So we screwed up, what now?

[BlastedReefer]

I know it's hard but just sleep on it. I truly think everyone will be fine. Just send me pictures when things clear up. And again leave the lights off.

Good morning,

So I woke up this morning to about 2” if standing water in the bottom cabinets of the tank. I guess when replacing the media last night, it wasn’t put back together correctly. ‍ Anyways, got that all cleaned up and fixed. Here is a pic of the tank this morning. The anemones surprisingly look alright, but the corals don’t look happy at all. Should I continue to leave the lights off today? Thanks!

 

[JumboShrimp]

I, too, predict everything will be fine. At first it will seem as if your ‘sandstorm’ will never go away—but lo and behold it will settle in a day or two. Then you might very gently blow off your corals with a turkey baster or something similar.

 

[Kudos]

I would for sure turn those lights on.

 

[BlastedReefer]

I would for sure turn those lights on.

I had to leave for work and left them off since I was not sure. My husband is going back to the house to turn them on. All of the corals were opening up when I left and I feel more confident now than when I woke up that everyone should make it.

I do still have one bag of sand I need to add eventually. Any suggestions on how to do that while avoiding this mess again?

 

[BlastedReefer]

I, too, predict everything will be fine. At first it will seem as if your ‘sandstorm’ will never go away—but lo and behold it will settle in a day or two. Then you might very gently blow off your corals with a turkey baster or something similar.

Yes I will definitely need to do that. I have some hair algae that collected quite a bit of sand.

 

[Reefinmike]

Doh! I was just getting ready to post my distrust of canister filters and then I saw it leaked on you. if that little rubber seal fails then it has the potential to drain your entire tank on the floor all the way down to the bottom of the intake tube. If you must continue on with a canister filter then I highly suggest hanging your power supply up and out of the way, raising the intake tube to only a few inches below the water and sealing off the bottom of your stand such that it can hold the amount of water that could potentially drain. I just don't trust canister filters. The seals are always too finicky.

 

[Aquavaj]

Rinsing the new sand until the water runs clear will greatly reduce this problem. No biggie if you don't cause it'll clear up overnight.

 

[BlastedReefer]

Rinsing the new sand until the water runs clear will greatly reduce this problem. No biggie if you don't cause it'll clear up overnight.

But it’s live sand... I was under the impression NOT to rinse? It even says it on the bag.

 

[BlastedReefer]

Doh! I was just getting ready to post my distrust of canister filters and then I saw it leaked on you. if that little rubber seal fails then it has the potential to drain your entire tank on the floor all the way down to the bottom of the intake tube. If you must continue on with a canister filter then I highly suggest hanging your power supply up and out of the way, raising the intake tube to only a few inches below the water and sealing off the bottom of your stand such that it can hold the amount of water that could potentially drain. I just don't trust canister filters. The seals are always too finicky.

I totally agree. We bought this tank as is and just haven’t changed any of the original setup. I really would like to make some changes to a few things. The canister filter and the “in-tank” magnetic protein skimmer are the first things that come to mind. The tank has done so well for us the way it is so far that we’ve adapted the idea of “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.”

 

[NewGoby]

But it’s live sand... I was under the impression NOT to rinse? It even says it on the bag.

Never rinse live sand! It'll remove the 'life' aspect of the sand, your impression was spot on! : - )

 

[Crazeh]

As others have said, you shouldn't rinse live sand. Having said that, you risk getting the same issue again when you add it. It may be worth rinsing just to avoid that. It will become seeded by the rest of the nutrients in your tank, so I wouldn't worry too much.

In case OP does rinse, can anybody say if the rinse can be done with running tap water first and then a final smaller rinse through with RODI water? Or should it only be rinsed in RODI? (I'm thinking in terms of what's practical as rinsing purely with RODI could be tedious)

 

[MnFish1]

There should be no problem with cloudy water from live sand. It will clear quickly. Think of what happens in the ocean during a storm....... Additionally there are good videos on youtube showing how to make a water polisher using a power head and a plastic bottle with fiberfill/floss.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Love the power head / plastic water bottle idea as a water-polisher; never dawned on me. This is why R2R is so valuable.

 

[cracker]

Please consider rinsing all silt out of any new sand live or not. I have serious doubts just how live this sand is . If it's possible to wash all the life out it will quickly return.
Looks like it cleared up quickly for you big relief I bet !

 

[Oldreefer44]

When you are done

 

[Oldreefer44]

I would suggest rethinking the cannister filter. Generally not recommended for a reef tank as they will generate nitrates and phosphates at a level that will have a negative impact on most corals.

 

[MnFish1]

Please consider rinsing all silt out of any new sand live or not. I have serious doubts just how live this sand is . If it's possible to wash all the life out it will quickly return.
Looks like it cleared up quickly for you big relief I bet !

Why?

 

[cracker]

Just my op & experience. I believe the silt just leads to probs down the road. One I'm almosr sure of ,this silt promotes your sandbad to turn to rock . ,Every time Ya poke or stir ya get a silt storm etc. As for being live? I think it's nothing more a marketing ploy. The OP could have avoided this if it was well rinsed .Just my Op & off subject.
if your curious search for "to rinse sand or not ." Lots of differing op's .

 

[MnFish1]

Just my op & experience. I believe the silt just leads to probs down the road. One I'm almosr sure of ,this silt promotes your sandbad to turn to rock . ,Every time Ya poke or stir ya get a silt storm etc. As for being live? I think it's nothing more a marketing ploy. The OP could have avoided this if it was well rinsed .Just my Op & off subject.
if your curious search for "to rinse sand or not ." Lots of differing op's .

This is true

 

[don_chuwish]

I'm a rinser. Even clean new sand that is famous for NOT causing cloudy water - I rinse it. Live sand can be rinsed, just use a weak salt water mix (so as to not waste salt). You can't be as thorough as you would with a hose but it's better than nothing.
Instead of a pipe, I like to use a plastic cup of some kind, one scoop at a time, stretching all the way down to the bottom before gently dumping it where I want it.