Fluorite Cleaning Tips?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Ive got most of it under control now. I did a small pump inside the tank to shift it into the gravel. Now the tank is just sitting around harvesting some Plants. I have yet to run a single water change for the plants... I just added the Sponger filter back in after i notice rates getting to high for the plants. I was thinking of just running a 1inch line in the tank to drain the water. I dont want slash back... and just slowly add the water back in.

Side Note... All of you talking about using this stuff... are u talking about the Fine stuff?
 
Ya thats to much of a mess. Ill just seal the tank off really good. Now they are tenting next weekend! XD give me a little more time to make a little box cover for the tubs and support for the walls... (just take left over block from the backyard) Ug.. SHould i also run sponge filter in them? I have 2 that are brand new no bio. ill just add them to the tanks.
ewok;1690657; said:
i have the same darn issue as you... i so wished i never got into fluorite... lol
Click to expand...

Did they tell you what stuff they are using? They told me to look at a site called megaFomes or something that showed and told you about the gas they used...
 
I have used flourite, and flourite sand, and neither has taken more than 2 hours to clear enough to see through, or more than one day to be completely clear. There really is no replacement for hydro sponges, as the other sponges won't catch particulate, as they are far more open celled.
 
I found a very very good instruction on cleaning fluorite from some website by fluke. Here's what I did.

Do this on a warm sunny day outside. However, it's possible inside as I did this in the winter and just used the Laundry tub.

1. Put the fluorite in a bucket and use a hose to blast the fluorite with water
2. Pour out the dark water and repeat the process until you can see through the water and the fluorite. When I did this the water was still quite murky but I could see the fluorite. Kinda.
3. Take a strainer and put the fluorite in there and put it under running water for 10-30s.
4. Spread out the fluorite on another container to dry. You can also use an old towel for this on a sunny day. As I was indoors, I just left the fluorite in a bucket for a day to somewhat dry up. However, it's best if the fluorite is dry when you put it in the tank.
5. Put the fluorite in a tank and place a bowl inside. Slowly fill the bowl and let it overflow onto the fluorite. Keep filling. I removed the bowl when the water was half full and just pointed the hose upwards to fill the tank.

I had to clean the fluorite bit by bit as I had a small 3 gallon bucket. I would put in about 8lbs of fluorite in there at a time. I know this is tedious but in the end it reduces a LOT of headaches in the future.

This is how the tank looked like an hour after it was filled:

P3176774.jpg


It was crystal clear when I woke up the next day. :) I just used filter floss in the filter to capture the fine stuff. This really really helped me as this was my very first Aquarium and still quite a noob with these things. :)
 
Mark my post delete above this one.. i thought i was on another page. Ah gun you did keep your grabel Looks good. still a little red.
 
I got the red fluorite. The only time I get cloudiness now is when I plant or rearrange stuff then I disturb the fluorite but it usually settles in no time.
 
i did 5 bags in about an hour... just used a double layer of window screen in a plastic colinder and blasted the crap out of it with a hose...
 
i didnt clean the flourite. i just lived with the murky water for a few days... its been 4 days now since i redid my tank. the water is crystal clear now... but still with a hint of yellow. (maybe its from the drift wood?)
 
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