Cloudy sand

[eagle9252]

this is a new tank and I added about 100 -150 lbs of LIVE SAND. I had the salt mixed and tank looked clear as empty. I did not wash the sand first and of course i have a silt finish to my sand appearing. it has been about 6 hrs since I added it. I turned the pumps off about 2 hrs ago hoping to let it settle. it has settled some but I still cant even remotely see and image on the other side yet.

what should I do next? all I can see is at the glass it has about 1/8" layer of silt.

in a swimming pool you could flock it but I dont think that would be wise.

 

[dakota9]

Seachem Clarity and a filter sock or filter cloth....


And lesson learned.... Always rinse your sand!

Edit: I have a Magnum 350 canister filter with the micron cartridge I would use if I were in your place

 

[eagle9252]

I asked.... and was told not to rise the LIVE SAND. this was from someones tank

 

[sleepyreef]

If you have some type of filter, run some filter floss or filter pad until it clears up. Then throw away the filter floss or pad after it has cleared up. I do not have a sump so this is what I do. Chemi Pure works really good at that final polish to get your water crystal clear also.

 

[sir_cephalopod]

Protein skimmer, filter sock, and time.

 

[dakota9]

You can rinse live sand in saltwater to keep it live...... With water from a recent waterchangee is ideal

 

[eagle9252]

These were taken about 9am about 14hrs after pump was shut off. Now what??? I read people say do different things. Some say leave pump off a couple of days and some say leave the pump on. The later makes sense because LQQK at lakes and ponds after it rains but they still have water movement. I have a PS that was broken and I fixed it (XX fingers crossed) and I did not have a pump so…. I took the pool pump apart and used it and added a venture make up and seems to work but I think it’s not enough bubbles. I could always add an air stone. But in general I might try to add it. The foot print with the redneck setup is too big for in the sump so I might plumb it outside and see what happens. Most of the PS stuff would be another post later.

I just wanted it to be clear today I could see it running. Think I might go to PetSmart and see what they have for filter floss and such to see if I can get the fine parts out. I don’t have any extra money at the moment for a HOB filter or skimmer. I’m so glad I did not have the extra money for some LR.

Another question, after I sifted the crushed coral out of the sand I’m left with sea shells of different sizes, tiny broken pieces and LQQKs like I did get a small couple of pieces of rubble. Do I leave the shells in the sump until I can get some LR or take them out?


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Edit: now that I have this silt in the bottom how do I get it off the sand? I know it's not as simple as adding a cleanup crew now.

 

[gnashty]

If it were me I would gut it and start over. Drain the tank, remove all the sand and put in 5 gal buckets about 1/3 full. Then I would rinse out the sand really well and put it all back together and fill it. I assume you are just setting up and no livestock is going in anytime soon. This is probably the quickest way to get the results you want, should take more than a couple hours and most of that is waiting to drain and fill. It will cost you on salt though....although I would have drained it anyway since thats just a big ole cloud of fish waste at the moment...

I didnt rinse sand once......lesson learned.

 

[dakota9]

No...... don't gut it.....

If you're intersted, I had two magnum 350's with diatom filters. With a little Seachem Clarity, these can clear up the cloudiness and take completely out of your tank.

Edit: I don't like to admit this, but in the old days... I used to diatom my tank regularly with the Magnum (Magnum 350 used to be my avatar too.... wonder why?)

Anyway, every few months, I'd empty the tank and stir the DSB. The water would turn dark brown, almost black. Every time the crap settled on the substrate, I'd re-stir it.

I'd continue to do this until stirring the gravel would create no cloudiness at all, and just fall cleanly back to the bottom.

It wasn't until relatively recently I learned that this was not considered a good, safe practice...

I will say one thing though.... The first time Linda Lee saw my tank, she couldn't believe how crystal clear the water was.....

I don't do as above anymore, but I still occasionally hook the gravel cleaner up to the magnum and lightly vacuum. It really does help with long term water clarity.

They are here if you want to borrow them...

 

[eagle9252]

I did think about draining and starting over. but will try the filter mags before I drain it. pm sent

thanx