Dust storm in my new aquarium!

Amedais · 10/14/2014, 11:41 AM

So this is my first Saltwater 125g tank, I finally finished the canopy and got the lights mounted, substrate down and 90 lbs live rock in place and filled with water. Not all at once obviously, its been ongoing. About 4 days ago I did some major rock movements to create caves and over hangs, but I triggered a middle eastern sand storm by doing so! Its been 4 days and it hasnt settled and the aquarium glass is covered with this dust on the inside. So my quesion is, how much more longer do I wait? Should i run my wet/dry filter and skimmer to help clear it up?

Marishka · 10/14/2014, 11:48 AM

i think turning it on will clear it up.Use a floss and a fine micron filter pad if you have it (all the suspended particles will get caught in the filter pads),wipe it of the glass with a magfloat or a piece of a poly filter too,should clear up pretty fast

Amedais · 10/14/2014, 01:15 PM

Thanks for the help, should I run my power heads too to help get the dust off the bottom?

Marishka · 10/14/2014, 01:29 PM

You could turn powerheads on and figure out how you want them situated and watch if they dig up any of your sand (and redirect them if they do)But keep in mind that fine stuff clings to powerheads too much-you would have to get them out and clean them after the tank clears up .

whosurcaddie · 10/14/2014, 01:30 PM

This might be a bacterial bloom. If so it will subside in time nothing to worry about. Rock scape looks cool BTW. I love the two Island look.

Marishka · 10/14/2014, 01:34 PM

BTW what kind of sand do you have?
And have you checked your ammonia/nitrite level?
The cloudiness in the tank might also be caused by ammonia.Its hard to say by the pictures if its particles or cloudines,but either way the tank should be running considering the fact that you used live rock and sand.
Bacterial bloom is possible also, as whosurcaddie said

Amedais · 10/14/2014, 08:15 PM

Thanks for all the input. I got 80 lbs of the regular marine sand from petco. Rinsed that and it went in well and barely any clouding for a day. Put my 90 lbs of love rock in and was feeling good. Then the petco lady talked me into adding 20 lbs of CaribSea Arag Alive Bahamas-Oolite Aquarium Sand. Been in a dust storm for 5 days now. I'm on an army base, so I don't have a LFS. Petco is the nearest thing and it's hour and half away.

Mcgeezer · 10/14/2014, 08:27 PM

This happens on every brand new tank when the sand is disturbed. Run a filter sock or filter floss to sift out the particulates and run power heads to circulate the water. Takes about 1-2 days to clear up. Best thing to do is get everything set up the way you want it and then leave the rocks alone.

And NO lights on during your cycle

Amedais · 10/14/2014, 08:39 PM

No light!? We'll there goes a few days. Ambient light from the room alright?

maddmaxx · 10/14/2014, 09:30 PM

you most certainly can have lights on..!!!! your allowed to view the tank, its not harming anything..

with that said. i would suggest the lights be on only when your viewing the tank. dont leave the lights on if your not their physically in front of the tank viewing it. no need for unwanted algae by having the lights on for no reason at this stage...

JoelA7 · 10/15/2014, 12:55 AM

The oolite will settle down. If you very gently "rake" the sand with your fingers you can encourage some of the coarser grains to the surface. The fine sand is a true advantage for your biological filter and will if undisturbed act as a denitrator. Run your gear. You're gonna love this.

RDuhb · 10/15/2014, 05:25 AM

Did you rinse the sand first?

Amedais · 10/15/2014, 06:14 AM

The first 80 lbs of regular stuff yeah. The petco lady assured me this wet live sand didn't need to be rinsed.

10/14/2014, 11:41 AM	#1
Amedais Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 31	Dust storm in my new aquarium! So this is my first Saltwater 125g tank, I finally finished the canopy and got the lights mounted, substrate down and 90 lbs live rock in place and filled with water. Not all at once obviously, its been ongoing. About 4 days ago I did some major rock movements to create caves and over hangs, but I triggered a middle eastern sand storm by doing so! Its been 4 days and it hasnt settled and the aquarium glass is covered with this dust on the inside. So my quesion is, how much more longer do I wait? Should i run my wet/dry filter and skimmer to help clear it up?

