adding pool filter sand

[sbrodacz]

I put some play sand in my tank today and really do not like it very much. I washed it forever and the tank still got cloudy. I'm about to head over to my local pool store to get some pool filter sand, do I have to take the play sand out or can I just throw the pool filter sand on top of it? There is not much play sand in there. The bottom of the tank has a very thin layer. It's a 125 gallon tank. I'm trying to get the tank cycled, should I take some water out to help get rid of the cloudiness or just leave it a lone. The cloudiness isn't horrible...

[joedodge]

the sand will mix fine just wash the pfs well also it says prerinsed but still rinse it and yes water changes will help with the cloudyness or you can put some poly fill in your filter and let it filter out the fine particles

[iloveoscars702]

i would take out the play sand, btw make sure you wash the pfs too. once you add the pfs just let the tank run, make sure you check your mech filtration because it'll clog faster, but everything will settle down in a day or two.

[missmary]

I had the same clouding issue when I tried play sand.

Pfs is definitely better IMO. To rinse is, just get a bucket (5 gallon maybe) and fill it 1/3 of the way with the pfs. Fill the bucket with cool water until it is overflowing and churn the sand to clear it of the fine, dusty particles. The pfs I bought from Lowes hardware seemed to sink very well and little sand actually escaped the bucket (just don't churn it too hard!)

After I put the sand in the aquarium, I let it sit overnight with the filters off as I didn't want to risk damaging the impellers. The next morning, it looked pretty good. Did a 1/3 water change, turned the filters on and viola! Beautiful and substrate and crustal clear water.

[sbrodacz]

Wow is all I can say at the difference between play sand and pool filter sand. When You put the play sand in a bucket and try cleaning it, it take for ever to get the water in the bucket semi clear. When you put the pool filter sand in the bucket and add water its already crystal clear. I just finished adding the pool filter sand to the tank it's still pretty cloudy, I'll see how it is tomorrow afternoon. I hope the fish in there will be ok. :( I left the play sand in there as their was hardly enough just to cover the glass bottom and I was adding a good amount of pool filter sand over it.

[sbrodacz]

Well, it's only been a couple of hours and the tank is already starting to clear up a lot. The sump must really be doing it's job.

[jojo727]

good info here. i bought 150lbs of pfs for my 135g that i'll be rinsing today, how much did you put in your 125g and how deep is it now?

[TheFishJunky]

I had the same clouding issue when I tried play sand.

Pfs is definitely better IMO. To rinse is, just get a bucket (5 gallon maybe) and fill it 1/3 of the way with the pfs. Fill the bucket with cool water until it is overflowing and churn the sand to clear it of the fine, dusty particles. The pfs I bought from Lowes hardware seemed to sink very well and little sand actually escaped the bucket (just don't churn it too hard!)

After I put the sand in the aquarium, I let it sit overnight with the filters off as I didn't want to risk damaging the impellers. The next morning, it looked pretty good. Did a 1/3 water change, turned the filters on and viola! Beautiful and substrate and crustal clear water.
good advice ~ listen to miss mary.

[sbrodacz]

good info here. i bought 150lbs of pfs for my 135g that i'll be rinsing today, how much did you put in your 125g and how deep is it now?

So far I've put 50 lbs in and it's almost completely over the trim. I did buy 100 lbs, I haven't added the rest yet. I'm not sure if I need too.

[jojo727]

ok thanks. I added the 150lbs of sand to my tank yesterday. I rinsed it well and it clouded the tank some but the water level was only half way, I will continue to fill the tank with RO water today.

[sbrodacz]

Mine clouded the thank for a few hours and then it seemed to go away. It wasn't bad at all.

[jojo727]

Maybe I didnt rinse mine as well as I thought then, it's been about 24hrs and it's still a bit cloudy. I just pump a ph in just to get the water moving so it doesnt become stagnant.

[sbrodacz]

Honestly, I really didn't wash the pool filter sand all that well. I pour a 50 lb bag in a 5 gallon bucket, filled it with water mixed the sand around for a few mines and then continued to over fill the bucket for another few minutes. Your could just seem cloudier because you have a lot less water in your tank.

[jojo727]

i did the exact same thing. the tank is full now and it's still cloudy but its ok for now. i'm going to start the return pump with a sponge on it to filter the small sediments out