Having problems with my sand...

[Civicman86]

Ok so I bought some sand yesterday at Feeders Supply (Whitest sand I could find anywhere local). I bring it home and put a bag 5lbs in a bucket I add some water slowely to soak the sand overnight. I keep getting particles that want to float and small balls or sand that are floating/or sitting on the top of the sand and as soon as you move the water they come up to the surface. I have found that I can "pop" the balls of sand but its going to take me all year to do that.

The bags instructions say to soak that sand to avoid floating particles. What a load of crap that is. As soon as the sand hits the water some pieces beging to float.

Anyone have any help for me on this one?

 

[swissfish]

wash the sand in about 1/2 lbs portions. (add sand, add water, wash it a couple of times and but it in a clean sand bucket untill you have all you 5lbs cleaned)

 

[Civicman86]

What do you mean "wash" it? Like put it in the bucket and swish it all around? Do I just use normal water to wash it with or something else?

 

[Hara]

I put it in a bucket, used a power nozzle from a garden hose and sprayed it hard, the nastiness floats to the top, dump nasties out, repeat process until water is clear.

 

[JG]

I did mine like Hara suggested. If you don't , the water will take forever to clear and when ever any critter decides to wallow in it, a great siltstorm will occur. It takes a lot of patience and hard sprayin, but it will work.

 

[Civicman86]

Well then the vedict is out then. Wish me luck tomorrow

 

[MT79]

If you still have issues after more rinsing, FWIW as time passes and bacteria builds up on the sand granules they will be more likely to "stay put". Often people w/ high flow tanks have problems w/ sand storms until the sand becomes "live" over a period of a few weeks. Good luck!