#1   Report Post  
Old 29-05-2003, 06:23 AM
David Wee
 
Posts: n/a
Default Onyx Sand Cloudiness


I finally got around to replacing my cheap coated gravel substrate with
Onyx Sand, in my 10 gallon. Im using an AquaClear 150 mini.. I rinsed off
the sand in a bucket for about 30 times (alot of water), and after a
certain point, I just felt, well, no matter how many times I rinse this
stuff, there is always going to be a cloud, so I just put it into my
aqaurium and filled up the water.

Now the "slight initial cloudiness" (as predicted by the bag) is not so
slight, nor is it not so initial..

The cloudiness is really starting to bother me. My aquaClear sponge is
seemingly much too porous to grab up ultra micorscopic silt, and im
wondering at this point, should i just put in my powerhead filter to
really help ? Whats the deal with the cloudiness? I just dont see the
small aqua clear sponge trapping all that cloud.

Help wanted.
--
  #2   Report Post  
Old 29-05-2003, 06:23 AM
LeighMo
 
Posts: n/a
Default Onyx Sand Cloudiness

Don't worry, it will clear eventually.

You might want to add some cheap filter floss to your AC. It will trap the
sediment, and you can just throw it away rather than trying to rinse it.

If there are fish in the tank, don't remove the sponge. Add the floss to the
sponge. If there aren't any fish in the tank yet, you can take out the sponge
and stuff the filter with floss.



Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/
  #3   Report Post  
Old 29-05-2003, 06:23 AM
WD
 
Posts: n/a
Default Onyx Sand Cloudiness


"David Wee" wrote in message
...

I finally got around to replacing my cheap coated gravel substrate with
Onyx Sand, in my 10 gallon. Im using an AquaClear 150 mini.. I rinsed off
the sand in a bucket for about 30 times (alot of water), and after a
certain point, I just felt, well, no matter how many times I rinse this
stuff, there is always going to be a cloud, so I just put it into my
aqaurium and filled up the water.

Now the "slight initial cloudiness" (as predicted by the bag) is not so
slight, nor is it not so initial..

The cloudiness is really starting to bother me. My aquaClear sponge is
seemingly much too porous to grab up ultra micorscopic silt, and im
wondering at this point, should i just put in my powerhead filter to
really help ? Whats the deal with the cloudiness? I just dont see the
small aqua clear sponge trapping all that cloud.

Help wanted.




I had this as well, and though Leighmo is correct, it will clear, I didn't
find it worth the trouble. Every time I move something, or prune my plants,
the tank is cloudy again for another 8 hours. My next tank, I used some play
sand, avaiable at Home Depot for 3 bucks a bag. Not as fine as the Onyx, but
it's still working great and almost zero cloudyness after 24 hours.
Since you've already got the stuff, I'd be sure the filters aren't
stirring up the bottom, and just be patient. I did a couple large water
changes as well, seemed to help.
--



  #4   Report Post  
Old 29-05-2003, 06:23 AM
David Wee
 
Posts: n/a
Default Onyx Sand Cloudiness


See, thing was, all my friends make fun of my tank since it *used* to be a
green water gross out festival. So as fortunate circumstances came about,
Im having a date and they told me she would run if she saw that tank.

So i got new Onyx sand, cleaned the tank out 100%, and put everythign back
in, now there was this cloudiness to worry about caused by the sand. In a
fit of fright, i went to the LFS and got Kordon's "TransClear".

Oh my god, this stuff is amazing. Just half an hour or so ago the water
was still in its dream like state (i.e. cloudy, hazy, and somewhat
ethereal), and now the water is pristinely clear.

Oh my. OKay well, im sold on this stuff. if all my fish and plants die
tomorrow morning because of the "TransClear" ill let you guys know.

David


In article QWbBa.154688$rt6.45593@sccrnsc02, WD wrote:

"David Wee" wrote in message
...

