I am setting up a live plant aquarium. I put 45 pounds of Flourite in
a 26 gallon bow front tank. I dont think I cleaned the Flourite good
enough cause my water is now the color of Chocolate Milk. Practically
zero visibility. How long will this last? Is it better if I just turn
off the filters to let the particles settle? Right now I am just
running a whisper power filter.. I already turned off my Fluval 204.
Any help would be appreciated...

Another question: I am thinking to order the Phazer II Light fixture
made by SeaClone. Apparently, they discontinued this unit, I can get
it cheap so is it any good?

Thanks

Duke

Phazer II is made by Red Sea. Either way, what are good fishes for
planted tanks? Thanks

"Dukester" wrote in message
oups.com...
I am setting up a live plant aquarium. I put 45 pounds of Flourite in
a 26 gallon bow front tank. I dont think I cleaned the Flourite good
enough cause my water is now the color of Chocolate Milk. Practically
zero visibility. How long will this last? Is it better if I just turn
off the filters to let the particles settle? Right now I am just
running a whisper power filter.. I already turned off my Fluval 204.
Any help would be appreciated...

Is the tank un-cycled without fish? If so, you can drain the water and
slowly add new water being careful not to disturb the bottom. If it's
cycled, just wait it out. it'll clear eventually.

I have flourite in 2 tanks. I don't like the idea of the sediment getting
into the filter. Cleaning your impellers is probably not a bad idea.

Gary

"Dr." wrote in message
...

"Dukester" wrote in message
oups.com...
I am setting up a live plant aquarium. I put 45 pounds of Flourite in
a 26 gallon bow front tank. I dont think I cleaned the Flourite good
enough cause my water is now the color of Chocolate Milk. Practically
zero visibility. How long will this last? Is it better if I just turn
off the filters to let the particles settle? Right now I am just
running a whisper power filter.. I already turned off my Fluval 204.
Any help would be appreciated...

Is the tank un-cycled without fish? If so, you can drain the water and
slowly add new water being careful not to disturb the bottom. If it's
cycled, just wait it out. it'll clear eventually.

I have flourite in 2 tanks. I don't like the idea of the sediment getting
into the filter. Cleaning your impellers is probably not a bad idea.

Gary

Any idea if a Diatom filter would do the trick? I was thinking of adding
Fluorite or Onyx to my existing tank and I was worried about the same issue.
I actually want the Diatom filter for other uses, so it would be a bonus if
I could use it for this too.

Bill,

I recently made two planted tanks. On neither did I rinse the gravel
enough (it seems) (though I did better on the second). On the first,
6g, the water was chocolate milk. I hooked up a Magnum 350 canister
filter with both the "fit right" sleeve and the pleated "micron
cartridge" - I don't know if this is the same as a diatom filter, but
after a few hours, the water was clear.

On the second tank (2g), the little filter inside (50gph?) did the
trick itself over night.

FWIW,

Liz

I added flourite to an existing tank, without making the water cloudy. Well
there was some slightly cloudiness, but it went away in an hour ot two. I
washed it really well, and placed it on the bottom by scooping it into a
small glass and pouring it out of the glass at the bottom of the aquarium.

"Bill Stock" wrote in message
.. .

"Dr." wrote in message
...

"Dukester" wrote in message
oups.com...
I am setting up a live plant aquarium. I put 45 pounds of Flourite in
a 26 gallon bow front tank. I dont think I cleaned the Flourite good
enough cause my water is now the color of Chocolate Milk. Practically
zero visibility. How long will this last? Is it better if I just turn
off the filters to let the particles settle? Right now I am just
running a whisper power filter.. I already turned off my Fluval 204.
Any help would be appreciated...

Is the tank un-cycled without fish? If so, you can drain the water and
slowly add new water being careful not to disturb the bottom. If it's
cycled, just wait it out. it'll clear eventually.

I have flourite in 2 tanks. I don't like the idea of the sediment getting
into the filter. Cleaning your impellers is probably not a bad idea.

Gary

Any idea if a Diatom filter would do the trick? I was thinking of adding
Fluorite or Onyx to my existing tank and I was worried about the same
issue. I actually want the Diatom filter for other uses, so it would be a
bonus if I could use it for this too.

On 11 Nov 2005 18:50:32 -0800, "Dukester" wrote:

I am setting up a live plant aquarium. I put 45 pounds of Flourite in
a 26 gallon bow front tank. I dont think I cleaned the Flourite good
enough cause my water is now the color of Chocolate Milk. Practically
zero visibility. How long will this last? Is it better if I just turn
off the filters to let the particles settle? Right now I am just
running a whisper power filter.. I already turned off my Fluval 204.
Any help would be appreciated...

Another question: I am thinking to order the Phazer II Light fixture
made by SeaClone. Apparently, they discontinued this unit, I can get
it cheap so is it any good?

