help please>>>

Setting up new 75gal and thougt I was doing everything perfect, until I added the sand. I bought some live agonite sand and dry sand from my LFS. The dry sand said it was from the ocean and didn't contain silica but once I added this sand it was very cloudy. About 24 hours later it cleared up but left a white film all over the class and suds on the side walls of my 30gal sump. Is this normal? The skimmer collected a pinkish milky substance that I emptied a couple of times, now my skimmer, pump and everything has a white film on it. Before I add my rock and fish is there anything that I should do? thanks

 

Most Sand requires a lot of rising to remove the fine particles. It sounds like some of these fine particles were still present.
I have done this as well, but it sounds like your experience was much better (took almost a week to clear for me). You can get a cloth and wipe your sump walls down and clean your skimmer. Add some filter floss in the sump to grab and free floating little bits.
I would recommend that you vacuum the bottom of your sump during the next couple water changes or you will end up with dust clouds every time you stir the bottom of the sump.

Good luck and Feel fee to sign up! It's free

Jason

 

Welcome and feel free to join as a member as there is no cost!

First, when you say add your rock and fish, I'm sure you understand that the rock must be fully cured or that you must cure it in your tank. Secondly, you only add fish after the tank has stabilized and only one fish at a time every 6 to 8 weeks. It usually takes 8 to 10 weeks to fully cycle and stabilize.

As you will be waiting for your rock to cure/tank to stabilize, your sand will be fine and your skimmer will pull the dissolved organic compounds, the milky stuff, out of your system.

Make sure your tank temp is around 80 degrees with your specific gravity at 1.025 - 1.026 and your Ph at 8.3 if you want to have e reef tank. Your ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates should all read zero. after a good tank cycle. If the tank doesn't fully cycle you won't have the necessary dentrifying bacteria to support your initial fish load. The bacteria wil increase as you slowly add your fish.

 

I purchased my rock from liverocks.com and it has been cured on arrival.... that is what i think anyway. The fish I have now is already established in my 40 gal. waiting to be transferred.

 

i just spoke with the guy that I am getting the rock from and he said that I should cycle at least for 2 weeks. Thanks for the heads up.

 

I used the same rock for my tank and I rinsed it in a 5 gal bucket over and over for probaby 30 minuts.....turning it with my hand and dumping out the milky liquid. I cant imagine not rinsing it. That would be a big mess. Anyway...even after I rinsed it over and over it still left a white film over everything. But not near as bad as I imagine yours did. my new tank is getting sand for sure.

Jay