Flourite Dust

[Captain Hook]

Just set up a 20 gallon (last nite) and the tank is still pretty cloudy. I can see through it end to end though. How long do you find it usually takes to settle completely?

If the tank hasn't settled and is still a little cloudy will it hurt fish or plants? I'm just wondering because I have plants arriving Wednesday and fish from another tank that are ready to go in asap.

 

[SP2]

I recently set up a 135 gallon and like an idiot I didn't follow instructions and rinse it before I put it in the tank. I did kind of rinse it in the tank many times but it still took about three days to clear.

 

[Leopardess]

I've heard it depends...on how well it was rinsed, how dusty it was, filtration etc. Also, I know some people have said it cleared up in a day or two, while others still saw cloudiness for a week or two.

 

[RTR]

If you leave the filters off after filling the tank, it settles quickly for me. If you leave the on or turn them on, it takes days and days - the particle size is too fine to be captured other than by diatom.

 

[Captain Hook]

It's starting to get really clear but not perfect. I hooked up an AC mini earlier today but it doesn't really seem to be helping or hurting. What about the dust hurting fish or plants?

 

[Starry]

I hate the stupid flourite dust!!!!!!!! I was so ready to throw it all out after the first few days! But it cleared eventually. You know what's worse though? It gets stirred up every time I uproot stem plants (which is once a week in such a small tank), and takes hours to clear. It just drives me nuts!

I have an AC mini too, and my sponge is always full of the dust, but I don't think it will help clear it up at all.

I sure hope the fish don't mind the dust, cause mine have to put up with it once a week. No problems with fish so far though, and I've had it for about a year and a half. Don't put them in while it's really bad though. Plants are ok, they won't care.

 

[Captain Hook]

Ok I will definitely wait for it to clear before putting fish. Thanks for the advice dahlia. It has settled fast, I think because of all the times I rinsed it. The plants should be arriving tomorrow or Thursday at the latest.