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Date: 27 Feb 2005 06:20:56
From: Elaine T
Subject: Fluourite - Boy is my tank cloudy
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I saw this fab 2 gal planted tank at LFS and it inspired me to yank the
UGF from Squishy's 2 gallon hex and put on a Red Sea nanofilter and
Fluorite substrate. Lighting is a 14 watt 5500K spiral compact
flourescent that seems plenty bright over a tank this tiny.
But OMG - I rinsed and rinsed my fluorite and it never did rinse clear.
I finally gave up and set up the tank and the water is STILL cloudy an
hour later. Will this mess actually filter out? I put a second pad in
the filter, but it only seems to be getting a little bit better.
Squishy is annoyed and I don't blame him.
Also, is this cloud going to reappear every time I move a plant or
replant stem plants? If so, I'm returning the bag of flourite I bought
for the 15 gallon that I have on order and using only Eco Complete.
Fluorite is beautiful, but only when you can see it!
--
__ Elaine T __
><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
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Date: 05 Mar 2005 20:18:24
From:
Subject: Re: Fluourite - Boy is my tank cloudy
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i've been using fluorite for 4 years now in my low tech planted 29G;
got the cloudiness every time I replanted or had a vigorous water
change or my cichlid dug, literally took 3 years or so before that
problem was gone. never washed; though I did hear about it, isn't the
whole point of fluorite to find fine and coarse particles. I probably
still have a lot of 'silt' in the bottom.
the thing is the stuff is pretty brittle so when dry it makes a lot of
dust just from the friction. sea chem apparently has some competing
product; never tried.
the particles of fluorite also seem to be too light since it is porous
clay and it's pretty easy for a determined fish to dig up my
sagittaria, on the whole the plants seem to like it though.
not a perfect product by any stretch of the imagination; but it works.
______
http://www.indiecookbooks.com
nothing but reviews of independent cookbooks from churches, community
groups, and self-published authors.
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Date: 02 Mar 2005 06:58:31
From: Scott Far Thunder
Subject: Re: Fluourite - Boy is my tank cloudy
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fuck eco complete!
"Elaine T" <eetmail-aquaria@yahoo.com > wrote in message
news:cFdUd.9792$Pz7.2927@newssvr13.news.prodigy.com...
>I saw this fab 2 gal planted tank at LFS and it inspired me to yank the UGF
>from Squishy's 2 gallon hex and put on a Red Sea nanofilter and Fluorite
>substrate. Lighting is a 14 watt 5500K spiral compact flourescent that
>seems plenty bright over a tank this tiny.
>
> But OMG - I rinsed and rinsed my fluorite and it never did rinse clear. I
> finally gave up and set up the tank and the water is STILL cloudy an hour
> later. Will this mess actually filter out? I put a second pad in the
> filter, but it only seems to be getting a little bit better. Squishy is
> annoyed and I don't blame him.
>
> Also, is this cloud going to reappear every time I move a plant or replant
> stem plants? If so, I'm returning the bag of flourite I bought for the 15
> gallon that I have on order and using only Eco Complete. Fluorite is
> beautiful, but only when you can see it!
>
> --
> __ Elaine T __
> ><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
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Date: 02 Mar 2005 17:44:15
From: Elaine T
Subject: Re: Fluourite - Boy is my tank cloudy
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Scott Far Thunder wrote:
> fuck eco complete!
Is Eco Complete not good to use? I'd like to hear a bit more detail if
you've had bad experiences with it.
--
__ Elaine T __
><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
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Date: 02 Mar 2005 16:19:41
From: Happy'Cam'per
Subject: Re: Fluourite - Boy is my tank cloudy
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"Scott Far Thunder" <bakersco@msu.edu > wrote in message
news:d049p8$e7r$1@msunews.cl.msu.edu...
> fuck eco complete!
Does this mean you don't like the product then? :)
--
"In the beginning, God said the four-dimensional divergence of an
antisymmetric,
second rank tensor equals zero, and there was Light , and it was good."
