First hard lesson learned...

Mikee002 · 02/15/2017, 03:09 PM

After my water was added and salt mixed, I added my live sand. I didn't want to rinse my sand since it was live, and it looked like it was fairly larger particles. It took 2 days to settle and the whole top layer is fines. I turned the powerheads on and it instantly clouded. Now I have to empty the tank, remove all the sand and rinse it...

jpcemc · 02/15/2017, 03:19 PM

It will clear up on its own. I just added sand to my 32G BioCube and after a day it is crystal clear even with powerheads on.

Sk8r · 02/15/2017, 03:20 PM

It'll clear. When dust gets kicked up, it'll circulate until bacterial growth on particulate begins to 'glue' it back down.

Mikee002 · 02/15/2017, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpcemc

It will clear up on its own. I just added sand to my 32G BioCube and after a day it is crystal clear even with powerheads on.

Yea, I feel like I'm always going to be battling dust storms if I don't take care of the problem now. Trust me, is rather not though, lol.

Potatohead · 02/15/2017, 03:22 PM

I agree - If the tank is just cycling, just leave it

GimpyFin · 02/15/2017, 03:23 PM

Yep, you didn't do anything wrong, and live sand you don't generally want to rinse (If it's in fact live.) I've rinsed dry aragonite 3-4 times before putting it in the tank and it still came out cloudy. You just have to run your filtration and let it settle.

jpcemc · 02/15/2017, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikee002

Yea, I feel like I'm always going to be battling dust storms if I don't take care of the problem now. Trust me, is rather not though, lol.

Your call, but I personally wouldn't mess with it. It will settle down, trust me. It just takes some time.

Mikee002 · 02/15/2017, 03:27 PM

Hmm... That makes me feel better. I didn't feel like spending a day emptying, rinsing and refilling.

deputydawg88 · 02/15/2017, 03:28 PM

I did the same recently (a few weeks ago) and it cleared up in a day or two, just let it settle. You might have to give the glass a bit of a wipe down but that's it, that's all I had to do once all the sediment had settled at least...

Mikee002 · 02/15/2017, 03:30 PM

Cool... Thanks for the reassurance

billdogg · 02/15/2017, 05:14 PM

To help clear it up, you can use a old canister filter stuffed with filter floss (pillow stuffing from wallyworld). It will help get a lot of the very fine stuff out. Because it's a new tank, I'd keep stirring the sand about daily to allow the canister to get the bulk of it out. If you have access to one, a Diatom filter will clear it out in a couple hours. I have a Vortex XL that I use about twice a year for that purpose.

Mikee002 · 02/15/2017, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billdogg

To help clear it up, you can use a old canister filter stuffed with filter floss (pillow stuffing from wallyworld). It will help get a lot of the very fine stuff out. Because it's a new tank, I'd keep stirring the sand about daily to allow the canister to get the bulk of it out. If you have access to one, a Diatom filter will clear it out in a couple hours. I have a Vortex XL that I use about twice a year for that purpose.

Thanks... I'll have to look through Craigslist to see if I can pick one up for cheap.

Goatonfly · 02/15/2017, 09:05 PM

What kind of powerheads do you have and are they controllable? My sand is pretty fine and I can't turn my MP10 over about 50% with my koraila on too.

But like the others have said sand will eventually settle.

Mikee002 · 02/16/2017, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goatonfly

What kind of powerheads do you have and are they controllable? My sand is pretty fine and I can't turn my MP10 over about 50% with my koraila on too.

But like the others have said sand will eventually settle.

I have the jaebo pp-8. Even on the lowest setting it makes a sandstorm :/

billdogg · 02/16/2017, 06:36 PM

Point them up towards the surface. You will improve oxygen exchange and at the very least, minimize the sandstorms

Knighthawk · 02/16/2017, 06:39 PM

Turn the power head up towards the surface and get some filter floss. You will get it cleared up

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Mikee002 · 02/16/2017, 06:41 PM

I'll do that. I also picked up a canister filter on OfferUp so I'll take billdoggs suggestion and clear up a lot of the fines that way.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

gone fishin · 02/17/2017, 08:56 AM

I agree with bill about the floss. It sounds like things are progressing nicely for you.

MG98 · 02/18/2017, 09:03 AM

Filter floss and your lfs probably has some liquid stuff that causes sand and debris to bunch together which makes the filter more effective. Adding it can clear a tank in a couple hours.

Mikee002 · 02/18/2017, 09:07 AM

Picking up the canister filter tmrw hopefully. How tightly should I pack the canister with the floss?

Mikee002 · 02/23/2017, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billdogg

To help clear it up, you can use a old canister filter stuffed with filter floss (pillow stuffing from wallyworld). It will help get a lot of the very fine stuff out. Because it's a new tank, I'd keep stirring the sand about daily to allow the canister to get the bulk of it out. If you have access to one, a Diatom filter will clear it out in a couple hours. I have a Vortex XL that I use about twice a year for that purpose.

