How long for the sand to settle??

[gabrito]

I started my 55 gallon tank and the sand has been there for over 36 hours and it is still super cloudy!!
When i did my 10gallon tank it settled overnight.

Is this normal?

 

[kravi]

It takes longer for the sand to settle (almost a parabolic curve) when it is a larger tank. I would recommend, if you are in a rush, to get yourself a regular filter system that hangs off hte bank of the tank. When the cloudiness is gone, take it off (otherwise you'll develope nitrate problems later).

Barring that, just wait a bit.

--Me

 

[gabrito]

thanks! i was getting worried.... i'll just wait. i learned that patience pays in this hobby

 

[Kaiser Tang]

Could take a week+. I remember when I did mine, after it settled, it left this layer of silt behind. I would then siphon it off and that would stirr it up again (slightly). I would let it settle and then siphon some more off. It took over two weeks for everything to settle.

 

[Dert42]

i let mine sit for a day or so.
then i got a slow current going and all the water flowing through plain filter pads.
after about 3 days, it was clear.

 

[TekCat]

As previously said: no worries. When you place LR/LS, the bacteria will be binding very fine sand particles together and this will help them sink faster. Until then just sit tight.

 

[Sk8r]

Over a week---you'll begin to see details emerge from the murk about now. It will gradually become crystal clear without any particulate filtration.

 

[gabrito]

i didn't put any live rock yet, should i wait until everything settle or should i do it now? it's been about 48hs by now

 

[nanoguru]

put it in now - LR will help bacterial growth to attach to fine particles which helps settling

 

[gabrito]

thanks for all the answers! the sand finally settled after 3 days. I put some live base rock to start the cycle. I'm starting to build my sump this week. Later!