New set up water keeps turning purple/black

[Takingtulips]

So I’m starting a new 10 gallon and I’ve been trying to get the cycle going but the water keeps turning a purple ish black color and slime is growing on EVERYTHING. It almost killed my filter. All that’s in there at the moment is plants and driftwood but I’ve never had driftwood turn my water black before. Please help.

 

[Kribensis27]

We need more info. Pics would also be helpful. Could you fill out only the sections of the emergency template asking about the tank? Ignore the fish questions. The slime sounds like cyanobacteria, and that could be bad.

 

[Takingtulips]

I didn’t take any pictures prior to doing a huge water change I totally forgot but I don’t have a heater yet and I don’t have a good light yet I’ve been collecting things slowly for this build. I was just trying to get the cycle going in the substrate and filter as to not waste time. I also am waiting on a new master kit to arrive because my old one started reading insane amounts of ammonia in store bought filtered water so I don’t really have the Parameters either right now

 

[Kribensis27]

I didn’t take any pictures prior to doing a huge water change I totally forgot but I don’t have a heater yet and I don’t have a good light yet I’ve been collecting things slowly for this build. I was just trying to get the cycle going in the substrate and filter as to not waste time. I also am waiting on a new master kit to arrive because my old one started reading insane amounts of ammonia in store bought filtered water so I don’t really have the Parameters either right now

Is there any slime left? Pics of that alone would be good. Parameters shouldn't be a big deal here since you're still cycling.

 

[Takingtulips]

This is the inside of the filter media with some of the black slime, there’s also whiteish translucent slime but I’ve seen that before when I cycled my driftwood for other tanks just a lot less

 

[Dunk2]

This is the inside of the filter media with some of the black slime, there’s also whiteish translucent slime but I’ve seen that before when I cycled my driftwood for other tanks just a lot less

What type of substrate?

 

[Takingtulips]

What type of substrate?

It’s just black sand, no nutrient load no root tabs nothing

 

[Dunk2]

It’s just black sand, no nutrient load no root tabs nothing

I bet that’s the cause. Did you rinse it til you ran out of water?

 

[Kribensis27]

What type of substrate?

Omg, how did I forget to ask the most obvious question

 

[Takingtulips]

I bet that’s the cause. Did you rinse it til you ran out of water?

I rinsed it a bit but since it wasn’t any special substrate I thought it’d be fine, why would it cause slime?

 

[Dunk2]

Omg, how did I forget to ask the most obvious question

Don’t be so hard on yourself. I’m a genius.

I rinsed it a bit but since it wasn’t any special substrate I thought it’d be fine, why would it cause slime?

What’s the brand name?

 

[Takingtulips]

Don’t be so hard on yourself. I’m a genius.


What’s the brand name?

Top fin, I’ve never had an issue with their stuff before but I haven’t used sand before either so ‍♀️

 

[Dunk2]

Top fin, I’ve never had an issue with their stuff before but I haven’t used sand before either so ‍♀

I’ve never used that brand, but at least one other person had the same problem.

 

[Takingtulips]

I’ve never used that brand, but at least one other person had the same problem.

View attachment 764541

Well heck any suggestions on how to fix it?

 

[Dunk2]

Well heck any suggestions on how to fix it?

If it was my tank, I’d likely remove it and buy another brand of sand. I’d probably also get a new filter cartridge (and I almost never recommend replacing a cartridge).

 

[Takingtulips]

I put some ceramic filter media I have for my other tanks in the filter cartridge spot, I was kinda planning on replacing the whole filter eventually anyways

 

[StarGirl]

They said slimy..... wouldnt sand dust just be gritty?

 

[Dunk2]

They said slimy..... wouldnt sand dust just be gritty?

Could be residue from whatever the sand was coated with? Sometimes black sand isn’t really black sand.

 

[Takingtulips]

Could be residue from whatever the sand was coated with? Sometimes black sand isn’t really black sand.

I replaced it tonight with fluval stratum so hopefully this fixes it