How tightly do you pack the stuffing? I just picked up a used filter today. Thanks

billdogg · 02/23/2017, 06:52 PM

I just sorta stuff a couple handfuls in. It is relatively springy ( it is pillow stuffing after all) If it's a pia to close it up then that's just about right.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

kegogut · 02/23/2017, 06:58 PM

I too would leave it be and let it settle. Not a terribly hard lesson to learn. My first hard lesson was that I shouldnt use SW as top off water...lolz.

Mikee002 · 02/23/2017, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billdogg

I just sorta stuff a couple handfuls in. It is relatively springy ( it is pillow stuffing after all) If it's a pia to close it up then that's just about right.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks for the advice

Hemlawk · 02/23/2017, 07:11 PM

I'm about to start my first reef. It's good to know that this will happen to me and it's normal.

02/15/2017, 03:09 PM	#1
Mikee002 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 118	First hard lesson learned... After my water was added and salt mixed, I added my live sand. I didn't want to rinse my sand since it was live, and it looked like it was fairly larger particles. It took 2 days to settle and the whole top layer is fines. I turned the powerheads on and it instantly clouded. Now I have to empty the tank, remove all the sand and rinse it...

02/15/2017, 03:19 PM	#2
jpcemc Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Montana Posts: 129	It will clear up on its own. I just added sand to my 32G BioCube and after a day it is crystal clear even with powerheads on. __________________ 75G, 40G and 32G Tanks. Novice, but love the hobby.

02/15/2017, 03:20 PM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	It'll clear. When dust gets kicked up, it'll circulate until bacterial growth on particulate begins to 'glue' it back down. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

02/15/2017, 03:23 PM	#6
GimpyFin Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 2,032	Yep, you didn't do anything wrong, and live sand you don't generally want to rinse (If it's in fact live.) I've rinsed dry aragonite 3-4 times before putting it in the tank and it still came out cloudy. You just have to run your filtration and let it settle. __________________ Brian Current Tank Info: 110 gallon

02/15/2017, 05:14 PM	#11
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	To help clear it up, you can use a old canister filter stuffed with filter floss (pillow stuffing from wallyworld). It will help get a lot of the very fine stuff out. Because it's a new tank, I'd keep stirring the sand about daily to allow the canister to get the bulk of it out. If you have access to one, a Diatom filter will clear it out in a couple hours. I have a Vortex XL that I use about twice a year for that purpose. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

02/15/2017, 03:22 PM	#5
Potatohead Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Vancouver Posts: 1,596	I agree - If the tank is just cycling, just leave it

02/15/2017, 03:27 PM	#8
Mikee002 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 118	Hmm... That makes me feel better. I didn't feel like spending a day emptying, rinsing and refilling.

02/15/2017, 03:28 PM	#9
deputydawg88 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 141	I did the same recently (a few weeks ago) and it cleared up in a day or two, just let it settle. You might have to give the glass a bit of a wipe down but that's it, that's all I had to do once all the sediment had settled at least...

02/15/2017, 03:30 PM	#10
Mikee002 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 118	Cool... Thanks for the reassurance

02/15/2017, 09:05 PM	#13
Goatonfly Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 113	What kind of powerheads do you have and are they controllable? My sand is pretty fine and I can't turn my MP10 over about 50% with my koraila on too. But like the others have said sand will eventually settle.

02/16/2017, 06:36 PM	#15
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	Point them up towards the surface. You will improve oxygen exchange and at the very least, minimize the sandstorms __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

02/16/2017, 06:39 PM	#16
Knighthawk Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 167	Turn the power head up towards the surface and get some filter floss. You will get it cleared up Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

02/16/2017, 06:41 PM	#17
Mikee002 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 118	I'll do that. I also picked up a canister filter on OfferUp so I'll take billdoggs suggestion and clear up a lot of the fines that way. Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

02/17/2017, 08:56 AM	#18
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	I agree with bill about the floss. It sounds like things are progressing nicely for you. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

02/18/2017, 09:03 AM	#19
MG98 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 81	Filter floss and your lfs probably has some liquid stuff that causes sand and debris to bunch together which makes the filter more effective. Adding it can clear a tank in a couple hours.

02/18/2017, 09:07 AM	#20
Mikee002 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 118	Picking up the canister filter tmrw hopefully. How tightly should I pack the canister with the floss?

02/23/2017, 06:52 PM	#22
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I just sorta stuff a couple handfuls in. It is relatively springy ( it is pillow stuffing after all) If it's a pia to close it up then that's just about right. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

02/23/2017, 06:58 PM	#23
kegogut Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: St.Louis Posts: 5,052	I too would leave it be and let it settle. Not a terribly hard lesson to learn. My first hard lesson was that I shouldnt use SW as top off water...lolz. __________________ Dave. "I have learned all kinds of things from my many mistakes. The one thing I never learn is to stop making them." --Nicomo Cosca. Current Tank Info: 225 mixed w/ 225 sump 550 lbs live rock,3x MarinePure ceramic blocks,Skimz SM201,Geo 618 CR,Vectra L1,DOS automatic water changes,3x 250w MH w/ 4x actinic T5,All ran by Apex thru Fusion.--57 community tank w/ OR T-247,120 nem tank.

02/23/2017, 07:11 PM	#25
Hemlawk Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 20	I'm about to start my first reef. It's good to know that this will happen to me and it's normal.