First time sand substrate - cloudy water!!!

VivaLaVics

VivaLaVics

*blub bubble*
Oct 3, 2008
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Seattle, WA
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:help:

Hello! :) First time I've posted with a question...

The Short Version:
I've used gravel all this time and decided to use sand substrate based on the cichid I am housing. Now the water is full of little sand grains I just cannot get rid of! Water change after water change it doesnt get better.

Any suggestions???

The long version:
Its the smaller of my tanks- 10 gal. w/ an AuqaClear Powerfilter (100gph / 20gal), Fusion QuitePower aerator, and basic heater (temp kept at 79/80 degrees.) It's housing 20 baby Hap. sp.'s "Dayglows" at the moment. All of which are less than and inch long. All levels have tested normal since the babies were introduced and I add salt (for victorias) at every change (just like I do for my 55 gal which does not get full of specks.)

I think this is due to the sand because the tanks I have with gravel are just fine and they all receive the same weekly attention which includes a 25% waterchange, and testing of the levels. Once a month some rocks get cleaned up, and every few months filters are checked/sponges rinsed (in fish water- not the sink.)

I've used the clumping chemical a couple times now, but I really hate useing chemicals and messing with the carbon in their filters- especially with babies.

Any ideas would be GREATLY appreciated!!! :)

PS: I have a 30 gal. getting established for them- I stumbled upon my first "Dayglow" (who is currently in my community tank and not very sexy...) on accident and fell in love with the species. So I bought my LFS out when they had a few babies to ensure I had the females to set up my lonely male in a tank just for him and his ladies!!!
 
the power filter will stir up the sand. you need something with less water movement.
 
next time make sure you wash the sand before you put it in... it will eventually clear up once you do enough water changes.
 
Good to know- what type of filter would you suggest? I was thinking of looking into some type of small canister filter as I have a Fluval in the 55 gal- but I think its overkill for a 10 gal.? I went for the PowerFilter because I prefer the sponge and Bio-
 
Sand type... Not sure?!?! My LFS has coached me through the last 10-11 months of Cichlid keeping. I adopted a tank that was very poorly cared for- when I mentioned I wanted Sand they suggested a type and I got it... looked a bit sparkley before I put it in. Its an off-white color.

And I did rinse it before putting it in. LFS told me to. PAIN IN THE BUTT!!!


Thanks for the help guys!
 
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I'd just shut off the filters for a couple of hours to let the larger sand grains settle to the bottom. Then let the filter suck up the remaining dust cloud. That should clear up the water within a day or less. You do need filtration that isn't going to stir it all up again, though. Either something to buffer the outflow, redirect it, or swap it for something else. A spray bar might help diffuse the force. You could even make one yourself using some joints that fit to attach it and drilling some holes an inch apart on a long tube or pvc pipe. PVC does come in black instead of white if you look around long enough to find it.

Beyond this in general terms, I can't offer much help... as I'm not familiar with the needs for keeping cichlids.
 
I have a 55 gal tank that I have sand in. I got some "pool filter sand" from the Ace here in town, least that's what they called the sand anyway. After I "washed" the sand off once I threw it in the tank, added water and Bam! ... I Couldn't see the back of my tank longer.

So, a week later my friend and I got together and spend six, yes 6 hours washing all the sand. We placed the sand into buckets, put the bucket into the fish tank (without water in it) and ran water over the sand. I used a wooden spoon and my hand to mix the sand and get all the debris out of the sand. Then, using an old pillowcase, a large garbage can and a few heavy duty plastic bags, we would empty the sand out of the bucket into the pillowcase, run more water over that and drain it out. Empty the sand into the plastic bags. Then on our way to the next bucket of sand to start it all over again.

Anyway, now the water is clear and the tank is cycling.
 
sand can be a pain to clean , first off rinse it till it runs clear in a bucket.. then do it again, and again, and again.... when you think you have it clean do it again... then put it in the tank.. get a large heavy glass or pot of somesort and pour your water into that so it doesnt hit the sand while filling... then do 3 or 4 full water changes to get the crap you missed let it settle for a day and turn your filters on wait 2 days or so and youll love the look
 
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