we just got a new tank, we put sand in with a little bit of water then filled it up. it was very cloudy at first but it seems as though most of it has settled down (its been about 48 hours) but it is still cloudy enough to make it hard to see through to the other side (the tank is 29 gallon, 29'' by 12''). we put in a light and when i look at it, it looks as though the rest of whatever is causing it to be cloudy is just floating around freely with no intention of settling. i do have a filter that hangs on the back and pours water back in that may be the cause of it? does anyone know typically how long it takes for the sand to completely settle or whether or not it is the sand that is making my tank cloudy. any advice is appreciated, thanks.
cloudy water, from sand maybe?
- Thread starter disisgustavo
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btw the fish store we bought the sand from (5 bucks for 10 pounds) told us it was already pre-washed so we could just add it without having to rinse it or anything.
well, even so, I always rinse new substrate well. Especially with fine-grained substrate that like, or plant substrates.
You probably should do a couple water changes. And rinse your filter media (it might be clogged with sand dust) with clean dechlorinated water, tap water will kill your good bacteria.
Do you have any fish in there yet?
You probably should do a couple water changes. And rinse your filter media (it might be clogged with sand dust) with clean dechlorinated water, tap water will kill your good bacteria.
Do you have any fish in there yet?
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yes we got a few fish to cycle the tank; 2 zebra danios, two mollies (i dont know what kind) and 6 small platties (mickey mouse platties i think).
I just recently added some aquarium-safe playsand to my 10 gallon tank that I thought I'd washed well enough. Well. I ended up nearly breaking my poor little penguin bio-wheel 100 even though I had the filter intake wrapped with coffee filters. The water turned like, milky yellow. lol.. thank god I had no fish in there.
I had to dump/clean everything and start again. Took me about an hour and a half of filling the aquarium with water and dumping it to get the sand clean. So I have to re-cycle my tank now. Lesson learned. I'd clean the sand really really well if I were you
Sarah
I had to dump/clean everything and start again. Took me about an hour and a half of filling the aquarium with water and dumping it to get the sand clean. So I have to re-cycle my tank now. Lesson learned. I'd clean the sand really really well if I were you
Sarah
Make sure your filters are clean from excess residue... rinsing them in water takin from the tank. I would expect after a few days the water will clear up. a Water change will help also.
Remember, cloudy water may look bad to you, but your fish don't care. So don't be too quick to get upset about it. Because your tank is going to begin cycling make sure you do tests nearly everyday to see your ammonia/nitrite levels. high amounts of these can also cause cloudy water and your fish will not last in those conditions. All fish in the cycle stage of a tank are very prone to illness so be careful.
But if you just put the water and sand in, it will take some time to settle. Good luck!!!
Remember, cloudy water may look bad to you, but your fish don't care. So don't be too quick to get upset about it. Because your tank is going to begin cycling make sure you do tests nearly everyday to see your ammonia/nitrite levels. high amounts of these can also cause cloudy water and your fish will not last in those conditions. All fish in the cycle stage of a tank are very prone to illness so be careful.
But if you just put the water and sand in, it will take some time to settle. Good luck!!!