Just got the 65 gal set up with sump and live sand for now. Started everything last night. 80 lbs of ive sand, sump with a Magdrive7. It's been running almost 24hours. The water is much clearer tahn last night but it's still pretty cloudy. can't see the other end of the tank if I lok thu the long way. I'm guessing a few more days of this? Haven't added LR yet, but will be hopefully tomorrow. Should I be worried about the cloudy water?
Cloudy water
- Thread starter taat2d
- Start date
if your adding uncured lr then you might get some cloudiness.not to worry it will clear and as far as testing i would wait a week before you start seeing any change in ammo and such.i mean if your start the first day you'll just be wasting test fluid.lol.i didnt test when i started my 90 gal upgrade until like 2 weeks into the setup because i already knew more or less when everything would start spiking.
- Location
- Upper East Side
Are you running carbon or anything? That should help clear up your water faster.
I I agree with Deelucky. The only thing I would advise on is since you put the sand in first I would push it all to one side or antoher in order for you to lay the LR on the glass. You want a stable surface for the rocks so that when you do add fish they don't dig the sand up and cause a rock slide.
No carbon. Where shoud I put it in the sump? Can I just put it in a sock and lay it under where the bio balls would go? Also how often should I change it? I mean on the very bottom of the sump under the bio ball spot.
- Location
- Upper East Side
I put my carbon in a filter sock and just toss it into my sump. I'm using a 10g tank for my sump, so I'm not sure exactly where you'd put it in your set up. Since I'm using just plain carbon, I change mine every 3-4 weeks. There is another water clearing product called "SeaChem" that only needs to be changes every 6 weeks.
carbon is good to clear up the water.if your putting it in your sump then place it in the filter sock.i for one dont run no carbon in my tank.my water is crystal clear with no odor.you can ask others what are the +side to running it.
- Location
- NY
At this time, carbon won't be any help. Carbon will help remove impurities and yellowing of the water. What you're experiencing right now is just the fine grains of sand suspended in the water column.
As Steve said, make sure when you add the LR you push it all the way down to the glass/acrylic bottom. Any space between the rock and the glass bottom is room for a fish or invert to dig underneath and create an unstable structure above it.
Adding the LR and stirring up the sand will most likely create another sandstorm. Keep a turkey baster (use glass or plastic, not metal) handy to blow the sand off the LR after it settles out of suspension.
I like to test my water parameters on a new tank the day after I add LR. I want to know when the cycle starts and I can follow it as it spikes and retreats through each phase. It's almost as if you can 'see' the bacteria colonies grow.....through testing. Cheap enjoyment for me
Russ
As Steve said, make sure when you add the LR you push it all the way down to the glass/acrylic bottom. Any space between the rock and the glass bottom is room for a fish or invert to dig underneath and create an unstable structure above it.
Adding the LR and stirring up the sand will most likely create another sandstorm. Keep a turkey baster (use glass or plastic, not metal) handy to blow the sand off the LR after it settles out of suspension.
I like to test my water parameters on a new tank the day after I add LR. I want to know when the cycle starts and I can follow it as it spikes and retreats through each phase. It's almost as if you can 'see' the bacteria colonies grow.....through testing. Cheap enjoyment for me
Russ
- Location
- Upper East Side
Though I don't know anything about brackish fish keeping, I believe that you need specific test kits for salt water. You should start out with pH, Ammonia, Nitrite Nitrate and Phosphate. After your initial cycle, you should invest in Calcium and Alkalinity at the very least.
I agree with Russ. Carbon won't help you to clear up the standstorm. Some people say that after you add your LR the bateria in it will colonize throughout your tank and help to bind the suspended sand. This is a pic of my sand storm. It looked like milk for about 2 weeks!
This is after about 2 weeks.
This is after about 2 weeks.
i dont believe that bacteria binds the sand and the cloudiness you get from the sand isnt sand its self just a residue thats why they say to rinse the sand as best possible to reduce the amount of cloudiness.and you guys are correct about the carbon as it wont clear cloudiness but just polishes the water removing odor and certain impurities.
Bacteria colonizes the sand residue in the water column, causing it to settle faster.
i got you thnx
- Location
- NY
Here's four progression pix of me adding fine Southdown (original SD ) to my new tank. ALL PIX were taken the same day.
Pre-sand:
Sand and black plastic garbage bag cut to the shape of the tank (water just starting to fill tank):
Almost full:
Aquascaped the same day:
No need to experience a sandstorm if you follow this pictorial
swimmer
) to my new tank. ALL PIX were taken the same day.Pre-sand:
Sand and black plastic garbage bag cut to the shape of the tank (water just starting to fill tank):
Almost full:
Aquascaped the same day:
No need to experience a sandstorm if you follow this pictorial
swimmer
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