Rinsing polite sand

antjtc · 03/30/2012, 08:22 AM

Would appreciate any advice on how much do I rinse oolite aragonite sand prior to putting in my new 90 gal dt. I can't seem to get the water to run even cloudy. What is causing all that milky white water? I have about 120 lbs to rinse. Thanks

schatzi · 03/30/2012, 08:38 AM

Milky white when you try to rinse it? That's probably dust from the sand. Rinse and stir it in a bucket, let it settle just a bit before you start pouring out the milky water. After you get it in the tank it will need to settle for a few days to clear up the cloudiness, no matter how much you try to rinse.

thegrun · 03/30/2012, 08:50 AM

I put 5-10 pounds in a 5 gallon bucket, turn on a garden hose at full volume, place the end of the hose at the bottom of the bucket and let it run until the water runs clear. Yes, there is going to be a lot of silt that will cloud the water until it runs off.

Agu · 03/30/2012, 07:22 PM

I wouldn't do a whole lot of rinsing with Oolitic sand. It's so fine by the time you had it run clear half the sand will be gone

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A trick to clear up the tank is to add some live rock to the tank after your temp and salinity are correct. Don't know why but it appears the bacteria on the rock settles out the dust storm in a couple of days.

03/30/2012, 08:22 AM	#1
antjtc Jon Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Clayton,California Posts: 222	Rinsing polite sand Would appreciate any advice on how much do I rinse oolite aragonite sand prior to putting in my new 90 gal dt. I can't seem to get the water to run even cloudy. What is causing all that milky white water? I have about 120 lbs to rinse. Thanks

03/30/2012, 08:38 AM	#2
schatzi Professional amateur Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: JC, MO Posts: 513	Milky white when you try to rinse it? That's probably dust from the sand. Rinse and stir it in a bucket, let it settle just a bit before you start pouring out the milky water. After you get it in the tank it will need to settle for a few days to clear up the cloudiness, no matter how much you try to rinse. __________________ 125g Mixed Reef, 46g predator tank, 25g fuge, 39g frag/fuge, 70g sump, 29g clown tank.

03/30/2012, 07:22 PM	#4
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	I wouldn't do a whole lot of rinsing with Oolitic sand. It's so fine by the time you had it run clear half the sand will be gone . A trick to clear up the tank is to add some live rock to the tank after your temp and salinity are correct. Don't know why but it appears the bacteria on the rock settles out the dust storm in a couple of days. __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

03/30/2012, 08:50 AM	#3
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	I put 5-10 pounds in a 5 gallon bucket, turn on a garden hose at full volume, place the end of the hose at the bottom of the bucket and let it run until the water runs clear. Yes, there is going to be a lot of silt that will cloud the water until it runs off.