Water cloudy from dry sand

[sanzz18]

Hi guys. So I know better, but I went against what I know and did not rinse my dry sand before filling the tank up. It is heated, ready for salt and bacteria, and I am very happy with my aquascape. My return pump and vortechs are running. I have the filter socks in to help collect the fine dust in the water. Any recommendations to clear this up quicker besides starting over?

 

[SteveG_inDC]

I would turn off the vortechs but keep the return pumps going. Just wait it out. I spent hours in my driveway in freezing weather rinsing sand. You could argue that just waiting out a week-long dust storm is easier!

 

[Auto-pilot]

I'm sure it will clear up by itself sooner than later. Might need to run filter floss

 

[sanzz18]

I would turn off the vortechs but keep the return pumps going. Just wait it out. I spent hours in my driveway in freezing weather rinsing sand. You could argue that just waiting out a week-long dust storm is easier!

That is exactly why I didn't do it lol It was not the smartest decision

I'm sure it will clear up by itself sooner than later. Might need to run filter floss

I got the two Waterbox filter socks in there. One is mesh and one is fleece. Should I change it?

Also, should I hold off on adding salt to the tank and start cycling?

 

[Billdogg]

I would stuff a canister filter (Yes - they have a use!!!!) full of pillow stuffing (filter floss but way cheaper) and let it run a couple days. Change it out, stir the sand, let it run a couple more days, and repeat. If you don't do something to remove the fines, every time the sand is disturbed the water will become cloudy all over again.

And now you know why rinsing dry sand is so very important.

Just saw your last post - if you haven't added salt yet, then I'd just use the tank as a extra large bucket - stir the heck out of the sand, drain the water, refill and repeat until the water stays somewhat clear. drain it one more time, mix up a batch of salt water and go with it.

 

[sanzz18]

I would stuff a canister filter (Yes - they have a use!!!!) full of pillow stuffing (filter floss but way cheaper) and let it run a couple days. Change it out, stir the sand, let it run a couple more days, and repeat. If you don't do something to remove the fines, every time the sand is disturbed the water will become cloudy all over again.

And now you know why rinsing dry sand is so very important.

Just saw your last post - if you haven't added salt yet, then I'd just use the tank as a extra large bucket - stir the heck out of the sand, drain the water, refill and repeat until the water stays somewhat clear. drain it one more time, mix up a batch of salt water and go with it.

Haha I always knew, I just had a lapse of judgement due to it being cold af outside lol That is why my tank is super cloudy now because I stirred the sand bed after reading a couple threads to do so. When adding a canister filter, should I turn on the vortechs or leave them off?

Also, not sure if I should wait to add salt and bacteria. I am assuming the answer is wait but I will see what you guys say.

 

[rimlessreefer954]

I would turn off the vortechs. use filter floss. you should be fine after that.

 

[sanzz18]

Also can someone recommend a cheap canister filter recommended for a Waterbox 220.6 (167g display) that I can get from petco or petsmart?

I would turn off the vortechs. use filter floss. you should be fine after that.

Filter floss in a canister filter or just in the sock holders?

 

[Kellie in CA]

It will settle. Just keep changing out your filter floss every few hours as it gets dirty.
I usually stir the sand several times the first few days to get out as much of the fine particles as I can.

 

[SteveG_inDC]

Haha I always knew, I just had a lapse of judgement due to it being cold af outside lol That is why my tank is super cloudy now because I stirred the sand bed after reading a couple threads to do so. When adding a canister filter, should I turn on the vortechs or leave them off?

Also, not sure if I should wait to add sand and bacteria. I am assuming the answer is wait but I will see what you guys say.

I assume you mean salt and bacteria. If in fact you have not added salt, then I like the idea proposed above of running several batches of tapwater through and dumping, as if you're rinsing your sand in the driveway, but warmer. I live in a busy area so I had lots of strange looks while I sat in my driveway in the cold rinsing and dumping buckets of cloudy water.

 

[Billdogg]

personally, I'd not only leave the power heads on, I'd point them down to stir the sand and keep the fines suspended in the water as much as possible. You have them - you might as well let them help you!

Where do you live? I have several canisters in a box for just this sort of thing. I'm sure there are reefers in your area that might have a loaner or two!

 

[Timfish]

This is part of the reason I use live sand, doesn't need rinsing. Personally, if it was my tank I'd just be running filter floss, I'd go ahead and add salt and start cycling and just be patient, it'll clear up in a couple days.

 

[sanzz18]

Just an update. I ended up siphoning nearly 90-95% of the sand out, rinsing it well, drained the tank and the sump, and started over with new water. Glad I went through the hard work instead of taking an easy way out. Now the tank is crystal clear with no dust clouds kicking up ever.

 

[blasterman]

Why are you rinsing it? Are you rinsing it with tap water? Cool. Now all the silicate and other nastiness in your local water supply is in your tank. Every bag of dry substrate ive bought tells you not to over rinse or rinse at all.

Provided this is an arrogonite based sand like most are the cloudy white is just calcium carbonate. It will clear on its own in a few days and it will actually help buffer. Go ahead and turn the pumps on and start cycling.