cloudy tank

[seashore]

I just set up my new 75 gallon tank. The problem is in all my excitement to get started I failed to rinse my sand.I would like to know if I have to start over or will my filter clear things up? Also will this upset the cycling prosess?:happyfish

 

[drakken]

Depends on the type of sand. If it is uncleaned aquarium sand, play sand or Southdown then you should empty the tank and clean it. I know this sounds like a pain but it better than getting a bunch on nice fish only to watch then die.
I'm hoping you don't have any fish in there yet. GO SLOW - rushing a tank will only lead to loss of life and failure. Sounds harsh but unfortunately I speak from experience.
Post more questions too.

 

[seashore]

The sand is pink sea sand.I don't have any fish in it yet.I still have all my fish in my 35 gal hex.I got the new tank so my yellow tang would have more swimming room. I also have an angle fish they have been doing fine in the hex,but getting to big.I was hoping I did.nt have to start over,but I don't want any thing to happen to my fish when I but them in there new tank.

 

[squidd]

I would like to respectfully disagree...
The fine particles floating around in the tank WILL settle in time, and as they offer a great amount of surface area for bacteria to grow, will be a benefit for your biological filtration.
In time your sand bed will develop a "coating" of bacteria and settle down.
I would suggest letting it settle on its own and after it clears (a day or two) run your power heads as you "challenge" your cycle with a dead grocery store shrimp...as it decays it will provide nutrients for the bacteria to grow...
Watch your ammonia and nitrIte rise and then fall to 0 readings...Do a small water change at that time and start your filter...If the readings remain at 0 for a few days you can then add your first hardy fish.
If your live rock is "uncured" you can add it at the beginning of the cycle to help it along...If it's precured, add it towards the end of the cycle and watch your readings.

 

[dreeves]

The sand will settle...probably not in a day or two as previously mentioned...but it will settle.
It wont effect the cycling process...as you will see, your fish will often times kick little dust storms up...well at least my triggers do..

 

[seashore]

Thanks for your input.I sure don't want to start over.The water did settle and clear,but I mixed up the sand some more to filter out more of what I should have rinsed out.I also rinsed out my media in my canister filter.I'll let the water settle again. Do you think I should change the carbon in the filter? I also have a bag of live sand in the tank.do you think I killed all the life that might have been in it.Thanks for your help! I'm from Wisconsin to.How far north are you?:help: :help: :help:

 

[flydan]

Hey,
I don't think you even need to run carbon until your cycle is done and you've started to put livestock in your tank. I only run carbon for a 2 or 3 days just to polish my water. (Gets rid of that slight yellow tint to the water when you look through your tank from the side.) I do that less than once a month. Just my .02.
I think your live sand will be OK although you might want to add another bag, or better yet just get a cup or so from an established tank. That works wonders.
Dan'l

 

[squidd]

Live sand from a bag really doesn't have a lot of "life" in it to kill, basicly just the bacteria you need to jump start your biological cycle...
You generally don't get alot of "pods and worms and stuff" from a bag they dont have a lot of "shelf life" so your live sand is fine, no need to change it, but as FlyDan said if you could get a cup or two from an established tank it would help in introducing some of the desireable lifeforms you need in your tank...the rest will come from your live rock.
You should remove your carbon for now, you won't need it till after you add fish and they clog up pretty quick with the fine particals in your tank and become useless anyway.
You could just turn the canister off for now...you do want the fine particles in the sand bed to stay...unless your filtering out some other kind of crud you didn't mention.
Most of your biological filtration should come from/be established on your LS/LR so you don't need to run it till the end of the cycle.