Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 12:57 am Re: Sand FAQ
@Steve - Yes. It is on the water surface. It is that waxy looking, albeit nearly see-through, layer that morphs along the top of the water. I have seen it 'forever.' The way I explain it - from a day to day perspective - sounds bad, but isn't. It was that Bright Green that tripped me out.
I added more sand last weekend and my helper did a real crappy job, so I wound up doing a complete tank change (uhhhhghgh).
Since then I have not seen the iridescent green.
With that said, I don't know what really caused the green color since I never saw it before, and have not seen it since (a week now).
@ignites - although already answered - my input for future readers.
The first batch I rinsed until I thought it was clean and put it in the tank. When I put it in the tank it took a couple of hours to settle.
The second round I used this rule of thumb: Rinsed it with a hose (close enough to stir up the sand) and poured off the surface water, rinsed & poured off the surface water - like a zillion times.
When it started to run clear, I counted to 10 - if there was the slightest bit of silt floating in the water, I poured it off and rinsed it again.
It took forever, but...
When I hosed it down, counted to 10, and saw crystal clear water on top it did not create an iota of clouding when I put it in. Cool!
My opinion - the silt (however minimal) causes the clouding, so make sure it is all gone! It pays off.
"I know up on the top you are seeing great sights, but down at the bottom we, too, should have rights"
~ "Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories" by Dr. Seuss ~