10/14/2014, 09:30 PM	#10
maddmaxx Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 3,003	you most certainly can have lights on..!!!! your allowed to view the tank, its not harming anything.. with that said. i would suggest the lights be on only when your viewing the tank. dont leave the lights on if your not their physically in front of the tank viewing it. no need for unwanted algae by having the lights on for no reason at this stage... __________________ One Life One Shot Current Tank Info: 40B Mixed reef

10/15/2014, 12:55 AM	#11
JoelA7 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,056	The oolite will settle down. If you very gently "rake" the sand with your fingers you can encourage some of the coarser grains to the surface. The fine sand is a true advantage for your biological filter and will if undisturbed act as a denitrator. Run your gear. You're gonna love this. __________________ New 48x24x26.25 w Precision Marine R30 sump, Vertex Omega 150 skimmer, 2@Vertex 1.5L reactors for carbon & phosban, GEO Ca reactor w Aquarium Plants regulator. 2 MP40's 2@Radions. #120 live rock & #12

10/15/2014, 05:25 AM	#12
RDuhb Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 366	Did you rinse the sand first? __________________ And I thought my remote control airplane hobby was expensive...silly me!!

10/14/2014, 11:48 AM	#2
Marishka Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 20	i think turning it on will clear it up.Use a floss and a fine micron filter pad if you have it (all the suspended particles will get caught in the filter pads),wipe it of the glass with a magfloat or a piece of a poly filter too,should clear up pretty fast

10/14/2014, 01:15 PM	#3
Amedais Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 31	Thanks for the help, should I run my power heads too to help get the dust off the bottom?

10/14/2014, 01:29 PM	#4
Marishka Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 20	You could turn powerheads on and figure out how you want them situated and watch if they dig up any of your sand (and redirect them if they do)But keep in mind that fine stuff clings to powerheads too much-you would have to get them out and clean them after the tank clears up .

10/14/2014, 01:30 PM	#5
whosurcaddie Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,354	This might be a bacterial bloom. If so it will subside in time nothing to worry about. Rock scape looks cool BTW. I love the two Island look.

10/14/2014, 01:34 PM	#6
Marishka Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 20	BTW what kind of sand do you have? And have you checked your ammonia/nitrite level? The cloudiness in the tank might also be caused by ammonia.Its hard to say by the pictures if its particles or cloudines,but either way the tank should be running considering the fact that you used live rock and sand. Bacterial bloom is possible also, as whosurcaddie said

10/14/2014, 08:15 PM	#7
Amedais Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 31	Thanks for all the input. I got 80 lbs of the regular marine sand from petco. Rinsed that and it went in well and barely any clouding for a day. Put my 90 lbs of love rock in and was feeling good. Then the petco lady talked me into adding 20 lbs of CaribSea Arag Alive Bahamas-Oolite Aquarium Sand. Been in a dust storm for 5 days now. I'm on an army base, so I don't have a LFS. Petco is the nearest thing and it's hour and half away.

10/14/2014, 08:27 PM	#8
Mcgeezer Reef gardener Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: DeLand, Florida Posts: 1,205	This happens on every brand new tank when the sand is disturbed. Run a filter sock or filter floss to sift out the particulates and run power heads to circulate the water. Takes about 1-2 days to clear up. Best thing to do is get everything set up the way you want it and then leave the rocks alone. And NO lights on during your cycle

10/14/2014, 08:39 PM	#9
Amedais Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 31	No light!? We'll there goes a few days. Ambient light from the room alright?

10/15/2014, 06:14 AM	#13
Amedais Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 31	The first 80 lbs of regular stuff yeah. The petco lady assured me this wet live sand didn't need to be rinsed.