New Tank Particulates

[frannypanny]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Thanks!

 

[frannypanny]

Hello and Welcome to R2R! I remember that I rinsed my sand before placing in the tank and the water had the same particles floating at the top. I did several rinses before most of it was gone. Once I added water to the tank, I had some particles floating which were then gone after they went into the overflow. Hopefully that's all that you are dealing with.

Thank you for the suggestion. We got live sand so we didn't wash it.

Oddly, this morning it's gone

 

[frannypanny]

Welcome to your new home for saltwater reef aquarium resources and fun! Welcome to the family!

Thank you

 

[vetteguy53081]

 

[tharbin]

Thank you for the suggestion. We got live sand so we didn't wash it.

Oddly, this morning it's gone

It was most likely from the sand then. All should be good.

 

[Jimbhoy13]

Welcome to R2R and back to the salty world.

 

[frannypanny]

Thank you!

 

[frannypanny]

It was most likely from the sand then. All should be good.

Signs good. Thank you

 

[frannypanny]

Welcome to R2R and back to the salty world.

Thanks

 

[LiveWire]

Welcome to the REEF!!

 

[frannypanny]

Welcome to the REEF!!

Thanks

 

[jsker]

 

[graihg]

My first guess is that particulates are insoluble calcium salts or dried bacteria films that a coming off the surfaces of pipes and pump.

Is there aragonite sand in the aquarium? If so, that can also be source of particles. Sand grains with the slightest bit of an air bubble will suspend them.

Can you capture the particles in a clear container and post a photo of them?

Hey Dan!
I have mid-buoyant particles in my tank that are driving me crazy... never heard of bubbles attaching to argonite sand... but maybe that's what is going on.
How would you eliminate this?
Change sand?

 

[Dan_P]

Hey Dan!
I have mid-buoyant particles in my tank that are driving me crazy... never heard of bubbles attaching to argonite sand... but maybe that's what is going on.
How would you eliminate this?
Change sand?

Not sure what you are experiencing. Can you take photograph under white light of the situation?

Maybe the bubbles attached to the sand grains are from diatoms on the sand making oxygen.

 

[graihg]

Here are two pictures. It's Caribsea ocean direct argonite sand. The tank is 8 months old...I've been contemplating switching the sand out entirely to get rid of these particulates, if it would solve the issue.

 

[Dan_P]

Here are two pictures. It's Caribsea ocean direct argonite sand. The tank is 8 months old...I've been contemplating switching the sand out entirely to get rid of these particulates, if it would solve the issue.

Most annoying.

These particles are large enough to be removed by filtration. Before restarting the aquarium with new sand, consider investigating why the particles aren’t being removed by the filter.

 

[Reef Wizard]

 

[graihg]

Most annoying.

These particles are large enough to be removed by filtration. Before restarting the aquarium with new sand, consider investigating why the particles aren’t being removed by the filter.

I've done some more research and found that the sand I started with (recommended by fish store guy) has a grain size of 0.25-6.5mm. It is the Caribsea's Ocean Direct Caribbean Live Sand. And, after obsessively staring at the convoluted path of random particulates for way too long, I'm nearly 100% convinced it is coming from the sand bed.

Can't do it! Can't stare at these particles anymore...gonna have to change the sand.

Based on what I can find, it seems like the CaribSea's Special Grade Dry Sand is the way to go, as long as you rinse it properly. Sounds like a weekend project. Hopefully, the rock has enough bacteria and the biome is disrupted, terribly. Do you know if there is anything I can do in preparation?

 

[Dan_P]

I've done some more research and found that the sand I started with (recommended by fish store guy) has a grain size of 0.25-6.5mm. It is the Caribsea's Ocean Direct Caribbean Live Sand. And, after obsessively staring at the convoluted path of random particulates for way too long, I'm nearly 100% convinced it is coming from the sand bed.

Can't do it! Can't stare at these particles anymore...gonna have to change the sand.

Based on what I can find, it seems like the CaribSea's Special Grade Dry Sand is the way to go, as long as you rinse it properly. Sounds like a weekend project. Hopefully, the rock has enough bacteria and the biome is disrupted, terribly. Do you know if there is anything I can do in preparation?

Good luck!

Sounds like you’ve thought this through. If you monitor ammonia you can easily determine if the rocks have enough “oomph” to clear the ammonia after removing the sand. One approach around the concern for ammonia accumulation is to remove the sand in portions, say 25% at a time.