Sand As A Substrate

[PaBucsFan]

Hello everyone, I have had a freshwater 10 gallon tank up and running since January. In February I decided to switch the substrate to sand and ever since then I have not been able to get the water crystal clear. I have two fish in there a 2.5" Marble Mollie and a 1.5" Otto. The parameters are perfect...7.2 pH, 0.00ppm ammonia, 0.00ppm nitrite, and less than 5ppm of nitrate. I do weekly 10% water changes with the exception of the end of the month water change of 50% which I also turn the sand over to protect up toxins building up. I feed the fish at the end of the day and I make sure the food is gone or I remove the extra. Is it typical for a tank with a sand substrate to not clear up? Also I have a 20-30 gallon power filter on it, I change the carbon filter every 6 weeks.

 

[PDSimon]

There is no problem with sand in the aquarium, it shouldn't leave any mess. Did you wash it properly? even if you didn't it should have cleared by now.

 

[Katty]

Have you tried using a water clarifier yet? That might clear things up a little.

 

[PaBucsFan]

There is no problem with sand in the aquarium, it shouldn't leave any mess. Did you wash it properly? even if you didn't it should have cleared by now.

I washed it with cold water for about 15 minutes way back in February. I figured that it should have cleared by now as my gf's brother in law got a saltwater tank after me and is cleared already ( although we used different sand). Thanks for the input!

Also I have used clarifier but it did not help, plus I like to avoid chemicals if I can.