Flourite probs

[ThirdEyE]

Well i started my first full plant tank yesterday (55g), 100% flourite substrate.

i didn't have a thin enough screened strainer so i couldn't rinse it, tried my best to carefully pour in water as not to disturb it.

:( didn't work, it's very cloudy like chocolate milk.

i've done 75% water change but it hasn't helped. I have my overhang and canister filter going but they've done very little to help.

it's been filtering over night, my question is should i do more water changes?

if i use the siphon it'll only stir it up more, will it be quicker though?

[val]

3rdEyE, to Aquaria Central, home of the most aquatic green thumbs (and black thumbs like myself) on the internet :)

I'm going to be doing the same thing myself next week, so I'm looking forward to the answers you receive...

Val

PS Keep us up to date as to how long it takes to clear...

[superjohnny]

If your tank hasn't cycled and you have no bacteria to protect I don't see any harm in frequent large water changes until it clears up. Eventually all that fine material will settle on the bottom, but anytime you disturb it it'll cloud your tank.

I have never had the problem you are speaking of so you get what you pay for with my advice. Seems logical to me though.

Also, be careful that sediment doesn't clog your filter. With enough 'junk' in it you might burn out the pump if it's clogged.

Got any pics? I'd love to see your setup.

Good luck

[ThirdEyE]

well another 75% water change did nothing, so i emptied it, scooped everything out and strained it through an old window screen i cleaned, and strained it in the bathtub.

totally un-orthodox but it worked great!

30lbs of flourite (2 bags) isn't enough for for a 55g, i'm gonna need to pick up another bag, otherwise i'm very happy with the way it looks.

flourite bags should say in huge letters "MUST RINSE BEFORE ADDING TO TANK"

superjohnny- wish i had a digital cam, i doubt my comp cam would be able to take a decent pic either.

val- make sure you get a strainer that has "fine" or very small holes, the residual dust in those bags is out of control :mad:!

[tyler]

a pillow case works as a strainer.

[Richer]

I'm assuming there's no fish in your tank? Shut off all of your filters, and let it settle as much as possible. Then put some filter floss into your filters and let run for a bit. When filling your tank, try pouring the water onto a flat plate (the larger the better). The plate will spread the water out and thus won't disturb the substrate.
The method I found that worked the best was washing the flourite one or two cups at a time. Put into a bucket, add water while swirling. Empty bucket, repeat, then dump into tank. It takes a quite awhile to clean an entire bag, but it keeps the water pretty clean. I've done this to fluorite that I've added to established tanks, and had no clouding problems.
You may find the water clouds up a bit after water changes for a little while... this will get better when your tank matures.

HTH
-Richer

[ThirdEyE]

ok filter is off

nope no fish, i've had various fish for a little over 2 years and have had 5 tanks succesfully running at times.

2 55's gallons and a 40g currently

figured it was time to go planted since gravel and plastic plants aren't too appealing.

plus keeping a giant tiger oscar (9") and red bellied pacu (11") and other various cichlids gets a little boring, needed something a bit more challenging.

[Sting]

ThirdEYE! I have just set up a heavily planted 10 Gallon tank with Fluorite, and it did the same thing. I have read after you rinse fluorite, it takes away all the fertilizer components anyway, so decided to do this instead. I poured the fluorite into an empty tank, put a bowl on the fluorite, poured the water into the bowl so it would flow over, not disturbing the fluorite, and clouding the water. it clouded a little, but I only filled it up just an inch over the fluorite. I let it settle, and filled it to the top. It was a little cloudy, but it cleared up in less than a few hours. Then, when I actually planted the plants, it kicked up all the dust again, and it was very cloudy! So cloudy I placed plants in the wrong places LOL! But, it didn't harm any plants, and within a day or two, with a few water changes, it was clear again, and it looks so beautiful right now! The plants are growing amazingly, and the red substrate really accents my design, and fish.

Val, good lukc on purchasing Fluorite! Iit's worth it! Just be wary, and don't panic when it does cloud your water, because it's inevitable. but it always clears very fast, and will be fine :) Sometimes I had to wipe some brown dust off the plants and rocks, but eventually it doesn't even kick up anymore dust, so it will all be fine :) Don't regret Fluorite! It is great! Good Luck! And don't give up, it is expected to happen, and it won't hurt anything. It's all part of the aquarists experience to learning!

[ThirdEyE]

my 55g is cleared up enough so i can see all of the substrate and about 25% of the backround pic, i figure it being a large tank it's gonna take longer.

i'm in no rush, it's all good

still debating to keep the backround pic or not, maybe i'll take it off once the tank grows in.

sting- i hear ya , it's hard to explain how good flourite red looks. so natural it's almost perfect.

[plantbrain]

If......you have already added the flourite, shut off the filters.
Break out the gravel vacuum and remove the silt that way.

If you have drained the tank down etc, you can add some ground peat(from a garden center etc, about 2 handfuls for a 55 gallon tank) and mulm/detritus from another established tank (The "dirt" vacuumed from that tank) and add that to the very botton 1/2 inch or so.
Then cover it with another 2-3 inches of flourite.
That will start up the tank very well.

If you take the flourite out, rinse it in a bucket, swish around a few times, drain bucket and repeat 3x and then add back.
That's all that's needed for rinsing.
Anything after that settles well.

That's about all there is to it.
Regards,
Tom Barr

[Tempest]

Sting- Flourite doesn't have fertilizer in it persay to rinse away. The whole of it is flourite clay and you won't harm it by rinsing. What you rinse away is the same as what is left except smaller particles.

[irishspy]

Originally posted by ThirdEyE
Well i started my first full plant tank yesterday (55g), 100% flourite substrate.


I'd probably do another couple of water changes, even though it sounds like a PITA. :(

If I may ask, how much flourite did you buy and how deep is your substrate? I'm thinking of getting a 55 and want it fully planted, too. How much was it per bag?

good luck,
--Anthony

[carpguy]

I just went and checked the 15 lb bag I have waiting for the next tank and it says that it will cover 217 sq. in. to a depth of 2 inches. I'd guess you'd want at least 3 or 4 bags for a 55, depending on how deep you want the substrate.

Someone, I think at Aquabotanic's forum, mentioned using a pad of newspaper instead of a bowl to cushion the waterflow. As the water level rose, the newspaper rose with it.

WetMan, who I generally trust, has mentioned that rinsing flourite reduces its effectiveness. When mine goes in I'll probably rinse it anyway to avoid the clouds. I clouded up my last tank by remodeling the laterite substrate at the last minute. The sediment clogged my filter and settled on the heater, creating a hotspot and causing it to shatter (just another wrinkle you may want to be aware of).

By all accounts, its worth the trouble :D .

[ThirdEyE]

all i could afford at the time was 2 bags, but i'd definetly use at least 3 bags. overall with 2 bags it's about an inch and a half deep.