Reason for 24 hours settling of saltwater

[Betsy]

Wow have I ever learned a lot from all of you! I am a newbie and my tank is 1 1/2 years old. 75 gallons. I've been learning the hard way and reading many books and then I found this site! In a few days I have learned more than I have learned in months from my books -- they were extremely helpful but ..... Not one told me to age the water! I am wondering now if many of the problems have come from just that. So thanks everyone for asking the questions and giving great advice!
Betsy

[fijiwigi]

Originally Posted by Betsy

Wow have I ever learned a lot from all of you! I am a newbie and my tank is 1 1/2 years old. 75 gallons. I've been learning the hard way and reading many books and then I found this site! In a few days I have learned more than I have learned in months from my books -- they were extremely helpful but ..... Not one told me to age the water! I am wondering now if many of the problems have come from just that. So thanks everyone for asking the questions and giving great advice!
Betsy

I never knew about doing that either until I found this site. come to think of it I never really knew a lot of anything until I found this site. Its a great place to learn.

[litebrite]

For the person with the sand question. Calcium fine sand will always turn cloudy when moved around since it is grinding fine particles. I washed it for 2 days until I learned it was breaking down. So I filled my tank with sand, added about 4 inches of water. Mixed it up a bit then drained the tank and filled it with good water. Clear after that. If I stir it up it will then turn cloudy again. The filter takes care of it in 24 hours.

[cmor1701d]

Bacteria coating the sand particles (making it Live sand) is what causes the sand to settle quickly. When my tank was new I used to get soem major sand storms. After it was running for a few months the storms were shorter. Now a major storm (ph pointing at the sand bed) will only last a couple of hours once the source is removed. A normal sand storm caused by me will clear in a few minutes to a half-hour

[fugarwi]

I learned a lesson the hard way about leaving fish food where young kids can get ahold of them... needless to say, when there is so much flake food in a tank you cant see more than 2 inches in, youve got problems. I bought a ton of ro/di water at the grocery store and made my salt water and added to the tank within about an hour of mixing. (No I didnt have any already made up) I did a 80% water change immediately and then a 50% the next day. I was able to save much of my livestock, and my tank. So when you are in a bind, it will work...

[fijiwigi]

Originally Posted by fugarwi

I learned a lesson the hard way about leaving fish food where young kids can get ahold of them... needless to say, when there is so much flake food in a tank you cant see more than 2 inches in, youve got problems. I bought a ton of ro/di water at the grocery store and made my salt water and added to the tank within about an hour of mixing. (No I didnt have any already made up) I did a 80% water change immediately and then a 50% the next day. I was able to save much of my livestock, and my tank. So when you are in a bind, it will work...

I had that happen as well. And did the same thing. except nothing that was in my tank made it except a single hermit crab. I now keep my fish food in a safe place. And I let my saltwater age for at least 12 hours but usually it ages for a week or 2 in the trash can in my garage.