I followed Aaron's excellent directions on how to change out my gravel substrate with Flourite--but somewhere along the line I really messed up.
I pulled all of my plants and fish in my 20 gallon and transferred them to a 5 gallon bucket with tank water. That went fine, and I ran my AquaClear 50 on the bucket, keeping them happy and the filter bacteria happy as well. I then emptied the gravel from my 20 gallon. Next, I washed the Flourite as carefully as I could. I was amazed at how much dust came off of it! And as many times as I washed small amounts of it, the water never got clear. So I eventually just started washing it as well as I could and adding it to the tank. Next, I added water slowly, pouring it over a plastic lid so it wouldn't hit the Flourite. But it was of no use--I ended up with a VERY cloudy tank. I figured this wouldn't hurt the fish, as most are Amazon fish and evolved in this kind of environment, so I have put them back in. It is clearling up slowly, but it has been two hours, and the tank is still very cloudy; it has lost the reddish haze, but it is still very thick with only a few inches of visibility.
Obviously, I am now feeling like I've done something very stupid and risk wiping out my tank completely! I am running the Aqua Clear 50. Is there anything else I can do? Will my fish be okay? Will the plants survive in this environment? The Flourite says it can take from 2-12 hours for the water cloudiness to go away. I expected some cloudiness, but not this much! Please help! Thanks.
Did I do a bad thing? Questions re: Flourite
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keeperofthefish
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Ghazanfar Ghori
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keeperofthefish
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Thanks, Ghazfanar.
Before I read your response, I added some Acurel F (a floculating agent) and that also helped clear things up. I also discovered an answer in the Seachem FAQ, which reads:
"It is possible to experience an excess of particles/dust from this product due to frictional action in packaging and shipping. Flourite Red is an ore with a rich mineral composition and is not chemically coated. Even though some small particles washed away, the product is completely viable and will still offer the same benefit. A better way to add this to an established aquarium is to add small amounts at a time a half day to 24 hours apart making sure these small amounts are rinsed thoroughly. You can also use a water clarifier (flloculant) to clump any small free floating particles together making it easier for your mechanical filter to catch. Your cartridges/floss will tend to clog from all the particles being trapped and will need rinsing or replacing regularly."
Before I read your response, I added some Acurel F (a floculating agent) and that also helped clear things up. I also discovered an answer in the Seachem FAQ, which reads:
"It is possible to experience an excess of particles/dust from this product due to frictional action in packaging and shipping. Flourite Red is an ore with a rich mineral composition and is not chemically coated. Even though some small particles washed away, the product is completely viable and will still offer the same benefit. A better way to add this to an established aquarium is to add small amounts at a time a half day to 24 hours apart making sure these small amounts are rinsed thoroughly. You can also use a water clarifier (flloculant) to clump any small free floating particles together making it easier for your mechanical filter to catch. Your cartridges/floss will tend to clog from all the particles being trapped and will need rinsing or replacing regularly."
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Cristy Keister
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Sounds like way too much trouble to me. That's one reason why I'll never get Flourite Red again. The brown version is a bit better. I don't think it's possible to ever get Flourite Red dust free, no matter how much you rinse. It might take a couple days to clear from your water. If it's still cloudy after 2 days, I'd turn off the filter for a few hours to let the dust settle (assuming that you don't have a large fish load that rely on the extra O2), then lightly gravel vac the dust from the substrate surface.
btw- You don't have to rinse Eco-Complete.
btw- You don't have to rinse Eco-Complete.
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keeperofthefish
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As an update, the tank is now crystal clear and it looks fantastic! Next step, DIY CO2 (maybe the Hagen kit, though). Thanks for all of the feedback. I really do think I may go with Eco-Complete for the next tank...
I also used the Flourite to set up a 5 gallon Eclipse for my desk at work. I really rinsed it for this application (took me about two hours), was very careful about putting the water in and minimal cloudiness resulted. I think the problem with the Flourite was that it had been shipped or stored rough. The bag had a lot of visible dust. I bought it at Congressional Aquarium. I was at the Aquarium Center this weekend also and their Flourite looked to be in much better condition. Let that be a warning. If that bag looks dusty, DO NOT buy it!
I also used the Flourite to set up a 5 gallon Eclipse for my desk at work. I really rinsed it for this application (took me about two hours), was very careful about putting the water in and minimal cloudiness resulted. I think the problem with the Flourite was that it had been shipped or stored rough. The bag had a lot of visible dust. I bought it at Congressional Aquarium. I was at the Aquarium Center this weekend also and their Flourite looked to be in much better condition. Let that be a warning. If that bag looks dusty, DO NOT buy it!
