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I'm switching over my 20g from gravel to sand, actually Eco Complete Cichlid Substrate.

It says 'no rinsing necessary' and I should've gone by experience because I now have a very cloudy tank

It settled a lot overnight...is it safe to add fish now or should I wait until it's completely settled & clear?

Thanks

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

I would think that the cloudiness was caused by some sediment in the bags and some "uncontrolled" filling. Maybe even a little dissolved oxygen in the tap water. Add the fish...



__________
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Its probably ok to go with it, but personally I always rinse all filter media , sand and gravel before it goes in , irrelevant of what the manufacturer recommends. Keep stirring it up and the filter will probably pick it back up again.

Fish don't jump out of the river and wait for it to settle after a storm, add the fish.

The fish will be fine, but next time rinse the sand, so you wouldn't have another clowdy tank.


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Any substrate I've used in the past I've rinsed. I still consider myself new to Tangs and I'm cautious about setting up a tank and buffering.

Eco Complete for Cichlids:

...is biologically complete. Foremost, each bag of Eco-Complete contains live water-purifying bacteria. This makes for cycling a new aquarium faster and safer! This substrate also creates a natural biological balance to discourage nuisance algae in the aquarium. Most substrates require a tedious rinsing ritual whereas Eco-Complete African Cichlid Substrate! needs no rinsing at all. It's packed in a water conditioning solution for immediate results.

After reading that I felt it was actually beneficial to not rinse the substrate.

The fish are in and doing fine, but the water still hasn't cleared.

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

Theresa,

In my old shellie set-up I used the same substrate - I assume you're using the cichlid sand? I think some cloudiness is normal, as is the case with most sand.

Being the rebel I am () I went ahead and rinsed it anyway, but even then there was some cloudiness. it'll settle down eventually.

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Back in the saddle!

Yeah it's the cichlid sand.

Any idea how long before it's clear? I put the sand in the tank 5 days ago...maybe I'm just impatient



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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

I found my tank to be cloudy a lot in the beginnig, I had no live plants and it seemed to stay cloudy for days after a water change. It probably just needs a chance to settle down. Though I've never tried the Eco-complete substrates at all, haven't found them here yet. Did you take all the water out or add it with the water in? I'm curious as I will be changing my gravel and am trying to find an excuse to be lazy, take the fish and half the water out, then do the change then put the water and fish back in. I have a feeling it won't work though...

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus

hmm i just posted something along the lines of that but my has been that way for a week and i have no idea why