1 week after dirt conversion, and sand is turning black?

Hello everyone!

I just set up a tank (10 gallon) on 9-30-11. I have a 1 inch dirt, with a 1 inch sand cap. I planted it with 12 Crypt Balanease, petchti, and a few wendtii. I also added 40 ish trumpit snails that I placed in there when I filled it up at the start. I am floating duckweed, I have phylidendrums growing out of the tank, and I am floating anubias Barteri. I have been doing water changes every two days, taking out 80-90%. I have not seen a algea bloom, but I did notice that my sand was turning black...

I ran my finger through the sand to see if it smelt, but it did not. What is going on? Please help me, because I have the rest of my Anubias coming in tomorrow to plant another 10 gallon dirt tank.....

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Permalink Reply by Hmoobthor on October 6, 2011 at 6:49pm

anaerobic gas build up cause the sand to turn brown ..sometimes black.

You're snail will have to do the work to oxygen the sand and dirt.

I hope everything work for you....ur plants might die

Been there ...done that..

SAND IS NOT RECOMMENDED IN A DIRT TANK!!!

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Permalink Reply by Katie (kdv9tb) on October 6, 2011 at 7:29pm

So what could I change to not have the build up? Why in my other tanks, that have a 3 inch sandbed, do I not have this issue? I have the same amount on snails in each of those tanks as well..... confusing.

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Permalink Reply by Hmoobthor on October 6, 2011 at 7:32pm

are all ur tank dirted?

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Permalink Reply by Katie (kdv9tb) on October 6, 2011 at 7:58pm

No. This is the first tank that is dirt, but I am using this same set-up for 1 more 10 gallon and a 50 gallon. I am worried that this is going to end badly. I see people though that do this same set-up with good results. I just dont know what to do. Should I take sand out? Do a smaller cap?