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It is the quick crete sand from lows for kids sand boxes. Someone here at FP recommended it saying that it worked fine in thier tank. I thought algea at first sight, but all the algea that i have had in my tank recently has been brown, plus this color only is on the sand.

Is this a sign of an illness in my tank?

All my plants seem to be ok, and I only have 2 clown plecos in the tank and they seem to be ok too.

Anyone know what is going on?

Thanks
highjinx

How old is the gravel??

I have white gravel that over about half a year did the same thing, I am pretty sure that it is only the age of the gravel, the food and chems are prolly slightly changeing the color. Test you water just to be sure nothing else is wrong though.

If it bugs you alot, and you have a tank that you can empty out (not planted) take out all your gravel place in a bucket with 1 part bleach to 3 or 4 parts water. Let it sit over night and the next day rinse for about 45 mins in fresh water, repeat if needed.

The color should return back to a clearer white, but will not return to like new.

I do this every few months. It also helps if you add some (tiny) bit of black sand or gravel it takes down how white, the white gravel looks.

I know you said it is a type of sand if that is the case and you can not bleach it, I would add a little black to tone the white down so it does not look so dirty.


I hope this helps somewhat...
Angel Eel

Last edited by angeleel at 29-Apr-2005 12:27

It is sand NOT gravel correct???

Sand turns a blue grey color, when it is not being stirred enough- it is BAD bacteria and waste- often there are bubbles when stirred- the bubles are BAD for your fish.

id syphon out the bad stuff- and do a large water change

That is why I never use white colored sand. It is such a pain to keep white. It either tuns brown/green with algae, black/brown with fish poop, or some other weird color depending what's wrong. Have you stirred the sand at least every other week and sucked all the junk off the top? It could possibly be algae or just the type of sand your using but if you don't keep up on stirring sand it develops some nasty stuff.

DOH... no i have not been stirring the sand.

What is the best way to release the bacteria with my plants and fish in the tank?

Well I've never had to deal with anaerobic pockets but to be safe I'd probably remove at least most of the fish to a storage container, turn off the filters, stir it, turn on the filters again for a few minutes and put everything back. Without removing the fish I'd chase them all down to the opposite end of the tank and stir little bits of sand at a time. After that I'd repeat stirring every day for awhile until you haven't found any air pockets for 2 or 3 days and then go to the once a week or every other week stirring. You don't want to release large amounts of gas into the water which could kill the fish. I have heard of anearobic pockets releasing and killing all the fish in the tank.

how deep is the sand?

could it be blue algae (pain in the arse to shift)

if it's the nasty bacteria in the tank then it means the sand is too deep (as in thick- urm as in too much) then you need to herd the fish over to one side of the tank and scoop out some sand then do the other side - have some water ready for a good water change (40%) and add some liquid bacteria (stress zyme etc)


James

EH UP!!!

Correct, you must do this now way of getting out of it, like said those pockets will kill your fish.

Sorry I misread the first post *kicks self*

Angel Eel

ok... well I just syphoned out about half of my tank while stirring the sand. All of the sand is back to its normal color ( mainly I think cuz i burried the sand that discolored ) but i and now gonna start stirring the sand once a week. Will this be enough? Oh and one thing I forgot to tell you all, I also have a few stow away MTS in my tank. Only 1 large one so far but quite a few little ones.

lol I hope I did not suck too many out

well we will see how I did, I'm gonna be gone all weekend. Hopefully everything is still alive when I get back

thanks again


Sorry did not read all of the post...
there is about an inch of sand abavoe the frame on the bottum of the tank.

I just noticed this discoloration the other day ( as in the day before yesterday, not a week or so ago and just not want to admit it )

And finially I only have 2 clown plecos in this 55 gallon tank so moviong them is not hard

Last edited by highjinx at 29-Apr-2005 16:26

try and get a few more MTS in there, they will help stir up the sand