Sand clouded up my tank! Help!

[dazzanax]

Hey all. I am starting a new 65 gallon reef tank.

So I go about 35 gallons of salt water into the tank, and heat it up. Then, I attempted to wash out my sand, over and over again. I washed out a 25 lb bag like 25 times, in a 5 gallon bucket, getting cloudiness out each time, by swirling the sand around with my hand, making it all suspended in the water. Then, I let the sand particles settle for a few seconds, and dumped the clouded water. I read that 15 washes is the magic number for this, so I thought that was enough, but when I put my sand in, the tank is now really cloudy! What do you think I should do?

Should I throw my big ass aquaclear together that's sitting in my closet from an old fresh water tank, and hope it takes out the apparent dust?

Thanks guys, any help is appreciated!

 

[xxxAngeloxxx]

U got to let it settle down give it 2-3 days for the tank to clear up

 

[strgazr27]

It took 4 days for my 65 to clear up but it looks really nice now. It will settle out. A lot of the dust is fine enough that it will pass through the filter pads. Only thing that will speed it up is a filter sock and like I said, even running one it took 4 days for mine to settle.

This is the tank the day I set it up and as of this morning...Just give it time.

 

[dazzanax]

It took 4 days for my 65 to clear up but it looks really nice now. It will settle out. A lot of the dust is fine enough that it will pass through the filter pads. Only thing that will speed it up is a filter sock and like I said, even running one it took 4 days for mine to settle.

This is the tank the day I set it up and as of this morning...Just give it time.

Thanks for your advice...mine is MUCH more cloudy than yours was. you can't see the powerhead that is only like 10 inches into the tank, if looking at the front of the tank

 

[strgazr27]

If you used a real fine sand it can be much cloudier and take a bit longer to settle out but it will. Are the PH's pointed at the sand bed? If they are they could be constantly stirring it up.

 

[sillysidewinder]

Don't worry, it will definitely settle. perhaps turn the powerheads off for a day or two?

 

[tentacles]

perhaps turn the powerheads off for a day or two?

Don't turn the powerheads off, the water needs to move. Just make sure they're not pushing current into the sand.

 

[sillysidewinder]

Thanks for the correction. Good to know