Sand substrate question

[nicolicreer]

I recently set up a 55G long yesterday and used pool filter sand as substrate.
I ran my filter overnight and right now, the water is still very cloudy. How long would it take for this to clear up? What can i do to speed things up?

(There's no fish in it by the way as it is still not cycled, but it will be the future home of my 2 baby oscars.)

What would also be a good decoration for an oscar tank? Is sand a good substrate for them? Thanks!

[thebrandon]

did you wash the sand?

Also, IME there is no such thing as a good decoration in an oscar tank unless it is glued to the bottom of the tank, oscars hate everything and rearrange everything lol

[jpappy789]

Did you wash the sand? It will settle by itself within a few days IME. Water changes can help get the free floating particles out before they hurt your filter impellers.

How long do you plan on housing the oscars in the 55? That size tank will barely support one, let alone two adults. It would be a nice grow out tank however.

Rocks, driftwood, plastic plants would all works. Just don't rely on everything staying where you place it. Oscars are master redecoraters.

[nicolicreer]

It's will just be a grow out tank. I did wash the sand. Should I do a water change? Tank and filter has been running overnight and it is still cloudy.

[jpappy789]

You can or just let it settle.

[nicolicreer]

I can see a bit farther now, but I hope it clears up. I see tanks with sand substrate with crystal clear water on youtube and it makes me jealous.

[yhbae]

I would just let it clear by itself...

[Kuthoht]

It took my 125 with pool filter sand 3 days to clear when i set it up. You also probably have a bacterial bloom going on since its a new tank. All of this is normal and will resolve itself.

[nicolicreer]

Sweet, thanks for the help guys. One more question:

Both oscars are in a 30 gallon tank and they are always hiding, is this normal for them? It's been 5 days since I bought them. The tank is cycled by the way and water parameters are good. pH is high though (probably 8).

[SilverDollarMan]

ph isnt really an issue

[nicolicreer]

Oh ok thanks. And should I take away the rocks I have in the tanks for them? They keep hiding in them and I rarely see them in the tank.

[tekonus]

I've done playsand in 2 tanks now and the cloudiness sucks, I hear ya. It may be a labored effort, you can ask my girlfriend who helped me lug buckets both times, but do round after round of water changes while disturbing as little of the bottom as you can will clear it up the fastest. Both times it took me about 3 hours worth of nonstop water changes to get it to clear up, but it worked and it was done on day 1. When you are refilling the water hold a bowl at the waters surface and pour the water into it directly and let it overflow to keep from disturbing the sand on the bottom. I've tried a few different methods and this is by far the easiest.

[VivaLaVics]

I had this same issue. Check out the thread here: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=183719

[nicolicreer]

what tekonus said worked and the water is now clear. thanks everyone!

[Kuthoht]

new oscars hiding and pouting is indeed a common occurence. It tooks a few days for mine to actually come out. Now he knows who I am and will swim up to the front of the tank anytime I'm near it as he associates me with food.

[tekonus]

what tekonus said worked and the water is now clear. thanks everyone!

Glad I could help. Now that its all done do you think it was worth it? I love the way the sand looks, and as much as its a lot of work I think the look is awesome and worth it...my gf begs to differ! :lipssealedsmilie:

[nicolicreer]

it was worth it, and it's easier to clean IMO.

[jake gillespie]

have you tried a diatom filter? if its bacteria bloom it would kill them but it sounds like dusty sand diatoms can remove particles down to 1 micron even ick