Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PBrods · 12-31-2011, 03:11 PM

I'm SO FRIGGIN agrivated right now!!!!!!!

I have black sand for my son's 20 gallon tank. I poured HALF a bag into a 5 gallon bucket and filled the bucket half way with warm water. I swirled it around for a bit and dumped it out. The water was black. I did it again...and again...and again...and again...and again...20 times later!!! The water is still coming out black!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not AS black but still black enough so that it would probably ruin my filter and kill my fish the first time i go to clean the bottom.
Did I get defective sand? I bought it at Petco.

drunkenbeast · 12-31-2011, 03:24 PM

try putting a hose in the bucket and just letting the water run for awhile, easier than dumping the bucket so many times. hopefully that will clear up the sand. whats the brand name of it?

PBrods · 12-31-2011, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drunkenbeast

try putting a hose in the bucket and just letting the water run for awhile, easier than dumping the bucket so many times. hopefully that will clear up the sand. whats the brand name of it?

Here's the sand...

and here's what it looks like after 20 times of rinsing...It's darker then it looks. The flash makes it look lighter. How clear does it need to be?

jrman83 · 12-31-2011, 04:23 PM

Rinsing sucks! No way around it and some things are worse than others. Some of the stuff I used I had to fill the bucket half way and rinse that for a full 30min before it would come out mostly clean.. For any extra work you put in before you put in the tank, it will save you potentially tons of work down the road if you put it in your tank too soon.

PBrods · 12-31-2011, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrman83

For any extra work you put in before you put in the tank, it will save you potentially tons of work down the road if you put it in your tank too soon.

But when do you say enough is enough? How clean does it have to be???

jrman83 · 12-31-2011, 04:38 PM

Just a judgement on your part. Whatever you leave you'll have to deal with in your aquarum. Every person would probably go to a different point, but it's usually frustration that makes you put it in too soon. You may be good now, but nobody can tell for sure through pics.

PBrods · 12-31-2011, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrman83

Just a judgement on your part. Whatever you leave you'll have to deal with in your aquarum. Every person would probably go to a different point, but it's usually frustration that makes you put it in too soon. You may be good now, but nobody can tell for sure through pics.

Thanks...Glad I'm doing my son's 20 gallon before my 46 gallon...I won't be using sand in that one...It would probably take a month to clean the sand.

Kehy · 12-31-2011, 05:27 PM

Hmm, another Petco product that requires endless rinsing...Next time, try black blasting sand, or just normal colored sand, might work much better

PBrods · 12-31-2011, 05:41 PM

I'm actually wondering if I am pulverizing the sand by stirring it up in the water and actually making it smaller and hense dirtying the water. If that's the case...It will NEVER end until ALL the sand is gone, right?

Suzanne · 12-31-2011, 05:53 PM

If the sand pulverizes that easily I wouldn't put it in my tank ever. Too bad you can't line your washing machine with something and just put it in there!

PBrods · 12-31-2011, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suzanne

If the sand pulverizes that easily I wouldn't put it in my tank ever. Too bad you can't line your washing machine with something and just put it in there!

That would be too easy...lol

sion342 · 12-31-2011, 09:53 PM

What I doing is take it an old t-shirt better white and put the sand in parts 1/4 at time. Then cover the sand with the shirt ,then let water run at the same time I'm rubbing the shirt with sand. Takes me about 20/45 minutes to clean up very well. This is after rinse the worst at the first couple of times. Hope this work for u.

PBrods · 12-31-2011, 10:39 PM

I ended up using just one 20lb bag for a 20 gallon tank? What's the norm?

PBrods · 12-31-2011, 10:46 PM

Here's the tank

beaslbob · 01-01-2012, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PBrods

I'm SO FRIGGIN agrivated right now!!!!!!!

I have black sand for my son's 20 gallon tank. I poured HALF a bag into a 5 gallon bucket and filled the bucket half way with warm water. I swirled it around for a bit and dumped it out. The water was black. I did it again...and again...and again...and again...and again...20 times later!!! The water is still coming out black!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not AS black but still black enough so that it would probably ruin my filter and kill my fish the first time i go to clean the bottom.
Did I get defective sand? I bought it at Petco.

Nope

But it is a good example of why I don't rinse my substrates. But then I also use no mechanical filters or circulation. In a day or two all that stuff just falls to the bottom and the water is clear.

my .02

beaslbob · 01-01-2012, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PBrods

Here's the tank

awwwwwww
cute!!!!!!

Kehy · 01-01-2012, 03:58 PM

looks pretty good now

PBrods · 01-01-2012, 06:06 PM

I tried practicing vacuming...the sand gets scked up in the tube? Is there a special way to vaccum sand?

drunkenbeast · 01-01-2012, 06:43 PM

it can be tougher but hold the siphon right above the sand so it lifts up the dirt and not the sand also i think its easier if the siphon is not as strong so put the bucket on a chair instead of on the floor

PBrods · 01-01-2012, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beaslbob

awwwwwww
cute!!!!!!

Thanks...

12-31-2011, 03:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
PBrods PBrods's Photo Gallery Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 165 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1 Times Said "Thanks" 14 Times Was Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm SO FRIGGIN agrivated right now!!!!!!! I have black sand for my son's 20 gallon tank. I poured HALF a bag into a 5 gallon bucket and filled the bucket half way with warm water. I swirled it around for a bit and dumped it out. The water was black. I did it again...and again...and again...and again...and again...20 times later!!! The water is still coming out black!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not AS black but still black enough so that it would probably ruin my filter and kill my fish the first time i go to clean the bottom. Did I get defective sand? I bought it at Petco.