I finally got around to replacing my cheap coated gravel substrate with
Onyx Sand, in my 10 gallon. Im using an AquaClear 150 mini.. I rinsed off
the sand in a bucket for about 30 times (alot of water), and after a
certain point, I just felt, well, no matter how many times I rinse this
stuff, there is always going to be a cloud, so I just put it into my
aqaurium and filled up the water.

Now the "slight initial cloudiness" (as predicted by the bag) is not so
slight, nor is it not so initial..

The cloudiness is really starting to bother me. My aquaClear sponge is
seemingly much too porous to grab up ultra micorscopic silt, and im
wondering at this point, should i just put in my powerhead filter to
really help ? Whats the deal with the cloudiness? I just dont see the
small aqua clear sponge trapping all that cloud.

Help wanted.




I had this as well, and though Leighmo is correct, it will clear, I didn't
find it worth the trouble. Every time I move something, or prune my plants,
the tank is cloudy again for another 8 hours. My next tank, I used some play
sand, avaiable at Home Depot for 3 bucks a bag. Not as fine as the Onyx, but
it's still working great and almost zero cloudyness after 24 hours.
Since you've already got the stuff, I'd be sure the filters aren't
stirring up the bottom, and just be patient. I did a couple large water
changes as well, seemed to help.
--





--
  #5   Report Post  
Old 29-05-2003, 06:23 AM
Duncan A. McRae
 
Posts: n/a
Default Onyx Sand Cloudiness

Don't forget to post about the date. Especially since your aquarium seems
to figure prominently in your "success" (or lack thereof)!

"David Wee" wrote in message
...

See, thing was, all my friends make fun of my tank since it *used* to be a
green water gross out festival. So as fortunate circumstances came about,
Im having a date and they told me she would run if she saw that tank.

So i got new Onyx sand, cleaned the tank out 100%, and put everythign back
in, now there was this cloudiness to worry about caused by the sand. In a
fit of fright, i went to the LFS and got Kordon's "TransClear".

Oh my god, this stuff is amazing. Just half an hour or so ago the water
was still in its dream like state (i.e. cloudy, hazy, and somewhat
ethereal), and now the water is pristinely clear.

Oh my. OKay well, im sold on this stuff. if all my fish and plants die
tomorrow morning because of the "TransClear" ill let you guys know.

David


In article QWbBa.154688$rt6.45593@sccrnsc02, WD

wrote:

"David Wee" wrote in message
...

I finally got around to replacing my cheap coated gravel substrate with
Onyx Sand, in my 10 gallon. Im using an AquaClear 150 mini.. I rinsed

off
the sand in a bucket for about 30 times (alot of water), and after a
certain point, I just felt, well, no matter how many times I rinse this
stuff, there is always going to be a cloud, so I just put it into my
aqaurium and filled up the water.

Now the "slight initial cloudiness" (as predicted by the bag) is not so
slight, nor is it not so initial..

The cloudiness is really starting to bother me. My aquaClear sponge is
seemingly much too porous to grab up ultra micorscopic silt, and im
wondering at this point, should i just put in my powerhead filter to
really help ? Whats the deal with the cloudiness? I just dont see the
small aqua clear sponge trapping all that cloud.

Help wanted.




I had this as well, and though Leighmo is correct, it will clear, I

didn't
find it worth the trouble. Every time I move something, or prune my

plants,
the tank is cloudy again for another 8 hours. My next tank, I used some

play
sand, avaiable at Home Depot for 3 bucks a bag. Not as fine as the Onyx,

but
it's still working great and almost zero cloudyness after 24 hours.
Since you've already got the stuff, I'd be sure the filters aren't
stirring up the bottom, and just be patient. I did a couple large water
changes as well, seemed to help.
--





--





  #6   Report Post  
Old 29-05-2003, 06:56 AM
WD
 
Posts: n/a
Default Onyx Sand Cloudiness




"David Wee" wrote in message
...



So i got new Onyx sand, cleaned the tank out 100%, and put everythign back
in, now there was this cloudiness to worry about caused by the sand. In a
fit of fright, i went to the LFS and got Kordon's "TransClear".


