Sand turning black/grey?

Hey guys, i need some help ASAP!

Some places on my sand is turning gray or blackish. Its looks really freaky and looks disgusting. What is it? Can i just stir it up and fix it that way? Please help!

 

Those are most likely areas of hydrogen sulfide gas. It is extremely poisonous to your live stock and will provide fuel for algae. Increase your circulation and aeration level and slowly stir each area. Let the tank settle for a few hours or days before going to the next area. This is what I would do. Hopefully some who have experienced this will help out. Also aerate the house when you do this.

 

Are you sure? Its on top of the sand and its not like airbubbles. Its just like the sand has grey coating on top of it. Doesnt look like gas to me

 

Post a picture please.

 

Definitely post a pic...sounds like detritus or maybe cyano (it can be black).

However, I would NOT stir the sandbed...I've seen peeps nuke their tanks that way as there are compounds in the anoxic layers of your substrate that you do NOT want in your water column.

 

It looks alot like detritus. I dont have any nassarius snails yet to aerate the sand.

 

Move to------Sand.