Tank Problem, NEED HELP!

[TigerBarb56]

Hey, today I decided to change my substrate from rocks to sand because i'am going from a community tank to a cichlid tank. Well i poured the sand in and i can't see a damn thing, Like not even too inches. Is this normal, and how long will it take to clear up?

Please,Please,Please, help me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thanks so much!

 

[SANND]

Did you rinse it before you put it in the tank? If your fish are in temporary housing I would turn the filter off and let it settle overnight.

 

[kindaconfused]

you have to let it settle. do and SANND said and turn your filter off and let it settle.

 

[TigerBarb56]

My fish are in temperary housing, a 4 gal bucket!

I did turn my filter off, but is there anything i can get that will clear up the water a little quicker than overnight, mind you i did this without my parents knowing! *BOUNCINGS

Thanks so much

 

[SANND]

All you can do is not disburb it I'm afraid. I've caused a few sandstorms and just had to wait it out for everything to settle down. Overnight isn't so long to wait really.

 

[TigerBarb56]

Thanks so much!

 

[svetlana]

When i waited for my plant substrate to settle i did not turn the filter off. I thought it is filtering all finest particles off and everything clears up faster. After that i changed the filter floss and rinsed the sponges.
I still believe that it is faster and you get more stable substrate then.

Whatever root you choose it will clear eventualy *SUNSMILE*

 

[SANND]

The problem with leaving the filter on is that you can get sand in the little motor thing. I've burned up 2 filters because sand got in them.

 

[FroggyFox]

If you put playsand in...you're going to need to do some serious water changes before it clears up. I would empty the tank and then pour like 4 inches of water in....swish the sand around wait a minute and take that water out....then do it again...until the sand falls to the bottom in a few seconds. You dont want to get that sand in your impellers or it'll burn them out like SANND said.

 

[TigerBarb56]

Is a 60 pound bag of tube sand considered playsand?

 

[SANND]

I've never heard of tube sand before. Does it say on the package what it's used for? Regardless, since it's not aquatic sand then I would follow Froggy's advice and do some water changes.

 

[TigerBarb56]

ok i did it, but it is still foggy, but not like it was before, now it is more of like a cloud color as opposed to a dark brown, color. Plus when i was pouring the water in, i poured the water into a bowl, which really seemed to help not disturb the sand so much.

Know i'am courious though, should i turn all the stuff back on, like my airstones and my filter?

Thanks for all the help!