Sand, sand, sand

[mlaugh]

Ok I did a search and read through most of the 200+ threads with the word "sand" in it, and I'm still going to ask this question cause I'm frustrated.

Disclaimer: I am a gravel user. Used it for years. Never used sand before in my life.

I went out the other day and bought some play sand for my 20gal (US) aquarium. I got the thing set up, and of course the water was cloudy. I expected that. It took a few hours to clear. Today I moved a piece of driftwood around and the water immediately clouded back up again and here an hour later it is still looking like milky white water. Does this issue ever resolve itself or am I doomed to have cloudy water every time something touches the sand? Maybe the sand is just too fine? I have no idea; I thought I was getting the right stuff here. Thankfully there are no fish in it as of yet so if I have to drain the tank and scrape this junk out to start over it will just be me I'm affecting and not the poor fish.

Anyone care to share their experiences with sand? Is there a certain type of play sand that is supposed to be used and I'm just the idjit that bought the wrong stuff? Does the cloudiness ever go away? I have a trio of albino cories that shuffle around all day and if they go in this stuff they will funk this water up so bad I won't be able to see into the tank. Oh please, wisefolk, HELP!

 

[nmarc3627]

i had sand for several months, it was my first substrate. anytime you move something or stir up the current, the water is going to get cloudy. thats just how sand is. it should settle after and hour or so. i wouldnt be too worried if it takes longer.
any type of play sand is fine as long as you rinse it out really good. even then it is going to turn cloudy when stirred up. thats just how sand is.

 

[heresmike]

I use play sand that I bought at Menard's for a couple bucks per bag. I rinsed mine very very thoroughly to remove the very fine particles. Rinsed 'til the water ran almost clear. I don't experience any cloudiness when I move stuff around. Never have really. When moving stuff around, the finest particles will rise up, but settle down really quickly.

How well did you rinse yours out?

 

[mlaugh]

How well did you rinse yours out?

Not very well, apparently.

OK so assuming that's the reason why my water looks like powdered milk (which is starting to sound like it is), is there a fix for this?

 

[Becca]

I used the Tahitian Moon Sand by Carib Sea, which is heavier and settles quicker than "sand"...but it's also much more expensive - about a buck a pound. I'm happy with it, when it gets stirred up, it settles back down almost immediately.

It just takes FOREVER to wash out.

 

[wrs]

you should try natural sand instead. its cheap, about $.30 a pound. And you dont need to rinse it out, because it came from fish places already, you can, but its not nesacary. and it settles quit quick.

 

[Becca]

you should try natural sand instead. its cheap, about $.30 a pound. And you dont need to rinse it out, because it came from fish places already, you can, but its not nesacary. and it settles quit quick.

I could, but coming by natural, BLACK, sand is kinda hard. I like mine.

 

[FishDan]

OK so assuming that's the reason why my water looks like powdered milk (which is starting to sound like it is), is there a fix for this?

Water changes are the answer for almost every aquarium related problem. In this case as well. When you gravel vac, purposely suck up the finer grains of sand. Of course, it's too late now, but prevention is easier. I too used playsand in my tank, spent about 1.5 hours rinsing and rerinsing, and I have no cloudyness. I would just try the gravel vac method to remove the fine sand. The heavier stuff should sink back down.

I also agree with Becca. I love my Tahitian Moon sand. It really is a pity I can't find any black sand for cheaper. When I get my 125 gallon tank, it is going to be over $100 just for substrate!

[EDIT] And all substrate should be rinsed before using it in an aquarium, regardless of where you bought it.

\Dan

 

[Becca]

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I also agree with Becca. I love my Tahitian Moon sand. It really is a pity I can't find any black sand for cheaper. When I get my 125 gallon tank, it is going to be over $100 just for substrate!
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Oh my Gosh, I know. With my 75-Gallon, I spent $60 just on sand alone!!!

 

[mlaugh]

Thanks for the responses. Dan, I will take your advice and just keep siphoning off the finer stuff. Beats tearing it all apart and redoing it!

 

[Teelie]

Next time go with Pool Filter sand. I can swish the stuff around and never get cloudy water. If properly rinsed beforehand, cloudiness is almost nonexistant when putting it in.