"RedForeman ©®" wrote in message
...
I just a couple of days ago set up my 55g, and I didn't really rinse it, I
poured a bag into the bucket, poured water into that bucket and let it
over
run the bucket, stuck my hand in and stirred up a bit, poured out the
water,
put the flourite in the tank... did this 3 times, and had a brown water
mess.... filled the tank, turned on the filter, let it run for 3 days,
turned off filter, cleaned the media, put it back in turned on and now 5th
day, it's as clear as a bell...not cycled, but clear..

Following Chuck's advice, I used a fine sieve to wash small batches of
fluorite over a bucket using *COLD* water (warm-hot water seems to cause a
lot of fines to become suspended in the water). I didn't handle the material
aggressively so it ran reasonably clear. I did a final rinse in the bucket.
It was a little cloudy but not much. I then placed the gravel in the tank,
put a plate on top, and filled the tank using an empty milk jug letting the
water pour slowly over the plate. I got a little cloudiness, but I could see
every detail in the tank; It just looked like a little fog. When I got up in
the morning, it was ~50% settled.

Now I have to watch for a mini-cyle. You should see the black water/waste I
took out from the bottom of the tank when I removed the previous aquarium
gravel.