Cloudy tank due to aquascape changes

_Mackus_ · 08/20/2012, 11:23 AM

I'm re-doing my aquascape, adding some reef-saver and pukani rock that I've cured for a couple months prior to putting in the tank.

Taking out some of the old and adding the new has created quite a sandstorm in my tank. Are there any concerns from this? I'm assuming it's not a problem and will clear up in a couple days, but just wanted to double check to be sure.

picarho · 08/20/2012, 11:26 AM

I just did that to mine yesterday, everything was settled in a couple hours. I wouldn't think it would hurt anything as long as you only disturb the top of the sand and not towards the bottom. Be careful not to squish any fish

cloak · 08/20/2012, 11:34 AM

You should be ok. It might be a different story if you were to stir up the entire sandbed, but the amount of gunk that gets kicked up while moving rocks around shouldn't be a problem. It should clear up given time.

Reeferz412 · 08/20/2012, 01:53 PM

That is actually good if you lifted some of the detritus from your rockwork. Your powerheads should be preventing buildup in your rockwork and the surface of your sandbed anyways. I sometimes wave my hand at the rockwork to blow off any detritus buildup.

coreenm · 08/30/2012, 04:19 PM

Just give it a day or two. I've moved my tank twice when we sold houses, and each time it was like that. It's so sandy/cloudy that you can't see anything and what you can see looks dead. But they almost always recover just fine when everything settles.

bnumair · 08/30/2012, 04:53 PM

it will settle i wouldnt worry much about it.

Neptune_Fan · 08/30/2012, 06:33 PM

+1 It will all settle out. If you kicked up to much detritus you might want to consider doing a water change to keep the Nitrates/Ammonia down.

hollister · 08/30/2012, 06:37 PM

It should be ok but a hang on back bio filter can be a good idea.

08/20/2012, 11:23 AM	#1
_Mackus_ Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 198	Cloudy tank due to aquascape changes I'm re-doing my aquascape, adding some reef-saver and pukani rock that I've cured for a couple months prior to putting in the tank. Taking out some of the old and adding the new has created quite a sandstorm in my tank. Are there any concerns from this? I'm assuming it's not a problem and will clear up in a couple days, but just wanted to double check to be sure.

08/20/2012, 01:53 PM	#4
Reeferz412 Coral Hoarder Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 2,247	That is actually good if you lifted some of the detritus from your rockwork. Your powerheads should be preventing buildup in your rockwork and the surface of your sandbed anyways. I sometimes wave my hand at the rockwork to blow off any detritus buildup. __________________ Alex FMAS Member Current Tank Info: 400 Gallons of frags... 30 gallon Deep Blue mixed reef ... 70 other tanks throughout south FL

08/30/2012, 04:53 PM	#6
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	it will settle i wouldnt worry much about it. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

08/20/2012, 11:26 AM	#2
picarho Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Jacksonville, Florida, USA Posts: 45	I just did that to mine yesterday, everything was settled in a couple hours. I wouldn't think it would hurt anything as long as you only disturb the top of the sand and not towards the bottom. Be careful not to squish any fish

08/20/2012, 11:34 AM	#3
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	You should be ok. It might be a different story if you were to stir up the entire sandbed, but the amount of gunk that gets kicked up while moving rocks around shouldn't be a problem. It should clear up given time.

08/30/2012, 04:19 PM	#5
coreenm Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Grand Island, NY Posts: 72	Just give it a day or two. I've moved my tank twice when we sold houses, and each time it was like that. It's so sandy/cloudy that you can't see anything and what you can see looks dead. But they almost always recover just fine when everything settles.

08/30/2012, 06:33 PM	#7
Neptune_Fan Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Port St Lucie, FL Posts: 224	+1 It will all settle out. If you kicked up to much detritus you might want to consider doing a water change to keep the Nitrates/Ammonia down.

08/30/2012, 06:37 PM	#8
hollister Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 2,037	It should be ok but a hang on back bio filter can be a good idea.