New Tank Very Cloudy

I am just starting a tank - no fish or corals yet. I got everything
set up and running, then added 20 lbs of Garf's Grunge. For the next
12 hrs, I couldn't see more than 2" into the tank. After, things
settled a bit, but the water is still quite cloudy, nothing like what I
had before I added the Grunge. I have no external filter to help clear
the water, although I borrowed a hang-on-the-tank filter temporarily
from a freshwater tank. Judging from the amount of stuff caught by the
filter, most of it is just settling to the bottom of the tank. If I
reach in and disturb the substrate, a silt cloud takes over again.

Do I just wait it out, or is there something else I can do? Thanks.

Just wait, It takes time for a new tank to clear up. What's happening with
your tank is natural.. Just be patient.

Peter Pan wrote:
Just wait, It takes time for a new tank to clear up. What's happening with
your tank is natural.. Just be patient.

Thanks for the advice - I'll sit tight.

Sounds like you stirred up the sand. Fine calcium sand
usually has lots of dusty particles in it. As bacteria
grows it binds it, and causes it to not cloud up so easily.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



sclark wrote on 11/18/2006 4:25 PM:
I am just starting a tank - no fish or corals yet. I got everything
set up and running, then added 20 lbs of Garf's Grunge. For the next
12 hrs, I couldn't see more than 2" into the tank. After, things
settled a bit, but the water is still quite cloudy, nothing like what I
had before I added the Grunge. I have no external filter to help clear
the water, although I borrowed a hang-on-the-tank filter temporarily
from a freshwater tank. Judging from the amount of stuff caught by the
filter, most of it is just settling to the bottom of the tank. If I
reach in and disturb the substrate, a silt cloud takes over again.

Do I just wait it out, or is there something else I can do? Thanks.