substrate question (added pics)

randy123 · #1 10-05-2010, 03:31 AM

Okay, I've added 120 lbs of caribsea arag-alive to the new tank. The instructions on the bag say: "no rinsing, just dump it in" so thats what I did. Now three days later, my water is still not only cloudy, it looks DIRTY. I left the powerhead off for 30ish hours in hopes that it would settle faster, and it did....turn the powerhead on, and I'm back to square one in 20 seconds flat. The junk looks like its a coppery-brown color... Anyone have any ideas, or should I just empty it's contents into a ditch and throw the tank in the garage and forget about it because thats about the point I am at...

whatcaneyedo · #2 10-05-2010, 03:50 AM

Are you running a protein skimmer? If not, get one.

randy123 · #3 10-05-2010, 03:55 AM

The sump/protein skimmer are not set up yet. I have always waited until the sand/rock are in to do that. I've started two other tanks that way, and I have never seen anything like this...

naesco · #4 10-05-2010, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randy123

Okay, I've added 120 lbs of caribsea arag-alive to the new tank. The instructions on the bag say: "no rinsing, just dump it in" so thats what I did. Now three days later, my water is still not only cloudy, it looks DIRTY. I left the powerhead off for 30ish hours in hopes that it would settle faster, and it did....turn the powerhead on, and I'm back to square one in 20 seconds flat. The junk looks like its a coppery-brown color... Anyone have any ideas, or should I just empty it's contents into a ditch and throw the tank in the garage and forget about it because thats about the point I am at...

No need to have the powerhead any where near the sand at this time.
In a week or so the most of the sand with start to bind as a result of bacteria and other activity.

randy123 · #5 10-05-2010, 04:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naesco

No need to have the powerhead any where near the sand at this time.
In a week or so the most of the sand with start to bind as a result of bacteria and other activity.

Do you think the different colored-stuff on top is sand, or something else precipitated out of the water?

lockrookie · #6 10-05-2010, 04:29 AM

expired live sand??? just kidding it may be just a very fin sand and who knows how long its sat there give it time it should settle my 90 took 3 days to settle then i turned on the power heads and i messed it up again i even washed the sand my fault for getting sugar sand i guess.

naesco · #7 10-05-2010, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randy123

Do you think the different colored-stuff on top is sand, or something else precipitated out of the water?

It could be just dirty sand. Most reefs wash the sand to remove any impurities and get rid of the fine dusty stuff that takes a while to settle.
Or it could be the beginnings of diatoms which is normal.

Add some nice fresh live rock (not too much) and get a couple of scoops of live sand from a fellow reefer and everything will settle down.

This hobby requires lots of patience, but, the rewards are out of this world.

randy123 · #8 10-05-2010, 05:35 PM

Update: Whatever it is on the sandbed looks light and flaky...asked caribsea customer support what it might be and they don't seem to know...

reefwars · #9 10-05-2010, 05:45 PM

Add some live rock it really helps clear things up.

naesco · #10 10-05-2010, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randy123

Update: Whatever it is on the sandbed looks light and flaky...asked caribsea customer support what it might be and they don't seem to know...

Other than salt did you add any other additive?
Flaky is not organic.