumpet Snails. These snails keep the sand stirred up quite well. These tanks don't get the black sand. The 4th tank, the one without the MTS, gets spots of black sand, usually found under pieces of rock. My suggestion? A simple stirring of the sand during you weekly water change. The black spots will dissipate almost immediately, and it does no harm to the fish. Or get some MTS, but be warned, they breed uncontrollably, and frequently get into the filters.

 

[Starfishpower]

ok thanks, and ya it has formed near a rock. i have one MTS, every time i buy new plants i keep forgeting to tell the lfs guy to throw some more of those in, iv been meaning to get more.

 

[rabbut]

Yer, most likely an anairobic patch.

Best bet is to stir the sand. I wouldn't bother removing the fish, as the gas build up will quickly oxidise into harmless components in freshwater, long before doing any damage.

If this problem re-occurs, you need to stir the sand weekly to stop it compacting, avoiding these anairobic patches

HTH
Rabbut

 

[Starfishpower]

stirred it up during the water change, still a little dark streak now but it seems to be fine-and so are my fish, atleast so far ill go get some MTS next weekend. thx 4 all the help