How to clear up water quickly

[DracoKat]

My leopard wrasse likes to dig in the sand and make a bit of a mess, thus creating cloudy water.

Any way I can clear up the water, or do I have to put up with her making the mess? I'd like to have it clear when I have company (I don't mind it a bit cloudy when it's me)

 

[Joey waid]

Canister filter.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I keep a big piece of filter floss or pad and cover the pump chamber with it. Some call it a polishing cloth.

 

[brandon429]

you start with a rinsed sb, the digging goes so much easier. start a brand new sandbed with pure harsh rinse and it wont do this unless new waste was added/unexported. its possible to redo the active bed and not recycle it, depending on how daunting the disassembly would be, for my tank its easy.

 

[DracoKat]

I keep a big piece of filter floss or pad and cover the pump chamber with it. Some call it a polishing cloth.

can you show me a photo of what you mean, please?

 

[DracoKat]

you start with a rinsed sb, the digging goes so much easier. start a brand new sandbed with pure harsh rinse and it wont do this unless new waste was added

the tank is 2 months old- sand is on the new side!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

can you show me a photo of what you mean, please?

https://www.google.com/search?q=fil...X&ved=0ahUKEwjQhZ375PvOAhWl6IMKHdMyANYQsAQIWw

https://www.amazon.com/Marineland-P...8&qid=1473200958&sr=8-3&keywords=filter+floss

not sure how you have your sump configured. a good sized piece can go over your pump too.

 

[DracoKat]

so you just put the floss in the return chamber? no particular place? just shove it in there?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

yup. If you have a set baffles before the pump chamber you can lay it over that the water will run through it.
I do it when Im cleaning the sump too

 

[DracoKat]

thanks. I do have floss. I don't have filter socks, so I shoved a handful under the drain pipes, that OK or it has to be in the return chamber?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

itll prob be more effective in the return, but I dont know your setup

 

[DracoKat]

thanks!

I have a trigger systems.. intake, refugium and return.

I am a bit concerned the floss will prevent pods from going to the DT if I have it in the return

 

[Squid]

Cleaning your sand won't do anything to stop a leopard wrasse from digging, it's what they do. Gotta go the filter floss or sock route. I used to keep a chunk in my overflow but I only have one leopard now so I can deal with an occasional sand storm.

 

[brandon429]

the way it works is by being part of giant sand cleaning threads where we reach in and grab a handful and drop it down, and no cloud results, in the sandbed rinse threads. It would remove the silt component of the unrinsed bed which is nearly all of that cloud. the cleaning is literally the only way to stop it, but since so many want the silt inclusion factor its more common to leave it in, perpetually clouding and commanding secondary removal.

http://reef2reef.com/threads/the-of...ead-aka-one-against-many.230281/#post-2681445

any of those tanks--> wrasse it up no cloud :)

the pre rinse removes the floating lighter components and any waste, so that disturbed bed portions thereafter fall down quicker after disturbance. his burying action alone is quite the waste kicker, that's ideal to be catching in the strainer portions of the tank

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

thanks!

I have a trigger systems.. intake, refugium and return.

I am a bit concerned the floss will prevent pods from going to the DT if I have it in the return

no sweat. I don't leave mine in there.

 

[Squid]

Should also mention I've come to find that after my tank matured and became established, I no longer get the clouds but just sand storms when my wrasse starts digging.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Should also mention I've come to find that after my tank matured and became established, I no longer get the clouds but just sand storms when my wrasse starts digging.

Same here. The poly filter before the pump helps pull some out and the rest should settle in the sump fuge skimmer.

 

[AZDesertRat]

Seed the sand with a few cups of real live sand from a few trusted friends established tanks. Once the sand gets coated with colonizing bacteria it will drop like a rock and clear quickly.

 

[john.m.cole3]

pull the sand for a thorough rinse, siphon the silt out of the sand during water changes, or be patient. many options here. all of them are on different time schedules

 

[AZDesertRat]

I would not siphon the fines out if you are going for a fully functioning DSB. The fines support the most beneficial bacteria. Patience is key with a DSB.