Substrate concerns...

[ericegg01]

So I have this dilemma, and after searching for topics on this and not really finding a straight forward answer I figured I'll post my "issue"

When I started my tank 5-6 months ago I used the carib sea aragonite "dry" substrate. I rinsed it out as much as my arms/patience would allow which I thought was sufficient, but ever since day one and whenever my goby is awake and doing it's thing my tank is a floating particulate mess. When I view it in the morning it's clear but once my goby gets active it's then a mess of small debris particulates.

So I ask the LFS why this is when I see his goby not making a mess (what appears to be the same substrate) and he describes it has him using the wet substrate since the dry stuff tends to have more "powder" in it from shipping and being thrown around or grinded. Is this one of those dumb questions I asked my LFS and they gave me a BS answer just to shut me up?

If this is indeed true, can I just put in more "new" wet sand which isn't as dirty so my goby doesn't make a complete mess? Will that induce a mini cycle?

I am one of those people who clean the substrate during water changes, I usually do a section at a time during the change. I thought about making a vacuum which circulates the siphoned "junk" into a filter sock then back into the tank but for that past few times I still can't get this substrate from being so dirty and filling the water column with debris. It drives me mad that my tank is dirty and not clear of this debris, this is not a bloom bacterial or algea this is only when the sandbed is disturbed.

any thoughts would be appreciated?

 

[Crabs McJones]

So I have this dilemma, and after searching for topics on this and not really finding a straight forward answer I figured I'll post my "issue"

When I started my tank 5-6 months ago I used the carib sea aragonite "dry" substrate. I rinsed it out as much as my arms/patience would allow which I thought was sufficient, but ever since day one and whenever my goby is awake and doing it's thing my tank is a floating particulate mess. When I view it in the morning it's clear but once my goby gets active it's then a mess of small debris particulates.

So I ask the LFS why this is when I see his goby not making a mess (what appears to be the same substrate) and he describes it has him using the wet substrate since the dry stuff tends to have more "powder" in it from shipping and being thrown around or grinded. Is this one of those dumb questions I asked my LFS and they gave me a BS answer just to shut me up?

If this is indeed true, can I just put in more "new" wet sand which isn't as dirty so my goby doesn't make a complete mess? Will that induce a mini cycle?

I am one of those people who clean the substrate during water changes, I usually do a section at a time during the change. I thought about making a vacuum which circulates the siphoned "junk" into a filter sock then back into the tank but for that past few times I still can't get this substrate from being so dirty and filling the water column with debris. It drives me mad that my tank is dirty and not clear of this debris, this is not a bloom bacterial or algea this is only when the sandbed is disturbed.

any thoughts would be appreciated?

You sort of already said my recommendation lol. Do a vacuum that circulates the dirty water through a sock to filter out the small particulates. Eventually there won't be any left and you'll be left with all the larger sand grains that dont kick up into the water column

 

[DeniseAndy]

Welcome to sand in the reef. No matter what you do, the sand traps detritus. Vacuuming helps maintain it, the goby is helping maintain it. It comes with the territory. Does not surprise me the goby makes a mess. Eventually all your vacuuming will get all that dust out, but not much you can do.

I have used both live and dry sand. Never noticed a difference once I washed the dry stuff. Both cloud for a time.

 

[Greybeard]

This too will pass.

In truth, you probably didn't sufficiently rinse the substrate. I used 80 lbs of dry aragonite in my new system, and it took me 6 five gallon buckets, a hose, and 4 hours to get it to the point I was happy with it.

If you're vacuuming your substrate when you do water changes, you'll eventually pull all of the fine particles out of the system. Running a fine set of socks and thoroughly stirring the substrate, letting the water clear before pulling the socks, can help, as well.

If it really bothers you, siphon out a section at a time, no more than a quarter of the total sand volume, and wash it, then put it back. Clear fresh water, stirring the buckets all the way to the bottom, repeatedly until the water runs clear. It' a mess to do, and unnecessary, as I said... eventually, you'll pull all the fines with the sand vacuum.

 

[ericegg01]

Well it's good to know I'm not the only one...

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Look for this in a smaller packet.
It’s bacteria. Comes with live sand.

https://www.saltwaterfish.com/product-caribsea-bio-magnet-clarifier

 

[Bayareareefer18]

Against my better judgement I went with samoa pink sand per suggestion of my LFS. I had planned on the special grade

My tank was cloudy for days even after rinsing well. It gets better over time once all the small particulate that can float finally gets filtered out. I've been trying to stir mine a bit to help out. Siphoning should speed things along. I will probably do the same. At some point I have to imagine you will only have left the stuff that won't cloud

It has been bothering me as well. I have been seriously considering removing it and going with the special grade since there is no livestock yet but then I worry about reintroducing more silicate into the system

 

[ericegg01]

I built my vacuum last night based off of a post I saw here which will allow me to siphon the sand without doing a water change since I'll have a pump pushing the water back into the tank. I created a diagram should anyone want to do the same.

The return pump needs to have a gate/ball valve on it as you'll need to synchronize the flow from siphon back to tank one would assume. I was thinking of using those plastic garden hose fittings

 

[Mikedawg]

Several different flocculants available: http://www.seachem.com/clarity.php

 

[Bayareareefer18]

I built my vacuum last night based off of a post I saw here which will allow me to siphon the sand without doing a water change since I'll have a pump pushing the water back into the tank. I created a diagram should anyone want to do the same.

The return pump needs to have a gate/ball valve on it as you'll need to synchronize the flow from siphon back to tank one would assume. I was thinking of using those plastic garden hose fittings

Wow 4" pvc is a massive vacuum

I would be more inclined to screw on an adaptor with bushings down to 3/4" to be able to connect a python or something similar. Then you could use the pvc tube as a canister rather than try to navigate that through the tank

 

[ericegg01]

Wow 4" pvc is a massive vacuum

I would be more inclined to screw on an adaptor with bushings down to 3/4" to be able to connect a python or something similar. Then you could use the pvc tube as a canister rather than try to navigate that through the tank

No you have it wrong, this unit is where the filter sock resides outside of the tank. The siphon feed from gravel cleaner tube empties into this unit. I wanted it large enough so water would fill the canister mid way plus the sock ring fits perfectly on the 4" PVC edge. This does not go into the tank. ;Wideyed Sorry should have clarified.

 

[Bayareareefer18]

No you have it wrong, this unit is where the filter sock resides outside of the tank. The siphon feed from gravel cleaner tube empties into this unit. I wanted it large enough so water would fill the canister mid way plus the sock ring fits perfectly on the 4" PVC edge. This does not go into the tank. ;Wideyed Sorry should have clarified.

Ah got it. That's what I was suggesting. On the same page lol

 

[ericegg01]

Yes... I have been contemplating this for several weeks now. Like you said it's bothering me as well and I'm just now doing something about it.

For those that are using the additives are you using "socks" to pull out these "clumps" because the only filter I have is my protein skimmer or is this what they mean by mechanical filtration.
"In order for Clarity™ to work effectively, you should have a filter with mechanical filtration (e.g., filter floss) connected to your aquarium."