Arg! Sand!

[Flex26]

Slacker, I had lots of cloud!! It was an absolute mess. I thought it would never clear up. I posted a thread a few weeks back on my sand problems and got some good tips on clearing up the cloudiness. (I'll see if I can find it.) But basically there was a common theme to all of the responses: Patience!!

Here is what I did:

Mon - Added sand -- very cloudy....very bad
Tues - Stirred up sand did water change (repeated) -- still very cloudy....very bad
Wed - Stirred up sand did water change (repeated) -- still very cloudy.....getting better....started filter
Thurs - Stirred up sand did water change (repeated) -- still cloudy....much better....almost clear.
Fri - Stirred up sand did water change (repeated until clear) - all clear now. Ready to start cycling.

All of my water changes were in the 75% to 85% range. Also, I figured out around Thursday that I was adding too much water too fast. This was causing more cloudiness. I used the lid to a plastic storage box as my buffer (or whatever you want to call it) when pouring the water into the tank. I poured the water in slowly so it didn't bounce off of the lid and into the sand.

I almost gave up on the sand. But patience is a virtue.



Good luck, Slacker.

 

[SomethingFishy]

Thanks for the tip on the sand. Now the only issue is whether I dare try to change the tank. It would involve pulling everything out (fish too) and I do not know what to do with the fish in mean time. I suppose I could prep the sand for a few weeks in advance. When the sand is prepped I could put all the fish in abig bucket and tear down the tank and put it all back together with the sand.

Question: How long will the fish survive in a 5 gal bucket with an airstone?

 

[Fishman24]

SomethingFishy I just recently did exactly what you are thinking of doing. Here is what i did and it worked out great. First off wash your sand very very good. I mean for hours. I know is sucks but it is the key to this whole thing. I spent about 5 days washing my sand for about an hour each night. I would fill a a five gallon buck half way and spend a night washing just that amount.

Now you can do this all with no harm and by not taking the fish out. First take out all of the decorations. Use a net and start in the middle as your fish will go to one side. Leave one small rock on one side which will keep the fish there. Now use your fish net to scoop the rocks and put them in a buck. The net worked wonders. This not as hard as it seems and you will have the rocks out in no time. Next get a big mug or pitcher and fill it with sand slow submerge it and bring it to the bottom. Now turn it and slowly pour the sand on the bottom. This works pretty well and if you have washed the sand you won't get much clouding. Fill the bottom with sand and put your decorations back in. Believe it or not I did this all in about hour. The tank was a little cloudy for a day or so but it is fine now.

Once again washing the sand is the key. Good luck and let me know if you have probelms

 

[SomethingFishy]

Wow thanks that sounds too easy. I am glad that I will not have to take out the fish.

Last question: How does cleaning go now that you have sand? Do you still use a gravel vac and does the sand want to get sucked out? I would hate to have to retire my Python

 

[Slacker]

Ive been doing water changes a lot and its still not crystal, like I want it. I want it to be completely clear before I put my bumble-bee's or whatever in there.

Another thing. Once the water ceases to be clouded when you move the sand, will it stay that way if i tear down the tanlk but keep the sand?