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Date: 28 Feb 2005 23:02:54
From: Steve Hampton
Subject: Re: Fluourite - Boy is my tank cloudy
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Elaine T wrote:
> I saw this fab 2 gal planted tank at LFS and it inspired me to yank the
> UGF from Squishy's 2 gallon hex and put on a Red Sea nanofilter and
> Fluorite substrate. Lighting is a 14 watt 5500K spiral compact
> flourescent that seems plenty bright over a tank this tiny.
>
> But OMG - I rinsed and rinsed my fluorite and it never did rinse clear.
> I finally gave up and set up the tank and the water is STILL cloudy an
> hour later. Will this mess actually filter out? I put a second pad in
> the filter, but it only seems to be getting a little bit better. Squishy
> is annoyed and I don't blame him.
>
> Also, is this cloud going to reappear every time I move a plant or
> replant stem plants? If so, I'm returning the bag of flourite I bought
> for the 15 gallon that I have on order and using only Eco Complete.
> Fluorite is beautiful, but only when you can see it!
>
Don't return the bag of Fluorite. The late Vicki Costley wrote an
article on how to wash Fluorite and I've followed her advice at least a
half dozen times with perfect success and almost zero cloudy water. The
drying stage is critical. Here's the link to Vicki's website and the
Fluorite washing instruction page. Vicki is deeply missed but her words
and wisdom live on.
http://www.vickisaquaticplace.com/fluorite.html
Cheers,
Steve H.
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Date: 01 Mar 2005 08:08:21
From: Elaine T
Subject: Re: Fluourite - Boy is my tank cloudy
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Steve Hampton wrote:
> Elaine T wrote:
>
>> I saw this fab 2 gal planted tank at LFS and it inspired me to yank
>> the UGF from Squishy's 2 gallon hex and put on a Red Sea nanofilter
>> and Fluorite substrate. Lighting is a 14 watt 5500K spiral compact
>> flourescent that seems plenty bright over a tank this tiny.
>>
>> But OMG - I rinsed and rinsed my fluorite and it never did rinse
>> clear. I finally gave up and set up the tank and the water is STILL
>> cloudy an hour later. Will this mess actually filter out? I put a
>> second pad in the filter, but it only seems to be getting a little bit
>> better. Squishy is annoyed and I don't blame him.
>>
>> Also, is this cloud going to reappear every time I move a plant or
>> replant stem plants? If so, I'm returning the bag of flourite I
>> bought for the 15 gallon that I have on order and using only Eco
>> Complete. Fluorite is beautiful, but only when you can see it!
>>
> Don't return the bag of Fluorite. The late Vicki Costley wrote an
> article on how to wash Fluorite and I've followed her advice at least a
> half dozen times with perfect success and almost zero cloudy water. The
> drying stage is critical. Here's the link to Vicki's website and the
> Fluorite washing instruction page. Vicki is deeply missed but her words
> and wisdom live on.
>
> http://www.vickisaquaticplace.com/fluorite.html
>
> Cheers,
> Steve H.
Thanks so much for the link. I have hope now. I do love the look of
fluorite and it seems a simpler, more natural substrate than Eco
Complete. I'm always suspicious of something that claims to buffer my
water...
--
__ Elaine T __
><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
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Date: 01 Mar 2005 09:16:19
From: Margolis
Subject: Re: Fluourite - Boy is my tank cloudy
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I would be too. What does that have to do with eco complete? It claims to
be inert, not a buffer. Anyway, have you ever used eco complete? I really
like the look it gives a tank. That was the #1 reason why I chose it for my
last change for the 20 gallon.
--
Margolis
http://web.archive.org/web/20030215212142/http://www.agqx.org/faqs/AGQ2FAQ.htm
http://www.unrealtower.org/faq
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Date: 02 Mar 2005 04:07:23
From: Elaine T
Subject: Re: Fluourite - Boy is my tank cloudy
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Margolis wrote:
> I would be too. What does that have to do with eco complete? It claims to
> be inert, not a buffer. Anyway, have you ever used eco complete? I really
> like the look it gives a tank. That was the #1 reason why I chose it for my
> last change for the 20 gallon.
