Hi
I am just about toset up my 260 litre tank and bought the 5mm pea gravel for the substrate. It says to wash it till the water is clean. I have 25kg to wash and despite spending a whole day on it yesterday (sore fingers!) I don't seem to be able to get the water to be completely clear. Is this normal please? Will it matter that much?
Any feedback welcome.

Keith T

Are you supposed to clean gravel?

I don't. Fish seem fine


my .02

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fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html
recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden

This is a new setup, new gravel, cleaning before putting it into the tank.

Depending on the gravel, some won't come entirely clean. You can try using a colander and just washing a little at a time or go ahead and put it into the tank and slowly fill it. Put extra floss in your filter to help take out any floating matter.

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SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY YEARS, NOT MONTHS!!!
220 Tank build
http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/sta...late-3253.html

You'll never get it all cleaned up. The main purpose is to wash away in debris that may be in amongst the gravel. With exception to sand, I do it exactly as Susan has mentioned and use a colander. When one batch it "cleaned", I immediately put it in the tank. Pack your filter with extra floss during this process. Your water might turn a bit cloudy but if you do it right, it will be slim to none. (I.e..lower the gravel all the way to the bottom and then slowly pour it out).

i let one of my boyfriends friends wash the gravel when we first set up our first 55 and i didnt find out till later that he only did a lazy quick rinse...tank was cloudy for a day but the filter had it crystal in 2 days.

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What to do today, water change?

i like the way you say that nicole. how you LET one of your boyfriends do it for you. how many boyfriends do you have? j/k what a lazy bastard.

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Tank one: 60g acrylic

1 green terror cichlid
1 jewel cichlid
1 jack dempsey cichlid
1 orange lab cichlid
2 yellow lab cichlids
1 kissing gourami
2 glass cats
1 bristle nose pleco
1 golden mystery snail

Tank two: 55g glass (taking care of this one for a friend temporarily)

2 huge Oscars
1 large Jack dempsey

my boyfriend's friend... and i just have the one lol

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What to do today, water change?

i just rinse 2-3 times and put into the tank. the filter will take care of the cloudy water