So, sand and cloudiness

So I started setting up my 40 gallon tank now that the last of the hardware is on it's way.

Long story short, I'm using pool filter sand for the substrate. I rinsed it in batches before adding it to the aquarium until the water looked clear, added it to the aquarium, and then added some water and smoothed it out.

Water got very cloudy and is still cloudy (though a little better) several hours later. Is this normal? Did I just not rinse it well enough?

Would water changes help by clearing out the suspended particulate/dust or just hurt matters by kicking up more when I refilled?

Lastly should I be good to run the filter (Aquatop CF400) while it's still cloudy? There's no noticeable particulate, just the cloudiness (I guess dust that I didn't get when rinsing?) but wasn't sure if even just the very fine stuff suspended would have any negative impact. I'm guessing this would help clear it up faster?

 

I would run the filter filled with floss, that should help get the cloudiness removed.

 

Will do.

Should I try a couple water changes as well to try and remove some of it that way or just go with the filtration?

 

I would just do the filtration.

 

Yes, it would seem as though it wasn't washed well enough. No, the filter will not be damaged by the suspended particles. Yes, you could do a large water change to remove it. No, you don't have to.

I would stir up the sand though, to make sure there is no air trapped in it. I noticed that a couple of times, before I started adding the sand while the fish and water were still in the tank.

 

Thanks guys. Should I start off with some sacrificial pads just to clear it out and then switch over to a New set? Not sure if its likely to clog the first set of pads.

 

It's not a bad idea to have a set just for removing the sand particles. It usually settles down in a few days, but it can wreak havoc with your filter. Be sure to rinse out the filter housing, as well, once things do settle down.

 

Yes, I did have a problem with my filters when I used sand in my tank. Before the sand settled down, it kept getting in one of my filters and stopping the fans that run the filtration. I had to rinse it out over and over and reset it over and over. The sand has settled down and I think I did my last rinse yesterday. So, be careful with the sand and the filters.

 

it depends entirely on the kind of sand used. Pool filter sand is heavy enough to not get caught in the current. Fine sands make a mess of HOBs.

 

it depends entirely on the kind of sand used. Pool filter sand is heavy enough to not get caught in the current. Fine sands make a mess of HOBs.

You are so right, mine is an HOB.... and it caused problems. Think they are over now though.;D