Fluorite Cleaning Tips?

[Bizzaro]

Ah damn then what should i do about this layer? i have no plants inside the tank yet.... nor fish cuz i dont have an extra heater.

 

[Bizzaro]

Anyone? Should i just drain the tank and then add all my plants and re fill it slowly and keep i have no idea what to do with the layer of soot.

 

[WyldFya]

Put a powerhead in, and it will gradually sift the dust into the gravel.

 

[Bizzaro]

aim it at the ground or just mid level?

 

[Bizzaro]

This isnt working at all... Should i try this. remove all water from tank to gravel level and refill with a plate? I have ran powerheads its seems to not be working. it shuffles the stuff up in the air.

 

[Sundew]

Umm Ya, I have one bag washing right now. But it doesn't look like the end is near. Ive read i should wash it for a good hour and then add it to my tank. And slowly add water into it and if it clouds just let it settle back down. This is for a little nano and a 60g right now any tip or links to help me out thanks.

I have used washed and unwashed, both are fine, however if you try to plant the unwashed gravel tank while full of water, you can't see where to plant the plants! Laterite is particularly dirty so even after the silt settles out, replanting or otherwise disturbing the gravel will cause cloudy water, so you may want to consider washing part or all of the gravel.

The absolute best way to wash gravel quickly is to buy a plastic water lily pot, sometimes available at Lowes or Home Depot in the pond section. It is a fine meshed, usually square black plastic. The large ones are about 12" x 12" x 8" deep. If the mesh size is correct, it is good for washing most aquarium gravel. Unlike the old bucket method where dirty water has to overflow and be dumped constantly, dirty water and silt run through the mesh, saving time and water. You can sit the pot on saw-horses or a table with a mesh top and clean fifty pounds of gravel in minutes. The only thing it does not work well with is sand, it's too fine for the mesh.

 

[Bizzaro]

That sound like a good idea but the problem is, I got the finner stuff from them. So i might lose al ot of gravel from the mesh if its not small enough. Im just going to pull out all the gravel and rewash it all.... with the hose and bucket way... onces it get a little warmer at night tho or over the weekend.

 

[cszachury]

Interesting thread.

 

[voss345]

yea sundew's idea is really good, i use this to clean gravel as well

 

[Bizzaro]

Failed! Ive been at this for all most a month... Had to drains the hole tank and re added water slowly with a plate.... There is still a layer on top of the gravel that i cant get rid of. I"m starting to think this fine stuff was a really bad idea... I have used the bigger stuff and haven't had this problem. Right now i just drained it all over again. My sponge Filter seem to fail me when it comes time for cleaning.... as soon as i remove them from the tank they spill all the stuff inside them all back into the tank... the power head idea isn't work too. Im starting to think this is a failed attp. Anyone wanna buy this stuff off me? or have any other idea...