Sand turns black

[Brose]

3.5 gal tank 6 marine hermit crabs. Get salt water & sand from where we got the crabs. Every 2 wks my sand turns black. If i don't change w/I 2 days, crabs die & kids cry. I have to redo the whole tank. What's the problem?

 

[Crabs McJones]

Welcome to R2R! Sorry to hear about your troubles. We'll definitely try to help. Can you post pictures of the issue? Also is the sand and water wild collected or from a fish store?

 

[SPR1968]

How old is the tank and has it been cycled? As above pictures might help as well

And Welcome to R2R!!!

 

[mike werner]

Welcome!Like Crabs and SPR1968 said post some pics and some parameters and we will get ya help.

 

[Reefnman2]

Welcome to R2R!

 

[KJ]

Welcome to R2R!!!

 

[albano]

Welcome... is it new, store bought sand, and did you rinse it off first?

 

[The Aquatic Arsenal]

Welcome to R2R!!!

 

[reef lover]

Welcome to r2r! +1 to pics and info.

 

[Quietman]

Welcome Aboard R2R!!!

 

[Retro Reefer]

Welcome to R2R! Your sand is probably turning black from the high organic content and lack of oxygen and sufficient flow in your tank.. I would use store bought sand for aquariums.

 

[dbl]

Welcome to R2R and your new reefing family.

 

[Wolf89]

This is the best place to be for help

 

[Ruben's Reef]

!!! Welcome to R2R !!!

 

[SCReef'n]

Welcome aboard. There is lots of help for you here. Sounds like a issue with ammonia levels. Give the natural cycle a chance. Good luck

 

[lapin]

Howdy

Sounds like your tank is creating ammonia from dead stuff in the sand.
Do you have any rock or filtration?
Are you doing water changes?
If so how much and how often?

 

[bdesign]

Welcome!

 

[Malifry97]

Welcome and id say its an ammonia and lack of flow problem. What are you're parameters, flow and filtration?

 

[BeejReef]

Welcome!

Black is a new one on me. Hope you get to the bottom of it.

 

[LiveWire]

Welcome to the REEF!!