From what I've read, that product works by reducing the turbidity of the
water, though I'd really like to know how it does this. The sand
particulates probably won't come back up when the chem dissipates, unlike
algae blooms and such. People use this product for those, then they just
return 3 days later. I have also read that many people believe Transclear
will adversely affect the cycling process.

billy


  #7   Report Post  
Old 29-05-2003, 01:32 PM
LeighMo
 
Posts: n/a
Default Onyx Sand Cloudiness

I had this as well, and though Leighmo is correct, it will clear, I didn't
find it worth the trouble. Every time I move something, or prune my plants,
the tank is cloudy again for another 8 hours.


That will go away, too. I replant my tank all the time, and it clears very
quickly. I would have no qualms about replanting the tank a half-hour before
company was due. g

I did have to remove the whilte filter pad from my Eheim two weeks after
setting up the tank, and throw it away. It was full of gray silt.



Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/
  #8   Report Post  
Old 29-05-2003, 01:32 PM
LeighMo
 
Posts: n/a
Default Onyx Sand Cloudiness

Oh my god, this stuff is amazing. Just half an hour or so ago the water
was still in its dream like state (i.e. cloudy, hazy, and somewhat
ethereal), and now the water is pristinely clear.


It sounds like a flocculant. I sometimes use Brite n Clear, Mardel Lab's
version.

It's safe to use. Basically, it causes fine particles to clump together into
bigger ones, so they can be trapped by the filter. I wouldn't use it all the
time, but it is nice for emergencies.


Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/
  #9   Report Post  
Old 31-05-2003, 03:44 AM
JEB
 
Posts: n/a
Default Onyx Sand Cloudiness



David Wee wrote:
I finally got around to replacing my cheap coated gravel substrate with
Onyx Sand, in my 10 gallon. Im using an AquaClear 150 mini.. I rinsed off
the sand in a bucket for about 30 times (alot of water), and after a
certain point, I just felt, well, no matter how many times I rinse this
stuff, there is always going to be a cloud, so I just put it into my
aqaurium and filled up the water.

Now the "slight initial cloudiness" (as predicted by the bag) is not so
slight, nor is it not so initial..

The cloudiness is really starting to bother me. My aquaClear sponge is
seemingly much too porous to grab up ultra micorscopic silt, and im
wondering at this point, should i just put in my powerhead filter to
really help ? Whats the deal with the cloudiness? I just dont see the
small aqua clear sponge trapping all that cloud.

Help wanted.


I got a paint strainer bag at Lowe's to clean the flourite and Onyx sand
for my first planted tank. The tank has bottom 2 inches of Flourite
regular mixed with a little less than 50% same size natural quartz
gravel. The top 2+ inches are one bag of Onyx sand mixed with a 5 lb.
bag of black Estes gravel about the size of Flourite and a couple of
handfuls of moon sand. I used the paint strainer bag (which is a fine
mesh that looks similar to a curtain sheer) to wash all this stuff. It
worked great, took very little time. Put about 5 lbs. of whatever in
the bag, lowered it into a 5 gal. bucket and stuck one hand in and
swished/stirred for 5-10 minutes. Drained, ran the spigot into the bag
for about a minute while swishing, and done. The fines from the Onyx
were shocking. Gray mud! Anyway, very little cloudiness in my tank,
and what was there went away in about 2 days. Only real annoyance is
that the silt likes to stick to the glass, where it's really noticeable.
I would recommend this method, even though the tank isn't planted yet.
Digging around does raise the silt, but not so badly as some have
described.

James


  #10   Report Post  
Old 18-07-2003, 11:14 AM
David Wee
 
Posts: n/a
Default Onyx Sand Cloudiness


See, thing was, all my friends make fun of my tank since it *used* to be a
green water gross out festival. So as fortunate circumstances came about,
Im having a date and they told me she would run if she saw that tank.