>
It says it's packed in "Liquid Amazon" buffered blackwater. That's what
stuck in my mind. You're right that it has no long term buffering. It
does release calcium, which I'm not sure I want in my hard water.
--
__ Elaine T __
><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
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Date: 27 Feb 2005 20:07:04
From: Elaine T
Subject: Re: Fluourite - Boy is my tank cloudy
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Well, the tank cleared up overnight. That litle nanofilter works
surprisingly well. I was awful glad to hear that I didn't do something
wrong. I guess I need to keep 2 filter pads in the nanofilter for a
while since I've got some more plants coming in and I'll have to stir up
the bed of Fluorite some to plant them.
Now that the water has cleared up, I like the look of the substrate a
lot. It looks better in the water than in the bag. I sure hope it
helps to grow plants as well as it's supposed to.
--
__ Elaine T __
><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
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Date: 27 Feb 2005 15:31:02
From: Robert Flory
Subject: Re: Fluourite - Boy is my tank cloudy
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"Elaine T" <eetmail-aquaria@yahoo.com > wrote in message
news:ILpUd.1263$C47.1009@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com...
> Well, the tank cleared up overnight. That litle nanofilter works
> surprisingly well. I was awful glad to hear that I didn't do something
> wrong. I guess I need to keep 2 filter pads in the nanofilter for a while
> since I've got some more plants coming in and I'll have to stir up the bed
> of Fluorite some to plant them.
>
> Now that the water has cleared up, I like the look of the substrate a lot.
> It looks better in the water than in the bag. I sure hope it helps to
> grow plants as well as it's supposed to.
>
> --
> __ Elaine T __
> ><__'> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
You proved the point, the more you screw with fluorite the more fines you
get.
As I've said before, I switched substrate in one of my 55's to fluorite by
setting the bags on end in a half full tank, slitting the bottom and let is
slide out slowly. 1/3 of the tank at a time. With two Emporor 270's, I
added Acurel F, rinsed pads every 4 hours and it was nearly clear by
bedtime, completely clear by morning. Standard old fiber pads, stock less
the carbon and one in the second plastic holder that comes with the unit.
None of the clear chemical flocculents seem to work as well. A lot cheaper
and less hassle that a diatom filter.
Incidentally, the same treatment will clear green water too and and if you
move fast to correct the basic problem, you've got it cured. I've got a
second tank with an older laterite based substrate that has way more
problems with staying stable than my fluorite tank.
Bob
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Date: 27 Feb 2005 21:10:16
From: Richard Sexton
Subject: Re: Fluourite - Boy is my tank cloudy
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>lot. It looks better in the water than in the bag. I sure hope it
>helps to grow plants as well as it's supposed to.
If you noitce any difference let me know.
--
Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
http://www.mbz.org
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Date: 27 Feb 2005 14:33:40
From: Margolis
Subject: Re: Fluourite - Boy is my tank cloudy
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"Elaine T" <eetmail-aquaria@yahoo.com > wrote in message
news:ILpUd.1263$C47.1009@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com...
> Well, the tank cleared up overnight. That litle nanofilter works
> surprisingly well.
dang, that was quick ;o0
--
Margolis
http://web.archive.org/web/20030215212142/http://www.agqx.org/faqs/AGQ2FAQ.htm
http://www.unrealtower.org/faq
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Date: 27 Feb 2005 14:45:22
From: Bill
Subject: Re: Fluourite - Boy is my tank cloudy
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Elaine T <eetmail-aquaria@yahoo.com > Spaketh Thusly:
>I saw this fab 2 gal planted tank at LFS and it inspired me to yank the
>UGF from Squishy's 2 gallon hex and put on a Red Sea nanofilter and
>Fluorite substrate. Lighting is a 14 watt 5500K spiral compact
>flourescent that seems plenty bright over a tank this tiny.
