New Tank - Sand - Still Cloudy?

[RobW1983]

Hi all.

Got my new tank set-up, and filled with sand and some water (60%, it's a 160L tank) and the filter is setup and running (Eheim 2213+).

Although the filters been running for 18-19 hours now, the water is still really 'cloudy'. It isn't sand still floating around, as I waited for that to settle before turning on the filter.

My question is, how long roughly should it take for the water to actually become properly clear?

Thanks.

 

[mattlee]

did you wash the sand first?

 

[RobW1983]

did you wash the sand first?

Yes mate, it got a good rinse. It's only B&Q Playsand, was £3.98 for a 25KG bag. Would that make a difference?

 

[mattlee]

i use play sand and find it sinks really fast to be honest unless your chucking it everywhere... after a wash its normally fine though!

 

[elisew]

It`s usually just the crap/dust coming out of the sand. It will clear evetually once the filter is running.

If it`s bugging you then you could empty the water out and refill.........making sure the water lands on a dinner plate and then overflows more gently onto the sand. If you fill it that way then there`s less chance of the sand being disturbed and kicking up all the crap again.

 

[RobW1983]

It`s usually just the crap/dust coming out of the sand. It will clear evetually once the filter is running.

If it`s bugging you then you could empty the water out and refill.........making sure the water lands on a dinner plate and then overflows more gently onto the sand. If you fill it that way then there`s less chance of the sand being disturbed and kicking up all the crap again.

LOL.

I did just that, emptied the water and then refilled (I thought carefully) and yet it's still the same. I think it's best that I just leave it alone to be honest. How long does the 'crap' normally take to settle?

 

[elisew]

It differs I guess depending on which sand, where it`s from etc etc. How long is a piece of string sort of thing.

I`d just leave the filter running to be honest and just leave it alone. Some people have suggested previously on the forum of putting cotton wool inside the filter to catch the tiny particles, then remove and replace original media when it`s done.

 

[RobW1983]

http/s981.photobucket.com/albums/ae300/RobW1983/New%20tank/

That last pic was taken after emptying/refilling. Although, that is excatly how cloudy it was even after the filter had been running 24 hours.

 

[stevereade]

Stick a load of cotton wool just inside the filter intake and it will catch all the crap and by morning you'll have a clear tank.