Sand Never Settled....What Now?

ProHaloSniper

ProHaloSniper

New member
Hello.

I put approx. 50lbs of standard Lowes Playsand into my SW Tank to be and the dust seemed to have never settled?!!?

I spent over $50 in RO water and am quite unhappy.

I have two questions:

1. WHat is the next step? Should I dump it all out and start over? I really would rather not because I have already mixed the salt in it.

2. Is the water's "pure" qualities affected at all by the sand's dust? Is there a way to filter out the dust possibly to save the water?

Please let me know, as this has really ruined my day :P

--Jim C.

If you have any suggestions, please please please post them!!!!!!
 
How long ago did you dump the sand in? It could take a couple days till it will be perfectly clear. It helps to have your skimmer running also.
 
Run a cannister filter with filtering media (like polyfilter) and it will clear up the water.

Once that, the water should be ok.

Carlos
 
It will take a few days. What i did was i ran my skimmer and a power filter. I also turned off my power heads. It took mine about 3 days and it was pretty clear. I had used the pulverized limestone and it was really cloudy.
 
Like scottdwh said...(if you have one) run a canister for a day or so.

If you don't have a canister, you can attach some poly material to your overflow outlets into your sump.

As the "dust" goes into the over flow it will get caught in the poly filter...You can buy a whole bunch cheap at a Walmart or other Home Hobby store.

I just cut a piece and rubberbanded the material to the outlet openings and then each day for a few days I changed them out and threw them away.

NOTE: I would not do this full time. Only do it to clear the "dust" that won't settle in your tank. Once it has settled take it off.

Also...Don't confuse dust with PODS. During my cycle (before fish) I added some culture water and sand (from a locals tank). I had an explolsion of pods in my tank...Looks like a snow storm in the tank....You don't want to filter them out.
 
Agree with all of the recommendations to run some mechanical filtering. You will also find that as the cycle gets going the sand will become "sticky" with bacteria and that will help to get some of it out of suspension.
 
First, put a T joint on for a nozzle, and this will calm your flow if it is kicking up fine sand and dust.

Secondly, sand acquires a bacterial coating during cyclingb, and this will cause it to 'stick together' a bit better: the older your sand gets, the more it will stay put.
 
Bum a few cups of live sand out of friends established systems. Once the bacteria gets a jump start the sand will settle like a rock.
 
Thanks to all. I took Carlos' advice and put some PolyFiber in my media containers of my Emperor 400. I do not yet have a canister filter. I also turned off my powerheads. I will try and get some live sand to layer on top of my cheap substrate.

Thanks for all the help.

HOPEFULLY this will clear up and I wont have to start all over.

--Jim C.
 
Did you rinse the sand before you put it in the tank?? Hope so. It may "settle" but every time you move a rock the cloud will be back.
Mechanical filtration may save you.
Don't use sand From a hardware. That sand may have stored next to the Round Up!! And you wonder why things don't flourish in your tank.
R
 
FWIW, if you did not rinse the sand before dumping it all in there (I rarely do either) it can take up to a couple weeks to settle. Usually takes a few days but I've had it take alot longer before. Running mechanical filtering is all I've ever done to remove it, used canisters, work fine, I've used HOB filters, worked fine too.
 
I don't rinse my sand since its the fines that benefit a deep sand bed. Its worth the temporary milkshake when its all said and done though.
 
I agree, just be patient, I'd turn the powerhead s back on, you gotta turn them on eventually anyways right? Might as well let the sand settle with them. I've seen it take a week+ for a new tank. Just be patient, DO NOT start over, you'll be right back in the same position. Play sand will be fine, just give it a little time.
 
Sorry guys.

I am a very impatient person when it comes to something I could have avoided.

I dumped it :(

Starting over tomorrow with new RO water and LIVE SAND that wont cloud like that!

Thanks for all the responses.

--Jim C.
 
You are going to get some clouding regardless.
Don't get impatient, it will kill you in this hobby. Only bad things happen quickly, all good things take time!
 
Jim,

AZDesertRat is spot on here.

There was no reason to dump that water and start over again, a little time and mechanical filtration would have settled that sand out in your tank.

But that said..I've been there and if there is one painful lesson we can share with you so you can avoid it...is go slow and be patient. Your tank (and your wallet) will be better off.

What the posts said above..were that once your sand gets some life in it...it will cloud less. what it didn't say...is that by using live sand...it won't cloud when you put it in your tank the first time.

Best of luck with your new tank!
 
Hello,
+2 for what AZdesertrat mentioned. Impatience in this hobby = unhealthy tank and $$$$ IMO. This hobby is expensive enough without rushing things. :)

Matt
 
I understand that. I don't rush anything, as my 30 gallon reef is doing just fine.

I just couldn't wait for sand, that I shouldn't have gotten in the first place, wouldn't stop clouding. I was planning on buying my LR soon and getting my tank cycling. Sure can't do that with an orange tank. No aquascaping or nothing. It had to be done.

I don't mind spending the $$ for this hobby, so I should have just bought the live sand to begin with.

Thanks for all the help,

--JIm C.
 
live sand would do the same thing. And for what it's worth, pretty much a waste of money when dry sand will do the exact same thing. The only benefit to buying "live sand" is the bacteria, which you'll end up with anyways using play sand and a little time.
 
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