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Post by jayyskii on Jan 31, 2013 9:49:45 GMT 11
Hey Guys, Just finished setting up a spare 3 footer i had.. and decided to use some Pool filter sand instead of gravel.. I washed it multiple times until what i thought was clean.. However once i filled the tank.. the water has become cloudy as anything, can barely see the outline of the filter. I have two filters running trying to clear up the water, this was last night, Visibility improved by probably 25% over night? but still cant see through the tank. Is this normal?(is it just taking time to settle) If so how long should i expect for it to clear up? If not, has anyone else had this problem and how did you fix it? Cheers, Jay
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Post by firthy13 on Jan 31, 2013 14:25:03 GMT 11
my guess is your probably didn't wash it enough. how did you wash it? i find washing about a quarter of a bucket at a time works the best. i find if you do any more then that, its too hard to stir up and agitate as you fill and empty the bucket.
are there fish in it?
if i were your i would stir up the sand as much as you can, remembering to turn the filters off first. and then do a 50% water change while all the dust is suspended. if you do that every second day or so it should be crystal clear in a week or so.
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dazzman
xenotilapia
Mbuna Boy
Posts: 675
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Post by dazzman on Jan 31, 2013 16:28:25 GMT 11
spot on, i would do the same.
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Post by jayyskii on Jan 31, 2013 16:55:38 GMT 11
my guess is your probably didn't wash it enough. how did you wash it? i find washing about a quarter of a bucket at a time works the best. i find if you do any more then that, its too hard to stir up and agitate as you fill and empty the bucket. are there fish in it? if i were your i would stir up the sand as much as you can, remembering to turn the filters off first. and then do a 50% water change while all the dust is suspended. if you do that every second day or so it should be crystal clear in a week or so. Washed it in a bucket mate while stirring with a mixing spoon.. While sitting in the shower having a beer! Did 4 lots of 5kg at a time (from a 20kg bag) No fish in this tank.. so time isn't a worry, About to head home from work, so ill update post upon viewing the tank. Will also jump onto some water changes.. sort of spewing about the waste of chems kick starting the cycle but oh well
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superman
Tropheus
Why because I can!
Posts: 445
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Post by superman on Jan 31, 2013 19:32:52 GMT 11
Could also keep more of the water by adding a finer filtration to catch the finer particles.
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Post by firthy13 on Jan 31, 2013 19:52:06 GMT 11
hopefully most of that beneficial bacteria has already seeded itself in the filter media. you should be right to start water changes. at worst you will just extend the cycle time by a week or two.
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Post by jayyskii on Feb 1, 2013 8:57:11 GMT 11
Good News; After i did a water change last night, this morning tank was at about 80% Visibility, first time i could see from one end to the other.
(could possibly be because i have 3 x 400L per hour filters running, but why not get that sucker clean!)
Will do another water change tonight, and let you guys know how it goes!
PS: PFS looks amazing as a substrate.
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Post by firthy13 on Feb 1, 2013 14:10:19 GMT 11
PFS comes in a heap of different colours. what colour is yours? the stuff i use is rather white/gray. but other people i have seen have a natural looking brown/sandy colour.
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Post by firthy13 on Feb 1, 2013 15:06:12 GMT 11
this is my PFS
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Post by joller on Feb 2, 2013 16:17:22 GMT 11
where'd you get the filter sand jayskii? i was looking for some a year or so ago and couldn't find any because all the local shops have moved on to different pool filter medias
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Post by jayyskii on Feb 4, 2013 9:32:54 GMT 11
Hey Guys,
Got to get a good shot of the PFS tonight.. I bought it from the pool shop on the main street of Morisset Joller. He had 3 20KG bags left for $22 each! ($1.10 per kg)
Edit; My Sand is defiantly lighter then yours though Firthy, More "Sand" colour i think.. although it could just be the light..
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Post by xliferx on Apr 8, 2013 21:44:20 GMT 11
Clarke runber sell it under the brand unicorn. Very sandy white and cloudy but for $14 per 20kgs couldnt argue
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