Sand Cloudiness

**AnthonyTCaps** · 02-25-2009, 12:39 AM

Hey, i recently decided to use play sand as a substrate, i rinsed it out and put it in the bottom and put some water in. At first it was super cloudy so i drained it and re-filled it useing the plastic bag trick and it was better but not much. So i drained it again and it looks alot better but still quite cloudy will this settle or will the filter take care of it?

Thanks a bunch guys and gals!

if the spelling is terrible im sorry this comp dosent have a checker? lol

**Red** · 02-25-2009, 12:42 AM

I would fill it up with water half way and then drain it back out. I dont think you cleaned in enough (its a pain i did the same thing) so just keep fill with the paper bag and then do it until it is semi-clean and let the filter clean it up after that..

**PostalPenguin** · 02-25-2009, 01:00 AM

I rinsed my sand for about 45 minutes and it still clouded up the water. Change the water out a few more times then fill it all the way up and let it sit for a few hours to settle the big particles out. Then turn on the filter and it should clear up the water. You might want to rinse out the bag after a few days to get rid of all the crap that it collected.

**nyquil junkie** · 02-25-2009, 01:10 AM

play sand is to fine, it will always kick up dust.

use pool filter sand.

**AnthonyTCaps** · 02-25-2009, 03:02 AM

I think im going to let it sit til tomorrow and if its still not up to my standards ill drain it again like you say i wanted pool sand but all i could find was white and i don't want white i much prefer the more natural dark sand in the end it will be worth the work i think.

Thanks a bunch

**ndntakeover** · 02-25-2009, 06:11 AM

how exactly does one go about preparing a sanded aquarium???

**Lady Hobbs** · 02-25-2009, 09:25 AM

The play sand is OK to use!!!! Because it's for childrens areas, it's also been sterilized. I believe the only people that have stated it's too "fine" are those who have never used it. I can literally stick my vac right into it and very little, if any, is picked up by the vac. At least that's been my experience with Home Depots play sand. It looks exactly like beach sand.

I also bought Quikcrete fine grained pure white sand and this I hate! THIS is fine sand and the gravel vac picks it up with the nozzle 4 inches from it. (My Home Depot does not carry pool filter sand.)

Because I am lazy and don't feel like rinsing bucket after bucket of sand, I poured it in the tank dry, filled the tank and drained it again about 4 times and let the filters do the rest. If you have fish in the tank or do not have the convenience of a python, then this would not be the way to go and you'd have to hand rinse it pail by pail.

Yes, it's cloudy but it will clear up overnight. Do not turn your filters on until the sand can settle......about 10 minutes........and keep your filter uptake up from the sand about 4-5 inches.

Play sand is $7.50 fr 100 pounds. And sand should not be any deeper than needed to prevent gas pockets from forming. Just run your fingers thru it about once a month to prevent that. Sand also compacts so is not the greatest thing in the world for planted tanks. I have plants in mine but as you note, I said the "greatest" substrate for plants. I have some gravel mixed with mine to prevent compacting and use root fertilizers.

A hack saw works great to cut off a bit of your uptake tube, if necessary. Once that tank is clear, it's clear. It also does not keep kicking up dust!