Planted 40g Aquarium Journal

[Rocky998]

Yeah it will end up like this:

Well crud

 

[Rocky998]

I just turned the filter flow all the way up... The water has a bunch of debris in it now lol

 

[Wills]

Its a rubbish one to deal with but yeah I'd really go for it. You could do the first few steps I mentioned without the blackout - taking out the top layer of sand, cleaning between the sand and the substrate, that wont harm your plants but you might have to do it again soon?

Could be a good first option before going to a black out?

Wills

 

[Rocky998]

Its a rubbish one to deal with but yeah I'd really go for it. You could do the first few steps I mentioned without the blackout - taking out the top layer of sand, cleaning between the sand and the substrate, that wont harm your plants but you might have to do it again soon?

Could be a good first option before going to a black out?

Wills

Maybe I will do that then... My water change day will either be Wednesday or Thursday, so I'll try that then...
And when you say to take out the first layer of sand, how much should I take out, and do you actually mean to take it OUT?

 

[Wills]

Maybe I will do that then... My water change day will either be Wednesday or Thursday, so I'll try that then...
And when you say to take out the first layer of sand, how much should I take out, and do you actually mean to take it OUT?

Just syphon it off into a bucket, maybe 3-5mm so not much you could put a fresh layer over the top if you need to.

 

[Rocky998]

Just syphon it off into a bucket, maybe 3-5mm so not much you could put a fresh layer over the top if you need to.

More sand washing

And then how do I put more sand in? I can't just sprinkle it in, that would be messy lol

 

[connorlindeman]

Wet sand in a cup can be lowered down the water column. Pour it under the water close to the existing sand. Not messy.

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

You don't want the water blasting around the place but just enough to lift the muck off the sand. As Wills says, just siphon out the CB with some of the sand in the area its growing.

Take a cup of wet sand and lower it into the tank bottom down....then gently tip it where you want it...not from height obviously, just a couple of inches or so above where you want it

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

Lower your lights and shorten the time they're on, bit more movement in the water and hopefully that should do it..

The more you keep on top of it, the less likely it will come back

 

[Rocky998]

Wet sand in a cup can be lowered down the water column. Pour it under the water close to the existing sand. Not messy.

I just have to now find something that won't have any strange residue from other things that might contaminate the tank ..
Thanks!

You don't want the water blasting around the place but just enough to lift the muck off the sand. As Wills says, just siphon out the CB with some of the sand in the area its growing.

I have my water level right at the lip (maybe even just above the lip) of where the water comes out of the HOB filter... Because if it's lower, it goes onto my plants and makes them move A LOT... Maybe I can try lowering the level bit and try to get the flow lower...

Lower your lights and shorten the time they're on, bit more movement in the water and hopefully that should do it..

The more you keep on top of it, the less likely it will come back

I will try! Thanks everyone

 

[connorlindeman]

I just have to now find something that won't have any strange residue from other things that might contaminate the tank ..
Thanks!

Plastic Solo cup?

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

You can experiment with a bit of course sponge if you have any? Cut it to size and pop it on the outlet...so it diffuses the flow and you'll have less crazy flow

 

[Rocky998]

You can experiment with a bit of course sponge if you have any? Cut it to size and pop it on the outlet...so it diffuses the flow and you'll have less crazy flow

I have 4 extra inlet sponges for my filter...

Plastic Solo cup?

We don't really have any plastic cups

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

Any cup will do as long as it's clean

 

[Rocky998]

Any cup will do as long as it's clean

What about soap residue or other contaminates that could be on there??
(If you don't know I'm VERYYYY germophobic with what goes in my tank)