Hi All,
I have a 57 gallon DT and a 20 gallon sump I recently (last 3 days) filled with water, Arag-Alive Fiji Pink sand, and Nature's Ocean Natural Coral Aquarium Base Rock. I noticed the rock was a bit dusty and chalky and gave it a few rinses before putting it in the tank, but probably could have done better. I did not rinse the sand per the instructions on the bag. I had a bit of water in the bottom of my tank (due to having to make multiple batches of salt water) when I added my sand and rock and experienced a lot of cloudiness after the addition. I then added the packets of clarifier which seemed to precipitate down a 1-2mm thick light-white film which I then worked on moving with a turkey baster in order to suck it down my overflow to filter in my sump (100micron felt sock and filter floss in my baffles). When I came home today, the water was fairly clear, but I decided to move some rock around which clouded the water considerably. I then decided to stir the sand with my hands a bit in order to kick up remaining dust. I notice a fine particulate which is in my sump. It seems to be passing through the 100um felt sock and some of it is being picked up by my protein skimmer. The amount of cloud is the same as it was before it settled over the past 2 days.
My TLDR question is "What in the heck is going on and is this normal?" If normal, how in the world do you work on the rock and sand in your DT without a dust storm? In hindsight I should probably have rinsed the sand and power washed the rock. Any help and tips for recovery would be much appreciated.
I have a 57 gallon DT and a 20 gallon sump I recently (last 3 days) filled with water, Arag-Alive Fiji Pink sand, and Nature's Ocean Natural Coral Aquarium Base Rock. I noticed the rock was a bit dusty and chalky and gave it a few rinses before putting it in the tank, but probably could have done better. I did not rinse the sand per the instructions on the bag. I had a bit of water in the bottom of my tank (due to having to make multiple batches of salt water) when I added my sand and rock and experienced a lot of cloudiness after the addition. I then added the packets of clarifier which seemed to precipitate down a 1-2mm thick light-white film which I then worked on moving with a turkey baster in order to suck it down my overflow to filter in my sump (100micron felt sock and filter floss in my baffles). When I came home today, the water was fairly clear, but I decided to move some rock around which clouded the water considerably. I then decided to stir the sand with my hands a bit in order to kick up remaining dust. I notice a fine particulate which is in my sump. It seems to be passing through the 100um felt sock and some of it is being picked up by my protein skimmer. The amount of cloud is the same as it was before it settled over the past 2 days.
My TLDR question is "What in the heck is going on and is this normal?" If normal, how in the world do you work on the rock and sand in your DT without a dust storm? In hindsight I should probably have rinsed the sand and power washed the rock. Any help and tips for recovery would be much appreciated.