Cloudy Water

[zackcrack00]

So I put PFS in my 29 yesterday, and it was CLOUDY. I wasn't even allowed to wash it. Will this clear up?

 

[Jmoore]

Why didnt you wash the sand


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[zackcrack00]

Because my mom thought that would make a GIANT MESS. Uuggghhhh...

 

[JLW]

Moms, man, can't live with them, can't get the laundry done without them.

 

[zackcrack00]

My mom is doing laundry as I type. LOL!

 

[Greengirl]

Try a couple of water changes to clear out all the cloudy particles.

 

[zackcrack00]

Anytime I put my hand in the tank, it stirs up dust and carp like you wouldn't believe. I literally cannot see 3" into the tank. I will stir it up, then do a 75% change, then stir again and do a 75% change tomorrow. Thanks. Also, will quartz sand go into a gravel vac?

 

[jonclark96]

You could also get one of those adapters for powerheads that let you attach a polishing pad. This would clear the water up quickly.

I've never had a bad experience with PFS, and usually don't wash it, either. After a couple of hours with my filters running my tanks usually clear up.

As for your question about the gravel vac, yes, sand will get sucked into the gravel vac. You need some practice mastering the art of sucking stuff off of the surface of the sand without sucking up the sand. It will take some time to master. In the mean time, put a small bucket into the bucket you are draining the tank into. The first bucket will catch the sand you accidentally siphon out. You can just dump that back in the tank when you are done cleaning.

 

[Hannibal]

I use PFS in all of my tanks and have only washed it on the first tank I set up and still had a little bit of cloudiness, so I didn't even bother washing it on my other tanks. All of my tanks are "overfiltered" and it had never taken more than a day to clear up. If you have an extra filter laying around throw it on the tank to help clear it up faster.

 

[verbal]

Which brand did you use?

 

[zackcrack00]

Generic Wal-Mart stuff. $5.53 per bag.

 

[dogofwar]

I seldom rinse PFS before use. Just add some mechanical filtration and let the dust settle. Doing a water change couldn't hurt, either...

Matt

 

[AquaStudent]

Like other have said time will clear it up. Water changes will help too. Do you have fish in the tank yet?

If not you can literally just clean the sand while it's in the tank. Do you have a long siphon hose or python that can reach a big drain or window to outside? Just siphon the water out while stirring up the sand bed. Fill it back up with tap water and keep going until it's decently clean. Filters will remove a lot of the dust too so if you have an extra one or two lying around use them.

If you have a second long siphon you can fill while draining and save some time (not necessarily water)

I started off using generic play sand (I couldn't find pool filter sand in the middle of nowhere New York) and was disgusted with it. I finally tracked down some PFS and absolutely love it!

 

[Tony]

Generic Wal-Mart stuff. $5.53 per bag.

Wal-Mart has pool filter sand?

 

[daninmd]

Anytime I put my hand in the tank, it stirs up dust and carp like you wouldn't believe. I literally cannot see 3" into the tank. I will stir it up, then do a 75% change, then stir again and do a 75% change tomorrow. Thanks. Also, will quartz sand go into a gravel vac?

should have gone with Mystic II white PFS. super clean, hardly any fines.

 

[daninmd]

Wal-Mart has pool filter sand?

was thinking the same thing...and at that price, maybe it was play sand?? big difference

 

[dogofwar]

Even cheap PFS wouldn't get me to step foot in Wal-Mart...

Matt