I set up my my 55 gallon tank 2 days ago using Flourite aquarium substrate. Ever since, the water has been TERRIBLE! It is brown and there is about 1 inch of visibility. If I let it settle, then it will just stir up when I move it. What should I do?
Any suggestion?
Thanks for the Help,
-Chris
Unfortunately you may have to start again unless you want to do a lot of water changes and filter cleaning. I bought a 200l tank and filled it with flourite (2 bags initially) and poured the water in hap-hazardly and got a similar problem so i pulled it all out and followed these instructions.
Wash flourite in a bowl i left hose in untill it ran almost clear.
then using a seive or strainer wash it through this will get the smaller pieces out and clean it again.
once you are happy that the water running through it is clear enough pour flourite onto a towel and let it dry in the sun or lightly blowdry it.
when it is dry (only very top layer needs to be bone dry bottom layers can be damp) put into tank and put into final resting place before putting water in.
place a large bowl on top of gravel and put hose in bowl and turn on at a slow constant pace, If using a bucket aim to pour into bowl although this is a less measured and calm way i reccommend a hose as it's easier to control flow rate.
This should result in no clouds at all i managed to get it crystal clear first time but then decided to add another 2 bags with water in but following washing instructions the water was clear again a week later as ther was no dust or small pieces to stir up.
After a week it apparently becomes sealed and wont create clouds when you disturb the surface during gravel cleaning for instance or planting come to that.
I followed these instructions and i have a beautifully clear and aesthetically pleasing tank after all thats part of the reasoning for using flourite it's such a pretty looking gravel.