Marco sand, rinsing???

[JimBlz]

I know at least a few people on here have used Marco sand. I am trying to rinse it, with no luck. I am using a net with the finest mesh I can find, and still at least 50% goes right through. How have other people rinsed this stuff, or have you just added it to the bare tank. I am thinking of putting it into the tank, adding my water slowly, and after it settles for a couple hours, running a HOB filter with some floss to take care of anything still floating in the water column. Any advice?

 

[MikeG]

Generally when you rinse sand, you stick it in a bucket and run water over it until it runs clear mixing it up every now and then not putting it in a net and running it through water.

 

[JimBlz]

Tried that too

Unfortunately this stuff is so fine and light it just floats right out, which is why I tried the net. Thanks.

 

[MikeG]

Unfortunately this stuff is so fine and light it just floats right out, which is why I tried the net. Thanks.

Interesting, I have rinsed plenty of sugar sized sand in the past and never had issues, just put 40-50# of sand in the bucket fill with a hose and tilt the bucket a little to let the water run out as new water is added.

 

[JimBlz]

I try it again.

OK, I will try it again, I'll put just a few inches of sand in at a time, hopefully I have better luck than before. Thanks again.

 

[beckisguy73]

You have to rinse that stuff first??? LOL I just filled my tank today and didnt rinse mine.. I hope over the next 8 weeks it clears up.. I guess we will see.

 

[JimBlz]

I did manage to rinse it finally, it took quite awhile, and I lost about 10-20% of it, using about 2" in a 5gal bucket with slowmedium flow. Next time I think I will do the "just dump it in, and let it settle while the tank cycles" method.

 

[delta]

you can try pre soaking for a few days and see if that helps. That is if it is already dry

 

[TomD]

You have to rinse that stuff first??? LOL I just filled my tank today and didnt rinse mine.. I hope over the next 8 weeks it clears up.. I guess we will see.

bah.......It will be clear in a few days run carbon. I have learned over time to rinse, rinse, rinse, and rinse in a bucket but where you didn't, it will clear up in a few days.

 

[emabie]

I used all Marco sand in my 180. It's great stuff. I did not rinse as I did not want to loose the fine stuff. It did take about a week before it really cleared up. But It was a new set up and I was in no rush.

 

[JimBlz]

Thanks. I think that is what I will do for the next tank I setup. Put it in, and let it settle while cycling. That seems to be the best, and easiest way.

 

[beckisguy73]

yeah it is better... My sand has already settled after 24 hrs.

 

[gweston]

Yeah when the stuff becomes live, it should settle down quite nicely. In my small tank I mixed about 25% super fine sand with 75% coarser sand.. even though I washed the fine sand very well, it still created a sand storm. I ran polyfilter and it cleared out pretty well in a day or two. Disturbing the sand bed slightly would cause a minor sand storm until the tank cycled and the sand was more live. After a few months it wasn't a problem anymore.