i forgt to rinse sand what to do ?

[shifty]

hey i was just excited i minute ago but i forgot to rinse out the sand and i started adding water any one with advice do i have to empty the water out and then rinse the sand little by little please some advice iam geeting realy white foamy stuff i just emptied the water and got about 25% of the sand rinsed but it is not getting clear do i still have to do the whole thing thanks

 

[saltyj]

I was told not to wash my sand. I got the foamy stuff to just skim it off with a net it will clear up. No probs in my tank since set up in March.
Good Luck,
Jeff

 

[bdhough]

If you are just setting up your tank don't worry about it. Cycle will take care of it. Your tank may just be cloudy for a week.

 

[shifty]

the guy at my lfs said to rinse them out and get all the dirt off i guess he said if not it would hurt my cycle but if you had no problems i'm going to do the same to much of a hastel to go threw and rinse i hope it works

 

[nm reef]

The finer silt is very good to have for bacteria to colonise. It will take time to settle but in the long run its worth it. If you've got a new system with no critters/fish/coral then just let it settle on its own. Maybe turn off or at least down the circulation and possibly run some mechanical filtration to speed it up a bit. But serious...the fuine particles are good to have....and rinseing is not a good idea.

 

[shifty]

i have to get some damsels to help my cycle do i have to wait till it settles or can i just clean up the dirt turn on my wet-dry and skimmer and get them any way i need thm to help the cycle because i have no lr thank's for all your advice it realy calmed me down

 

[shifty]

circulation meaning the pump and skimmer

 

[stumpdog]

Shifty-
Instead of getting a damsel to cycle your tank you could always get a dead shrimp instead. It is just an option. Beware of the man who tells you to get a molly. Just kidding beaslbob.
Jeremy

 

[shifty]

ok but can i get the shrimp tomorrow or do i have to wait if so how much shrimp and can i mix because to much shrimp smells

 

[langcjl]

It takes a long time for the dust to settle. Once it is clear any movement in the tank will make a cloudy mess for a while. Have patience, you will think it will never stay clear and then one day it will be(and stay) crystal clear. I just went through this. I was ready to curse everybody here who gave me advise on setting up the DSB and then it worked out just like they said.

 

[claireep]

also, in the photography section, overanalyzer posted a pic of his tank with new water...does your look like that? if so, then its normal!!

 

[shifty]

yes it looks just like that almost milky about how long to settle anyone know can i add damsels in this water or wait might put shrimp in but just want to see somthing moving in it allthough i cant see anything in there

 

[toungetwster]

I wouldn't use the damsels for cycling your tank!! Did it once...never again....use dead uncooked shrimp...you could put them in now...and start your cycle...the water will stay cloudy for a while...but it won't hurt anything....in fact...once it settles it will be a better natural filter....believe me....and Never...Ever rinse your sand when adding to a new set up...

 

[chuckularone]

I just started my tank last Thursday. It's been cloudy for about a week already, but now I'm beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel (Or at least I can see the rock in the tank at this point.) Just be patient. It'll clear up.
-Chuck

 

[cinhark]

I switched tanks about 2 months ago to a bigger tank, i bought new sand for new tank and was going to add the old sand to new one once new tank cycled. but my husband decided to clean old tank while i was gone and dumped all my nice 2 inches of sand into my driveway. {rock driveway} now my new tank has only 1 inch of sand. I need to add new sand, but i have several fish in tank, how do i add sand now? 2 inches? It will have to be new sand.

 

[beaslbob]

Originally posted by cinhark
I switched tanks about 2 months ago to a bigger tank, i bought new sand for new tank and was going to add the old sand to new one once new tank cycled. but my husband decided to clean old tank while i was gone and dumped all my nice 2 inches of sand into my driveway. {rock driveway} now my new tank has only 1 inch of sand. I need to add new sand, but i have several fish in tank, how do i add sand now? 2 inches? It will have to be new sand.
Just add the new sand slowly with maybe a plate on top of the old to help reduce the sand cloud. the fish will stay outta the way. you could also pour the sand down a pvc pipe to limit the cloud.
I use play sand from home depot/lowes/wallmart.

 

[cinhark]

Thank you that is what i will do. Should I rinse the sand first or not?

 

[stillfrodo]

That PVC pipe is a good idea never thought of that.

 

[cinhark]

Thanks for all your help