Colored gravel won't come clean

[12 Volt Man]

if you want to use Coloured gravel, try Estes Brand.

I use the 'black special' colour (because I wanted dark substrate but didn't want sand) and this is what it looks like after 1.5 years:

it retains its coating no problem so far. there is the odd stone that you can see is faded a bit, but I think by the time the gravel is worn out, the tank will be too

 

[Conor1148]

that looks awesome. i really wanted a dark colored sand, but i was afraid of it wreaking havoc so i just got some gravel that "looked cool"

the gravel i have has been soaking, who knows, it may stop giving off dye soon?

 

[jschall]

Get pool filter sand. It costs less than the gravel you got, it's easier to maintain than gravel, and it makes for a more natural look.
Just rinse 2 gallons at a time in a 5 gallon bucket until clear with a garden hose (don't use a sprayer) and remember that dumping cold sand into your tank WILL immediately drop your temperature a LOT. It warms up fast if you just rinse it in hot water after you're done cleaning it.

You can use a regular gravel vacuum to clean it, just lower the flow so that the sand isn't getting sucked up. You don't really need to clean it though, you can just agitate it once in a while as was said before.

 

[Conor1148]

Hey everyone, just thought this was update-worthy.

I got the gravel to run clear after just another rinsing. I suppose I was just being impatient? But thanks for all the help everyone, I know I'll be using sand in my 90 gallon now!

And my tank is complete except for a hood and light fixture, I guess I'll post pictures once I get it.

I don't need the lights to start the cycling, do I?

 

[BODYDUB]

I bought some black gravel from Wal-Mart that no matter how many times I rinsed it, it kept leaving the water a little murky. I finally decided to just throw it away and get some better quality gravel. Live and learn.........

 

[ward1066]

I agree with pool filter sand, rinse it in a 5g bucket and stir with the hose, pool filter sand needs much less rinsing and is heavier (more even grain) so it is difficult to get sucked up in your intakes. make sure your intakes are set high off the bottom and just put some in a plasic cup and release it toward the bottom so I wont cloud the water. here is my tank that I just added white sand to

 

[TheCanuck]

sand dude.

 

[Conor1148]

well umm.. my tank is already full.. is there any good way to get the gravel back out and put sand in?

 

[FLESHY]

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.

If you switch to sand it shouldnt be a problem as long as its a "low lit" freshie. You get into problems when you have high lighting and algae crusts over your sand...no way to get it off, then you just mix it back into your substrate building up more waste causing more algae.

Turn off your filters, run your fingers through the baddie like theres no tomorrow...once a week? Thats what I do. Gasses shouldnt be a problem if you keep the sand bed agitated. When the sand settles down...you go over it high enough to pick up the crap, but not the sand.

Its not as convenient as gravel...but it can be done fairly easily in my opinion. So if you want it go that route.

Moral of the story is that you need to upgrade...now. This stuff is crap. Its probably not good for your fish, and its obviously detracting from the way it looks. No benefits. Throw it in the driveway...thats what Ive been doing with mine. Now we have all sorts of different streaks of color. Millions of years from now that will probably through the alien anthropologists for a spin. "Why on earth did they gather all these substrates from around the world, and why only here?"

 

[jschall]

You can vacuum pool filter sand exactly the same way to vacuum gravel. It's easy, as long as you have a good water changer with adjustable flow (I use the aqueon water changer).

It's not important, though. I have a pretty underfiltered turtle tank (1 rena xp3 on 100 gallons) with pool filter sand, and the sand pretty much stays flawlessly clean. To prove the point: I just stirred it all up after it had been sitting there for about 8 months. The water is almost unnoticably cloudy and the fish are all perfectly fine.