So i got new Onyx sand, cleaned the tank out 100%, and put everythign back
in, now there was this cloudiness to worry about caused by the sand. In a
fit of fright, i went to the LFS and got Kordon's "TransClear".

Oh my god, this stuff is amazing. Just half an hour or so ago the water
was still in its dream like state (i.e. cloudy, hazy, and somewhat
ethereal), and now the water is pristinely clear.

Oh my. OKay well, im sold on this stuff. if all my fish and plants die
tomorrow morning because of the "TransClear" ill let you guys know.

David


In article QWbBa.154688$rt6.45593@sccrnsc02, WD wrote:

"David Wee" wrote in message
...

I finally got around to replacing my cheap coated gravel substrate with
Onyx Sand, in my 10 gallon. Im using an AquaClear 150 mini.. I rinsed off
the sand in a bucket for about 30 times (alot of water), and after a
certain point, I just felt, well, no matter how many times I rinse this
stuff, there is always going to be a cloud, so I just put it into my
aqaurium and filled up the water.

Now the "slight initial cloudiness" (as predicted by the bag) is not so
slight, nor is it not so initial..

The cloudiness is really starting to bother me. My aquaClear sponge is
seemingly much too porous to grab up ultra micorscopic silt, and im
wondering at this point, should i just put in my powerhead filter to
really help ? Whats the deal with the cloudiness? I just dont see the
small aqua clear sponge trapping all that cloud.

Help wanted.




I had this as well, and though Leighmo is correct, it will clear, I didn't
find it worth the trouble. Every time I move something, or prune my plants,
the tank is cloudy again for another 8 hours. My next tank, I used some play
sand, avaiable at Home Depot for 3 bucks a bag. Not as fine as the Onyx, but
it's still working great and almost zero cloudyness after 24 hours.
Since you've already got the stuff, I'd be sure the filters aren't
stirring up the bottom, and just be patient. I did a couple large water
changes as well, seemed to help.
--





--


  #11   Report Post  
Old 18-07-2003, 11:15 AM
JEB
 
Posts: n/a
Default Onyx Sand Cloudiness



David Wee wrote:
I finally got around to replacing my cheap coated gravel substrate with
Onyx Sand, in my 10 gallon. Im using an AquaClear 150 mini.. I rinsed off
the sand in a bucket for about 30 times (alot of water), and after a
certain point, I just felt, well, no matter how many times I rinse this
stuff, there is always going to be a cloud, so I just put it into my
aqaurium and filled up the water.

Now the "slight initial cloudiness" (as predicted by the bag) is not so
slight, nor is it not so initial..

The cloudiness is really starting to bother me. My aquaClear sponge is
seemingly much too porous to grab up ultra micorscopic silt, and im
wondering at this point, should i just put in my powerhead filter to
really help ? Whats the deal with the cloudiness? I just dont see the
small aqua clear sponge trapping all that cloud.

Help wanted.


I got a paint strainer bag at Lowe's to clean the flourite and Onyx sand
for my first planted tank. The tank has bottom 2 inches of Flourite
regular mixed with a little less than 50% same size natural quartz
gravel. The top 2+ inches are one bag of Onyx sand mixed with a 5 lb.
bag of black Estes gravel about the size of Flourite and a couple of
handfuls of moon sand. I used the paint strainer bag (which is a fine
mesh that looks similar to a curtain sheer) to wash all this stuff. It
worked great, took very little time. Put about 5 lbs. of whatever in
the bag, lowered it into a 5 gal. bucket and stuck one hand in and
swished/stirred for 5-10 minutes. Drained, ran the spigot into the bag
for about a minute while swishing, and done. The fines from the Onyx
were shocking. Gray mud! Anyway, very little cloudiness in my tank,
and what was there went away in about 2 days. Only real annoyance is
that the silt likes to stick to the glass, where it's really noticeable.
I would recommend this method, even though the tank isn't planted yet.
Digging around does raise the silt, but not so badly as some have
described.

James


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