In my aqurium when i do water changes i notice in the gravel all kinds of black stuff coming up what is that?

Question

i do water changes every two weeks and only hve 4 fish? whats the deal u think?

Answer 1

That's fish c**p. Buy an under-gravel filter.

Answer 2

Hey, change the "b" in your name to "p" and you got your answer!

Answer 3

Like the others say, it's old fish p**p.

Thats the main reason that you vacum the gravel. Generally a filter wont pick up most of the p**p, so it settles into the gravel and starts to break down.

Ian

Answer 4

Well, this can be a mixture of left over food and fish waste.  Undergravel Filter is good and all...but if you use a gravel cleaner when changing the water, it will get a lot of this stuff up.

If you do regular 10%-20% water changes every 1-2 weeks, just use the gravel cleaner (tube connected to hose), and syphin out some of the water as you clean the gravel...then put in your fresh treated water after you have done this.  It really makes a difference.

Can get these at any pet store or even Wal-Mart rather cheap ($6-$10) for a medium to large one.  They even have the Python Gravel Cleaners...and if you have a huge tank and access to water from next to your tank, these can come in handy, but I personally prefer the medium to big regular gravel cleaners.

Best of Luck!

Answer 5

Its mulm, aka fish c**p and what not. Its the p**p decaying(not so good for the fish). a cheap, simple gravel vac is the best invention ever. It will get the stuff out with a couple water changes.

Answer 6

It is called mulm and it is fish poo that has begun to turn into soil.