Charlie,
> I have a 125 gal reef with 150 lbs rock and a 3-4 inch sand bed ,
>it has been running for about 6 weeks . I have noticed some black areas in
>the sand it doesn't seem to smell of hydrogen sulfide , is there a problem ?
>the tank is going through usual cycling stuff algae etc. I'm changing about
>45 gals of water weekly and tangs snails and crabs seem to be doing there
>thing . Any help will be appreaciated.
Where about is the black areas in the sand bed?
Are they visible as a black mat over the top of the sand bed? (if this is
the case then it is likely to cyanobacteria)
Are they visible as a black smudge on the glass between the sand bed and
the glass? (again this is likely to be cyanobacteria)
Is it visible as a grey/blackening of the sand itself within the sand bed,
either on the side glass or underneath? (this might be due to anaerobic
regions forming in the new sand bed, generating hydrogen sulphide which
manifests itself as the black region. You wont be able to smell the H2S
unless you disturb the region and allow it into the water column, which you
should NOT do)
No matter which of the above three options it is there is nothing to worry
about, and there are no problems. Regions of hydrogen sulphide in the
average reef aquarium are rare, and typically appear when a new sand bed is
set up. Over time they will disappear as the rate of diffusion of oxygen
through the sand bed catches up with the various oxidation processing
occurring in there.
Catch ya,
DBW | The Caretaker, OZ REEF Marine Park
Melbourne | http://ozreef.org/
Australia | [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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