12-31-2011, 03:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
drunkenbeast drunkenbeast's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 275 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 30 Times Said "Thanks" 6 Times Was Thanked 62 Times in 59 Posts	Re: Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! try putting a hose in the bucket and just letting the water run for awhile, easier than dumping the bucket so many times. hopefully that will clear up the sand. whats the brand name of it? __________________ Tank 125g african cichlids making it work 75g rimless Reef in progress

12-31-2011, 04:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
jrman83 ....has no life.... jrman83's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,468 Name: Ben Location: White Plains, MD My location Feedback: 16 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 3,396 Times Said "Thanks" 478 Times Was Thanked 2,431 Times in 2,286 Posts	Re: Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rinsing sucks! No way around it and some things are worse than others. Some of the stuff I used I had to fill the bucket half way and rinse that for a full 30min before it would come out mostly clean.. For any extra work you put in before you put in the tank, it will save you potentially tons of work down the road if you put it in your tank too soon.

12-31-2011, 04:38 PM	#6 (permalink)
jrman83 ....has no life.... jrman83's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,468 Name: Ben Location: White Plains, MD My location Feedback: 16 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 3,396 Times Said "Thanks" 478 Times Was Thanked 2,431 Times in 2,286 Posts	Re: Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just a judgement on your part. Whatever you leave you'll have to deal with in your aquarum. Every person would probably go to a different point, but it's usually frustration that makes you put it in too soon. You may be good now, but nobody can tell for sure through pics.

12-31-2011, 05:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
Kehy master of the mini-tank Kehy's Photo Gallery Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 1,200 Name: Kehy Location: Ellensburg, Washington Feedback: 4 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 374 Times Said "Thanks" 84 Times Was Thanked 336 Times in 326 Posts	Re: Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hmm, another Petco product that requires endless rinsing...Next time, try black blasting sand, or just normal colored sand, might work much better __________________ Lead me not to temptation...I can make it there myself just fine, thank you

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12-31-2011, 05:41 PM	#9 (permalink)
PBrods PBrods's Photo Gallery Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 165 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1 Times Said "Thanks" 14 Times Was Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm actually wondering if I am pulverizing the sand by stirring it up in the water and actually making it smaller and hense dirtying the water. If that's the case...It will NEVER end until ALL the sand is gone, right?

12-31-2011, 05:53 PM	#10 (permalink)
Suzanne Suzanne's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 133 Name: Suzanne Location: Minneapolis My location Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 24 Times Said "Thanks" 18 Times Was Thanked 16 Times in 16 Posts	Re: Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If the sand pulverizes that easily I wouldn't put it in my tank ever. Too bad you can't line your washing machine with something and just put it in there!

12-31-2011, 09:53 PM	#12 (permalink)
sion342 sion342's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 199 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 683 Times Said "Thanks" 66 Times Was Thanked 21 Times in 21 Posts	Re: Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What I doing is take it an old t-shirt better white and put the sand in parts 1/4 at time. Then cover the sand with the shirt ,then let water run at the same time I'm rubbing the shirt with sand. Takes me about 20/45 minutes to clean up very well. This is after rinse the worst at the first couple of times. Hope this work for u. __________________ 55 Gals. Plants Anubias,Amazon Swords and more. Tetras: 6 Sarpaes.4 Red Eyes,5 Black Skirts,4 Giant Danios,2 Lemons, 2 Emerald Cory,4 German Blue. 10 gals. tank : Plants, Full of Guppies; 20 Gals. Tank planted Full of Guppies: 1 gal tank filled with Guppies

12-31-2011, 10:39 PM	#13 (permalink)
PBrods PBrods's Photo Gallery Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 165 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1 Times Said "Thanks" 14 Times Was Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I ended up using just one 20lb bag for a 20 gallon tank? What's the norm?

12-31-2011, 10:46 PM	#14 (permalink)
PBrods PBrods's Photo Gallery Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 165 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1 Times Said "Thanks" 14 Times Was Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here's the tank

01-01-2012, 03:58 PM	#17 (permalink)
Kehy master of the mini-tank Kehy's Photo Gallery Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 1,200 Name: Kehy Location: Ellensburg, Washington Feedback: 4 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 374 Times Said "Thanks" 84 Times Was Thanked 336 Times in 326 Posts	Re: Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! looks pretty good now __________________ Lead me not to temptation...I can make it there myself just fine, thank you

01-01-2012, 06:06 PM	#18 (permalink)
PBrods PBrods's Photo Gallery Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 165 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1 Times Said "Thanks" 14 Times Was Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I tried practicing vacuming...the sand gets scked up in the tube? Is there a special way to vaccum sand?

01-01-2012, 06:43 PM	#19 (permalink)
drunkenbeast drunkenbeast's Photo Gallery Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 275 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 30 Times Said "Thanks" 6 Times Was Thanked 62 Times in 59 Posts	Re: Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it can be tougher but hold the siphon right above the sand so it lifts up the dirt and not the sand also i think its easier if the siphon is not as strong so put the bucket on a chair instead of on the floor __________________ Tank 125g african cichlids making it work 75g rimless Reef in progress

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