Switched from Gravel to Sand now the water is cloudy.

Curt

Yeah I was a tube plant sucker at petco :(. I pulled them out and put them in a pot lol. Top fin should be slapped for selling these as "aquatic plants" I cant really blame the chain stores for selling them its not like they created the false advertising.


Yes this is mondo grass. I havent pulled it yet because I love the way it looks and so far hasn't started to die. But I will be looking for something else to replace it with.

The only live plant I was able to buy locally was at petsmart and its the new ones you see I cant remember the name. There seems to be no variety at any local places.

SinCrisis

there are lots of great online sources for plants, i know a few people on the forum use sweet aquatics and aquariumplants.com. The shipping can be a pain at times but the prices for plants are often cheaper and if you buy enough its worth the shipping.

Curt

Now my tank is even cloudier... I woke up this morning and there is a white haze to the tank. Ugh im so tired of water issues. It seems if the water sits without doing a massive water change for more than 3 days it goes cloudy.

SinCrisis

that might just be part of your cycling and not with sand. Test your water, if the ammonia is high, the tank is cycling... Substrates keep a large amount of bacteria like your filter does, changing it out could cause another cycle.

Bob1

I hear what your saying, depending on the type of sand you have could take awhile for the water to clear.
sand looks good but the power filter will keep it milky looking water changes are the best I did a half then 5 gallons a day for 15 days... this is why I prefer gravel just wash the die off an put in tank, plus some plants don't root well in sand not enough water moving around roots.. it took me awhile but its finally clear after two months.
when i look in the side of the tank i like a clear view of fish .... now waiting for driftwood to soak up water to sink.
good luck there ..

Curt

Thats what I am thinking is it started to cycle again, I didnt have enough time this morning to test teh water before I left for work. I will do some testing again. I have never had so many issues with my 55g back years ago. I miss my home towns tap water nice and clean good ph not hard not soft.

This water here is a nightmare... Not sure what I am going to do. Hmm I wonder if they make a industrial size britta filter lmao

SinCrisis

well running carbon in your filter is the same as running a brita... its bad for live plants though, since it takes out organics that plants need.