Thanks

Duke


I recently set up a 55 with fluorite. It took a week or so, the water
is clear now. Easiest thing to do, just wait. Well ,aybe not easy,
but it will work.

I didn't wash mine at all.

"Dukester" Spaketh Thusly:

I am setting up a live plant aquarium. I put 45 pounds of Flourite in
a 26 gallon bow front tank. I dont think I cleaned the Flourite good
enough cause my water is now the color of Chocolate Milk. Practically
zero visibility. How long will this last? Is it better if I just turn
off the filters to let the particles settle? Right now I am just
running a whisper power filter.. I already turned off my Fluval 204.
Any help would be appreciated...
As already suggested, if possible, siphon it out. If you can run a hose to
fill and a siphon vac at the same time, that would be the easiest way to do
it. If you set it up carefully you can leave both running and just go back to
stir it up occasionally.
If you can't siphon it all out, I suggest emptying out all the expensive media
in your Fluval and putting in something like floss. Plan on changing it very
often at first, perhaps twice daily to start, and it'll slowly clear up. You
can agitate it to get out more now, or put up with a big cloud of it every
time it gets disturbed for a time, your choice.
I did the same as Liz and used the cartridge in a Magnum 350 and it was clear
within a day - but that was after a thorough cleaning before it even got into
the tank.

Cleaning Flourite properly is neither a skill nor a science. Rather, it's a
cross between Art and Black Magic. Google this group for "cleaning flourite"
and you'll find many good ideas that have been presented over the years to
make it somewhat easier next time. Most involve fine strainers, incredibly
large amounts of water, and the Flourite added a little at a time.


--
Bill H. [my "reply to" address is real]
www.necka.net
Molon Labe!

"Bill Stock" wrote in message
.. .

Any idea if a Diatom filter would do the trick? I was thinking of adding
Fluorite or Onyx to my existing tank and I was worried about the same
issue. I actually want the Diatom filter for other uses, so it would be a
bonus if I could use it for this too.


Yeah, it should help some. I did that with a Magnum 350 on one of my tanks.
It'll probably clog the element fairly quick, so I'd have a spare or two on
hand. When the dust finally settles, I'd suggest cleaning your filter very
well to reduce any chance of the Flourite abrasing any moving parts.

That first time I just rinsed the Flourite in the tub using a colander. I
didn't do as good of a job as I thought I did. The 2nd time I did the
rinsing outside using a colander and a 5 gallon bucket. That worked a little
better. Next time I'm going to try drilling some large holes in the bottom
of the 5 gallon bucket and lining it with window screen, and rinsing the
Flourite a little at a time with the garden hose.

Gary

"Zathoros" wrote in message
news:1zwdf.774$9T4.334@trnddc04...
I washed it really well, and placed it on the bottom by scooping it into a
small glass and pouring it out of the glass at the bottom of the aquarium.

For a decent sized tank I was thinking about taking a length of 2" or 3"
diameter PVC tubing, and butchering a funnel and attaching to one end. Then
pour the stuff slowly to the bottom of the tank. I'm thinking this might
keep dust to a minimum.

Gary

Thanks for all the advice. I finally got it to clear a little. Now
its murky water...I am thinking to get a 55 watt compact flourescent
with moon light. It cost 93 bucks. Is this enough power? Even though
i read 65 watts is what I need for 26 gallon tank.. Any difference this
will make....?

http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products.../Itemdy00.aspx

what do u think of this light?

Bill Stock wrote:



Any idea if a Diatom filter would do the trick? I was thinking of
adding Fluorite or Onyx to my existing tank and I was worried about
the same issue. I actually want the Diatom filter for other uses, so
it would be a bonus if I could use it for this too.

For sure, a diatom filter would remove all the suspended particles from
the flourite. You can greatly reduce the problem by rinsing the
flourite in a bucket before putting it into the tank. I use a 5 gallon
bucket and rinse with a stream from a hose, pouring off the sediment
filled water above the flourite. Repeat three or four times and you
will be way ahead when you put it in the tank. There will still be some
cloudiness but at least you will be able to see from front to back of
the tank. It is very obvious that this is working and the flourite is
getting cleaner with each pass.

For small amounts, you can put the flourite in a fine kitchen strainer
and run water through it for a minute or two. Maybe stir gently. You
will get it very clean doing this. The large scale version of this
would be to use a piece of nylon window screen. Either is a little too
coarse and will lose some of the smaller particles.

--

George

"Dukester" wrote in message
ups.com...
Thanks for all the advice. I finally got it to clear a little. Now
its murky water...I am thinking to get a 55 watt compact flourescent
with moon light. It cost 93 bucks. Is this enough power? Even though
i read 65 watts is what I need for 26 gallon tank.. Any difference this
will make....?

http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products.../Itemdy00.aspx

what do u think of this light?


Looks good to me, but I'm really no expert at all on lighting.

Gary