Problems with muddy cloudy sand

[gemini9]

I recently switched out my crushed coral for sand and ever since, I've hated my tank. When I first put it in there, the water became so cloudy, I was unable to put my rocks back in the way I wanted them. I couldn't see what was where, so I had to just throw them in there anywhere. After a few days when the water settled, I tried to rearranged my rocks to where I wanted them but the sand got stirred and the water became so muddy I couldn't see what I was doing. Every time I try to rearrange my rocks to where I want them, the water clouds so bad I can't see what I doing. My rocks have since been in a complete jumbled mess because I can't see to arrange them. When I do, the water clouds excessively. I thought my filters would pull that gunk out eventually, but so far, they haven't. The mud keeps coming back. Am I missing something? Looking for advice.

*sigh*.... I want my crushed coral back. :tsk:

 

[NanaReefer]

Any chance you rinsed the sand before adding it to your tank? If not then there's the reason. Best advise I can give is to run a canister filter with filter floss. Will catch the smaller particles.

 

[gemini9]

A few members advised me not to, because it was Live sand. Said if I rinsed it out, I would wash off all the beneficial bacteria.

 

[gemini9]

I have a HOB filter, skimmer and powerhead. That's as far as my equipment goes.

 

[AZDesertRat]

I never rinse my sand if it is intendedto be a functioning deep sand bed, its the fine materail that supports the most colonizing bacteria. Once the bacteria takes off and multiplies the sand will settle like a rock.

 

[JFrar]

ya i just added 20 lbs of sand to my tank about 4 months ago and went through that issue, eventually from sand sifting from water changes it'll pass. although i added the bag of 20lbs through a 2 month period very slowly. i had the same issue going just locally to where i put the new sand at that particular time

 

[tld]

One dose of Seachem Clarity.

I just changed my refugium to be a DSB which created a huge samdstorm in my 120 when inturned the pumps back on. Two capfuls of clarity and three hour later it was like nothing had happened.

 

[Turbo4toy]

I had that issue for a little bit and it does go away. Clean the sand a little with a siphon when doing a water change.

 

[gemini9]

Yeah it's annoying. Thanks all. I guess it will eventually clear itself out then.

 

[Turbo4toy]

The other issue with sand vs crushed coral is that you can't have too much flow right across your bed unless you want a sand storm

 

[gemini9]

I've always had my powerhead pointed upwards toward the surface anyway so that's no biggie