Help: Sand Made Water Cloudy!

[Dalaran]

HELP:

I just switched out big gravel for cichlid sand, followed the instructions about preparing it and now after re-filling the water the tank is all cloudy! I'm assuming from sand that has not yet settled but how long do I need to wait until I can put the fish back in? Is it ok with them? I am trying to build up the new landscape and I can barely see it!

All help is appreciated!

 

[MewMew42]

did you already have fish in you tank? did you take them out?

if so put them in and they will be fine, the sand will settle within a few hours! they really dont mind!

 

[Dalaran]

I took them out to remove the gravel and do the landscape, there really was too few rocks and hiding places for the mbuna.

Thank you VERY much for your quick reply miss!

 

[mixmaster jay]

give it 2/3 hours you should be able to see better but it probably wont fully clear for a good 5/6 maybe more you should be ok to add your fish after 2/3 hours saying that ive done it with my fish in and never had a problem to be honest

just do a few water changes to speed it up

 

[MewMew42]

aye ive put min into worse...when i didnt clean my gravel properly springs to mind...see i told you im an idiot lol

i think they'd appreciate being back in their tank than if they are in a bucket hehe

 

[mixmaster jay]

an idiot lol i bet most of us have done it sometime or another lol

 

[Dalaran]

You guys are great. Thanks very much for your quick help and quick calming of my nerves!!

I put the fish back in about 2 hours after the substrate change and it didn't seem to bother them too much... althoguh I could barely see them at the back! It has now been ~10 hours and the water is still not completely clear but can easily see through the length of the tank now.

Thanks again everyone! They very much like their new home and extensive hiding spots now!