HUGE Problem...help??

[Lolita]

Okay so I had my tank set up...and it was perfect except that I didn't have enough substrate, so my plants weren't being buried deep enough.

Well, today I bought some sand substrate for planted tanks...and I thought it would look fantastic, so I took out my driftwood, and added it exactly as it said to.

It says right on the front of the bag not to rinse it, so I didn't...but when I added it to my tank, it blackened the water completely.

I tried waiting for it to settle, but nothing happened...so I had to empty out everything and now I have to start from scratch again.

I tried rinsing the stuff, now that it's mixed with my eco complete...but rinsing it does nothing except expel all the sand because it's such a FINE sand. Help? I don't know what to do! I'M SO mad at myself right now!

[gm72]

How long did you wait to let things settle? Some of that substrate even after being rinsed can take a day or so to settle.

[rich311k]

Just let it be. In a few days it will clear. Water changes can speed it along.

[Lolita]

Oh god... a day? x____x I only waited like an hour and a half. I'd never had something take longer than that to settle before. Now I really hate myself...

Should I just...put it all back together and wait it out? Will it all turn black again when I move anything around...or will the fine sand move to the bottom fo the tank under the gravel...?

[bushwhacker]

always rinse new substrate.. i dont care what they say ya gotta do it

[Anomaly]

Flourite's the same way. I don't care how much you rinse the stuff, you'll always get some cloudiness. We never had the mud water some people get with Flourite, but it took several days for it to totally settle. And yes, water changes do help things along. Give it time, clean your filter pads often and do water changes.

The sand will eventually settle below the gravel, and after a while, you shouldn't have to worry too much about kicking too much substrate up if you move a plant or something.

[rich311k]

Yes I would put it back together. Fill it carefully so you stir as little substrate up as possible, it will settle out.

[Lolita]

Thanks everyone.

I replanted everything... it wasn't a total disaster I guess since I got to move stuff around a bit and really plant things how I wanted them. It's basically the same but the spacing is nicer. The air stones are also buried under 3 inches of sand and gravel now...so they aren't going ANYWHERE.

Anyhow. I don't have my python yet (it's coming in Tuesday x_x) so I have to fill it by hand. I'll do it one cup at a time if I have to to keep this crap from floating everywhere D:

[Lolita]

Okay I'm almost done filling it up. The water's murkey but it's not too bad... hopefully a night of filtering will get it looking better.

Are my airstones going to just kick everything back up though...? x_x

[gm72]

Of course, the airstones will disturb the area if they are under the sand/gravel. Won't work with sand.

[jaysee]

It's best to remove most of the water when adding substrate.

[wolf_eyes]

always rinse new substrate.. i dont care what they say ya gotta do it

I wouldn't do it with eco-complete because it specifically says not to rinse it due to the bacteria they have put into the mix to help break down waste into plant food. This stuff settles quickly though and doesn't really cloud up the water drastically.

Sand takes a long time to settle. The play sand I put into the tank took half a day to completely clear and that was after washing it for 45 minutes. Patience is the name of the game with fish tanks :) Also, yes an airstone is going to keep kicking it back up, the best way to keep it from doing so is hiding it into a nook in some rock or decorations.

[Girl Got Mojo]

eco-complete was the first that you had in there correct? Then it was a black
sand that you added from lfs? Wolf Eyes is right eco-complete doesn't need to
be rinsed the way almost all other sands do, but it won't cloud your tank like
that either.

Is it all clear today?

[Lolita]

eco-complete was the first that you had in there correct? Then it was a black
sand that you added from lfs? Wolf Eyes is right eco-complete doesn't need to
be rinsed the way almost all other sands do, but it won't cloud your tank like
that either.

Is it all clear today?

Yep Yep, Eco-complete first, then I added the sand--which like the eco-complete, said not to rinse it due to the bacteria in it.

I was lucky, though! In my panic I tore the tank apart, added the second bag of sand, then the eco-complete, sand mixture, then added a few inches of water, and replanted and decorated.

Then, I finished adding the water, and ran my filter for an hour--presto, magically crystal clear water!

I don't know how it happened, lol. I must be seriously lucky.

Also, I turned the airstones on after the water cleared up, and it's not kicking up any sand! Again, yay lucky me! I think the gravel on top of the sand has helped to keep the sand from kicking up. Overall, I love the look much better. When I get home today I'm going to take pictures (I finally found the setting on my camera I need about 10 minutes ago xD fail...)

The gravel mixed with the sand really looks wonderful and natural. I love it. I'm so happy I panicked now LOL

[MonkeyPox]

Glad you like the new look. Enjoy your tank! thumbs2:

[Lolita]

Thanks a lot! You can't imagine how relieved I was. lol