recycled oldy Posted February 26, 2012 Report Share Posted February 26, 2012 I set up my new AR980 tank with gravel/compost/gravel 4 days ago, exactly as instructions on the compost bag. I filled with Taupo tap water and added about 60 plant cuttings, (no fish). The water was/is very cloudy and the back filter was obviously not coping so I removed it's 3 charcoal packs and sustituted 25mm of fluffy white filter material, topped with old and well washed cotton fabric. This is showing brown stains, presumably from the compost leaking out through the gravel. The question is, will this clear in reasonable time or should I bite the bullet, clean out and start all over? If so would it be OK to use a trick from long ago and make the compost up in flat packs made from the legs of ladies nylon tights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted February 26, 2012 Report Share Posted February 26, 2012 You put compost in your tank? I don't think I've ever heard of anyone doing that before. Interested to hear how it goes. Give it a couple more days, see if it clears up, otherwise give it a big water change and very gently refill so it doesn't stir anything up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted February 26, 2012 Report Share Posted February 26, 2012 the filter wool you've put in will suck up lots of the gunk :thup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeebee Posted February 26, 2012 Report Share Posted February 26, 2012 Easy-life liquid filter medium is excellent at clearing cloudy water, also makes water quality stable when setting a new tank up. otherwise cheaper alt is api accu-clear.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted February 26, 2012 Report Share Posted February 26, 2012 Give it a couple more days, see if it clears up, otherwise give it a big water change and very gently refill so it doesn't stir anything up. +1 This is what I would do. Also, what sort of compost did you add to the water? The amount of nutrients in a common potting soil type compost might be significantly more than an aquatic environment will thrive in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
recycled oldy Posted February 27, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2012 Many thanks to those who provided helpful responses. I see that I puzzled some people with my reference to compost, I actually used "JBL AquaBasis plus, long term nutriant substrate". Fancy names for fancy goods. In my earlier fish keeping existence the stuff we put under the gravel was referred to as aquatic compost or, amongst fishy friends. "compost". Where I went wrong was in using a coarser gravel than JBL recommend. I am currently trying out Aquamaster's "Magic clear" which is showing some improvement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted February 27, 2012 Report Share Posted February 27, 2012 Cool. It sounds like it will be a good system. :thup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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