First time sand substrate - cloudy water!!!

[enrique4jc]

I didn't have nearly so much trouble with mine, likely because I rinsed it very well from the start, but all you reall need are some good regular water changes. Turn off the filter, stir up the sand a little bit with your hand (be gentle with the babies), wait a few minutes for the big particles to settle, and water change. Follow that procedure a few times and things should clear up pretty quickly.

You won't get it perfectly clear even after several water changes, but your filter will take over from there. You should let it run for a day or so and then rinse your filter media in some old tank water to get the excess sand out.

Just be patient, you'll get there!

 

[pik01]

hmm, I'm a little late coming into this, sorry bout that but for future reference I cleaned my sand by dumping it into a bucket and shoving a hose right into the sand and blasting the water. Not enough water to spray sand everywhere, but to get a good churning and kick up all the debris. Dump, rinse, repeat. I bet you'll like the look of the sand once it settles. And if you like the white sand, imagine what black sand would look like ^^.

The next step is figuring out how to vacuum sand (hover, don't shove the tube in like you do gravel)

 

[VivaLaVics]

...I cleaned my sand by dumping it into a bucket and shoving a hose right into the sand and blasting the water.... ... ..... ...I bet you'll like the look of the sand once it settles. And if you like the white sand, imagine what black sand would look like ^^.

The next step is figuring out how to vacuum sand (hover, don't shove the tube in like you do gravel)

That whole thing is funny.... because I agree 100%. I want black sand in my 30 gallon. (Where I will be putting the fry once they are big enough to pick out girls and boys for a good ratio.) PLus I already like the look and I've figured out the hard way how to clean it hahahaha.... barley above the sand only... sometimes clamping the hose if I over fed them. THanks for the feedback! Tons of fun!