Added sand, won't settle!!

Sooo we've been having a hell of a time getting our 75g set up. We finally finished reinforcing the floor (long story), fixed the skimmer pump, and got it full of saltwater.

We were a little anxious after all the trouble getting it set up (took weeks) so we kinda... rushed... putting in the sand. 60lbs of "sugar" plus 40lbs of live coarser stuff were put in unrinsed, thinking we didn't have any livestock so why bother.

And now its been like milk for days! What to do? The filter is on, but its gentle... What to do???

 

When I started my tank I also had a milky mess after putting in 60lbs of live sand. I ran two AquaClear 70's with filter floss on the tank and it got better in about a day. What media do you have in the filters? Make sure to put some sponges/filter floss and you should start seeing improvement fairly quickly. Change out the media as it becomes saturated and/or rinse it clean and put it back in.

BTW, welcome to 3Reef!

 

Find a friend with an established and bum a cup or two of real live sand from them. Once the bacteria starts to coat the sand particles they will drop like a rock. It takes some time but is worth it in the end, the fine particles are what supports the most nitrifying bacteria.

 

The filter is a CPR "cyclone" wet/dry. The bioball/bale/whatever chamber is empty except for a full sheet/roll of the standard blue filter pad material (which I put in to quiet the dripping water). I wasn't planning on ever putting the bioballs or whatever into the unit - I've heard they're a mixed blessing and sometimes just trap stuff.

The skimmer is on but the foam is so light and watery I'm just letting the cup drain back to the sump at the moment.

I have a well established 5gal packed with rocks and sand. Maybe I'll transplant some of it...

Lights are not on at present, maybe I should turn them on?

 

I threw in one of the live rocks from my established tank, and found some "bacteria supplement" I had laying around so I threw it in too. Also set up the lights.

This morning its about 50% clear. Amazing, really.

 

Find a cup of live sand, it will be even quicker.

 

My pistol shrimp and his goby buddy will be suuuper pissed if I take a cup of sand out of their tank (its only a 5g, they're the only fish in it).

I'll beg at the LFS, maybe, heh.

 

I clear mine with a aquaclear power head and the quick filter attachment. Clear within 24 hrs.