I usually add Dolomite Limestone to my tank for deco that I get out of a ditch near my parent's house. Recently I added a rock had some Lichen on it and thought nothing of it. The area with the lichen on it was buried beneath the sand.
I have never had problems and always rinse the rocks before adding, but this time was different. After sitting in there for maybe 2 or 3 weeks, the tank began to smell. Once I moved the rock out of the sand, the bottom where the lichen was had turned pitch black and dumped a load of black sand like material everywhere. The smell of it was somewhat like sewer.
Over 3 days I have done 2 50% water changes and got most if not all of the black dust out and the smell is sort of going away, its still noticable however.
What is this stuff exactly and is it harmful to my fish? Is there something I should do more than what I am or just continue with vigorous WCs? Has anyone had experience with this before?
This tank is my GSP tank, and they do NOT handle water problems very well at all and has shown stress ever since the black dust was introduced. I just desperately don't want to lose the fish I got 3 weeks ago.
I have never had problems and always rinse the rocks before adding, but this time was different. After sitting in there for maybe 2 or 3 weeks, the tank began to smell. Once I moved the rock out of the sand, the bottom where the lichen was had turned pitch black and dumped a load of black sand like material everywhere. The smell of it was somewhat like sewer.
Over 3 days I have done 2 50% water changes and got most if not all of the black dust out and the smell is sort of going away, its still noticable however.
What is this stuff exactly and is it harmful to my fish? Is there something I should do more than what I am or just continue with vigorous WCs? Has anyone had experience with this before?
This tank is my GSP tank, and they do NOT handle water problems very well at all and has shown stress ever since the black dust was introduced. I just desperately don't want to lose the fish I got 3 weeks ago.
