Question on sand subtrate

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Daeorn

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 19, 2007
275
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NY
So, after a 4 day adventure, my gravel is all gone, replaced by playsand...


My fish seem to love it, especially kicking it up all the time.

Its a 75gal tank, with a Emperor 400 (which I want to save up to replace with a 100gal Canister tank).

I guess my real question is, am I resigned to have to have the tank always a little cloudy? The water is clean, but the fish kick up sand so frequently so far that the tank is now a cloud again lol.

I much prefer the sand for my fish than I did gravel, but I just want to know if theres something I Have to do to provide a clear enviroment.
 
The brackish tank I ran a few years ago had play sand, which did the cloudy thing for some time because playsand IME is a bit dusty. Your fish are simply stirring up some settled dust...Id beef up on my mechanical filtration which will take care if any such cloudyness, as it will over time filter out the dust. :)
 
I agree play sand can be very dusty. I prefer pool filter sand. A bit heavier and a lot cleaner. But eventually your filter will get most of the dust from your sand and the water will clear up.
 
I tried to find pool filter sand and they didn't have any at the time at the pool place or home depot. So, being impatient hah, I went with the play sand.

I just wanted to make sure and clear any concerns that this is relatively normal.

Thanks guys :)
 
Add a 1" layer of filter floss to your filter & keep changing it out whenever it gets clogged. It will "polish" your water crystal clear. I use it in all my HOB & canister filters.
 
I had playsand. It looks really nice. I am afraid that it is only a matter of time before your Emperor starts grinding very loudly though. All it takes is one grain of sand, and with your fish kicking up the sand, it will definitaley happen. The canister that you save up for will work very well with the sand though.
 
Should have waited. If you want to clear it up a bit faster, grab your siphon and start a gravity drain. Find a way to crimp the hose to slow the flow and then lightly flip the sand to suck up the smaller particles. I always do this after I add sand to keep my filter from eating all the sand. I've burned up a motor that way.
 
As an update, Most of the dust has been filtered from the tank.

Its still a little cloudy, but everything is visable, and the sand itself has already gotten heavier. When someone disturbs it, it settles almost instantly.

My Geophageus has rearranged all the sand in my tank, which is quite amusing. I really guess I have nothing to worry about when it comes to dangerous gasses building up with him in there hard at work.

Should be another couple of days to have it at 100%, but I will try your ideas and let you know :)
 
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