How Long Should I Wait?

[n3ont3tra]

Okay, I bought a bag of playsand from Home Depot and I put it in my bathtub in a bucket. I put the water on and let if overflow, but someone needed to use the tub and I got impatient so I took it out after about 5 minutes. Then I started draining water from the tank into an 18g tub that I have, and once I took out about 2/3 of the water, I caught most of the fish and put them in the tub. I couldn't catch all of the fish, because I'm not that skilled at fish catching. I also put a 200w heater (it was my only spare) and both HOB filters in the tub. I drained more water until the tub was full and then I started taking out the gravel, a scoop at a time. The water started to get pretty cloudy, so I finally caught the remaining fish and put them in the tub. I removes the UG filter and completed the switch to sand. Now, the tank is very very cloudy, and I can't see my hand 2 inches away from the front of the tank. I moved one filter over there, to help clear it up, but it's still very slow. The heater in the tub was making the water too hot, so I unplugged it, but now it'll get too clod again. The fish appear happy in the tub, they are acting normally, but I want to know when I should put them back into the tank. I have about 5 hours until I go to bed, and I don't think the tank will be clear by then.

 

[mlawson]

Sand should always be cleaned thoroughly before use. The filter should take care of most of the sand and it will naturally fall to the bottom, however if matters persist of the next following days then carry out a partial water change until it has all disappeared.

 

[n3ont3tra]

Do you think my fish will be okay in the tub? Hold on, I have to update my sig. Okay, it's updated.

 

[Torrean]

they'll be ok in your cloudy tank

put your filter back on the tank as well as the heater...then let the temp come up to normal and acclimate the fish. once acclimation is done put them in. The cloudiness should not hurt them...(as long as it was caused by the sand)

 

[Rhiannon]

Can you use sandpit sand for kids in a fish tank? I never knew that...

 

[n3ont3tra]

I've caught most of the fish and put them in now, but didn't acclimatise. I checked the PH and temp and everything is the same.

 

[gsta13]

Sand and an undergravel filter i thought you couldnt use them together?

 

[n3ont3tra]

Correct -- I took out the UGF.

Got all the fish in, but I can't see them. o.o

 

[Torrean]

well seeing as how the purpose of acclimation is to equalize temp and PH you should be fine. I hope your silt settles soon. Sometimes it takes a few days (or more) for all of it to settle.