How To Reduce Cloudy Water From Sand

[DrSlackBladder]

Decided to do it over a few days, which should give the filter bacteria some time to multiply as the gravel is removed over a few evenings. Taking about a quarter out each night over last two nights, keeping checks on water quality each time. Then Saturday all gravel will be out, will buy and wash sand, transfer fish to large bucket of tank water, then add sand, fish, silk and turn heater and filter back on, topping up with conditioned water. Sounds easy enough; wish me luck! Will post pics when settled down, hopefully won't take to many days if I wash sand well enough. Think I'll decline the bottle idea, too risky for a novice, and would take ages to fix if it all went wrong. Just gotta decide which sand over next two days; Argos Playsand, B&Q Playsand (both recommended by many), or play safe and go with PetsAtHome Aquarium Gravel Sand at about 3 times the cost.........

 

[zain611]

Tell me how it goes and tell me if the bottle method toke away the cloudy water

 

[DrSlackBladder]

Think I'll give the bottle idea a miss this time; it's my first tropical tank, my first substrate conversion, so I'll go the traditional route and play safe this time! Will post on here how it all goes with some pics though.

 

[zain611]

No prob have you tried doing the bottle method in a bucket? i did that last week and i got some excellent results where the water was clear and the sand settled within 5 seconds of stirring it up. the sand is now dry in the bucket so i could try the method out again tomorrow. Also can i ask a question if you dont mind? Are your corys and amano shrimp mixing or look happy together

 

[DrSlackBladder]

Must admit the bottle method is tempting, but risky. What sand did you use, and where from? My corys and shrimp don't bother each other, both seem happy, the shrimp are pretty large, a little longer than the corys. Although saying that, the two amanos hide in the plants for most of the day, only really venturing out after lights are out. Think I'll get a couple more, might make them feel a little more secure. The corys really aren't bothered by anything in the tank, even me doing a water change. They're a very peaceful, confident and active group!

 

[zain611]

Thanks also i used the sand they have in pets@home

 

[zain611]

Im going to try the bottle method out to make sure its accurate again

 

[serbusfish]

Tell me how it goes. im looking for box shaped things i can put water in and see through the sides like a fish tank to make the bottle method accurate when im doing it

Your supposed to do it straight into the fish tank, just fill up the bottle with sand, put it in the aquarium and tip upside down, your aquarium water cleans it as it falls out, simple

 

[DrSlackBladder]

All gravel removed from my tank now, just bare glass bottom. What a pain that was over the last week! Monitoring water every day, still zero ammonia and nitrite. Will let it all settle down for a few days now, checking water daily, then ready for sand. And I've decided to give the bottle method a go with PetsAtHome natural gravel sand......will keep you posted with progress!

 

[zain611]

Nice to see you progress im now thinking of actualy doing it but i need some method to do it. should i leave the fish in the tank and take the gravel out at once?

 

[DrSlackBladder]

I don't know, I'm making it up as I go along! I figured it best to remove the gravel gradually, to allow the filter bacteria time to adjust to a greater bio load, since removing the gravel will be removing beneficial bacteria. I checked water every day while doing it, and there hasn't been any sign of any ammonia or nitrate spike yet. I left the fish it while I slowly netted the gravel, doing it for 5-10 mins each night until all done. Now it's just a bare bottom tank with filter, heater and a few silk plants (and fish of course). They all seem ok so far. I'm wondering whether to take the fish out for adding sand, although the bottle method doesn't seem too intrusive, so might leave them in. I figure my 100 l tank will take about 5-6 2 litre bottles of sand for about 3 cm sand depth; looking at the video in your link it shouldn't take more than half an hour. I'll be adding some pads to the filter media just to help remove any sand that floats around, until it's clear. Keep us posted with your progress!

 

[zain611]

im starting to feel nervous doing this. the main thing im hoping not to happen is that i dont regret changing it and non of my fish die also i might go with your method but please update on the finishing touches so i feel a bit releved. (any murkey water which probably wont happen and any other stuff )

 

[DrSlackBladder]

The bottle method and murky water is the only thing making me nervous now. But you've tried it with the same sand I'm getting, so I'm taking your word for it

 

[zain611]

Im starting to think i shouldnt change now because yesterday i was thinking i could get 2 corys if i change the gravel but im worried my tank could get over stocked

 

[DrSlackBladder]

That's why I'm doing it; for the corys. Why not just make a start now; remove a quarter of the gravel. You can always put it back in if you change your mind!