The Puffer Forum

Hi, I'm new to the forum and have a question about aragonite. I have had a brackish tank before with gravel. I set my tank up yesterday and instead of using gravel I decided to use aragonte instead.

My question is, how long does it take for the water to completely settle. The water is still a little cloudy.

I tried searching the forums before posting, but didn't come up with anything. Thanks in advance.

It can take awhile for it to settle.
To help the water clear faster, you can add an extra filter and use filter floss. You could also try using Seachem Clarity. It works well.

Ideally, you should rinse small amounts of it at a time in a bucket under running water before adding it to the tank. It also helps if you add the substrate before the water.

Thanks for the quick response phaedrus.

I rinsed it in a bucket under running water before adding it. I added the substrate before the water too.

I'll try adding another filter and the filter floss as well.

Thanks!

Some cloudiness is unavoidable.

Personally, I use a 5g pail to rinse a couple pounds at a time. I do it in the bathtub and swish it around by hand under running water. I pour out the water and repeat the process a couple times until the water is basically clear.

I do the same thing with all new agrogate. It generally takes quite a few rinses before the water is fairly clear for each load I do.

Thanks you guys. I woke up this morning and the tank is a lot clearer. I'm sure by tomorrow it will be just fine.

Cloudiness with new aragonite also involves some solution of the fines, and that does take a couple of days to clear. Some of the finest particles actully dissolve rather than all settling out, crushed coral does the same.

Leaving the circulation off the first day or two actually speeds up clarity for me, but there be a bit of haze when circulation is started.

Thanks RTR!