Colored gravel won't come clean

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
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Conor1148

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 16, 2010
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I just got some "budget" aquarium gravel, and it seems I cannot get it to rinse clean! It keeps leaving blue residue on whatever touches it. I assume it's the dye.

Is there anything I can do or is it just unsafe? If it us unsafe, what's a good use for the gravel? That's alot of just wasted money...
 
Yeah, I put a dyed black in one of my SA tanks and while "washing it" clean I ruined our bath tub and several bathroom floor rugs. Even now, 1+ years later when I clean the gravel in the tank I still get residue dye coming off and tainting the water. I'd say save yourself now, and just reinvest in something of better quality. TRUST ME!!!!
 
Same experience with blue gravel. I gave it to a friend and never looked back. My black gravel seems to be of better quality though. The blue stuff is common at wal-mart and is made by the mentally handicapped in a city under the sewers.
 
alright well if i cant get it to work out, i wont use it in my aquarium.

so any suggestions on what i should do with it? i know it was only like $20, but still, thats alot to just go down the drain.
 
use it in the garden lol..

switch to sand-i love it.
 
no-you know, i thought sand would be hard to take care of, but its not! rinse it out before you put it in, then to "clean" it-when i do waterchanges i run my fingers through it-this releases any trapped gases that could end up being harmful if not moved (this happens just because sand packs together tighter than gravel). and then i use a python or hose to do waterchanges... if i see any poop i run the tip of the hose about an inch over those spots to suck up the poo..

sand is easy-just remember that any intakes you might have for filters should be about halfway down the wall-that way sand doesnt get into your filter (canisters) and kill the impeller lol
 
you dont have any problems with your hoses picking up your sand? that and the gas being trapped under it thing were my biggest concerns.
 
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