>
>But OMG - I rinsed and rinsed my fluorite and it never did rinse clear.
> I finally gave up and set up the tank and the water is STILL cloudy an
>hour later. Will this mess actually filter out? I put a second pad in
>the filter, but it only seems to be getting a little bit better.
>Squishy is annoyed and I don't blame him.
>
>Also, is this cloud going to reappear every time I move a plant or
>replant stem plants? If so, I'm returning the bag of flourite I bought
>for the 15 gallon that I have on order and using only Eco Complete.
>Fluorite is beautiful, but only when you can see it!
It'll clear up soon enough, but you may find yourself having to clean your
filter more often for a while. You may want to try stirring up a bit a few
hours before you're going to clean the filter to get even more out.
I learned this the *hard* way - the trick to rinsing Flourite is to do just
one handful at a time under lots of water. I found a kitchen colandar works
well for this. As you do each handful, dump it into a bucket with water
running into it. This worked well for me the second time I did a tankful,
after filling and planting, the tank was clear in a few hours.
Seems that the thicker the pile you're trying to rinse, the more dust that
gets trapped inside the pile. Doing small amounts at a time is much more
effective. I suspect a Flourite bed might make a very efficient coarse filter
medium, but would be a pain to clean.
It's not difficult, it just takes time - but it takes less time to do it
thoroughly than to try to clean up afterwards if you don't.
--
Bill H. [my "reply to" address is real]
www.necka.net
Molon Labe!
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Date: 27 Feb 2005 21:09:05
From: Richard Sexton
Subject: Re: Fluourite - Boy is my tank cloudy
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>I learned this the *hard* way - the trick to rinsing Flourite is to do just
>one handful at a time under lots of water. I found a kitchen colandar works
>well for this.
That's how I do it too. This way when I diatom the tank after I
only need to clean and recharge it once or twice. God this is messy stuff.
--
Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
http://www.mbz.org
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Date: 28 Feb 2005 03:16:22
From: Ozdude
Subject: Re: Fluourite - Boy is my tank cloudy
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"Elaine T" <eetmail-aquaria@yahoo.com > wrote in message
news:cFdUd.9792$Pz7.2927@newssvr13.news.prodigy.com...
> But OMG - I rinsed and rinsed my fluorite and it never did rinse clear. I
> finally gave up and set up the tank and the water is STILL cloudy an hour
> later. Will this mess actually filter out? I put a second pad in the
> filter, but it only seems to be getting a little bit better. Squishy is
> annoyed and I don't blame him.
I went through this same thing with river sand and small gravel mix in the
BAT (Buenos Aires Tetra) tank. I washed and washed it and it didn't run
completely clear. I put it in anyway and carefully added water over my
plastic place mats I use to place over substrates when filling.
The tank has a 120L/H dual sponge filter in it, which has surprised me at
it's efficiency. It's day three now since I started the filter and it's
almost crystal clear.
I have to do a 5-10% water change every couple of days now until I am
satisfied that my filter seeding has worked, so hopefully it won't cloud
again. Going off activity in the tank over the last 48 hours I don't think
it will. I have one live plant in there amongst the plastic ones and I'm
hoping that any particulates will settle right to the bottom, if not get
sponged up by the filter.
Yes, it does go - it just takes days, not hours ;)
The BATs didn't seem to mind the cloudy water at all on day one. They were
diving down and bouncing a wafer around today and there was no puffs of silt
or anything, so I presume that this wonderful filter's sponges have taken
most of it up.
It's a great little filter for what looks like a great little tank. It works
well too by the looks of it. Now the question is - can you place filter
floss in your filter anywhere? It will remove the cloud quick smart and
polish the water.
>
> Also, is this cloud going to reappear every time I move a plant or replant
> stem plants? If so, I'm returning the bag of flourite I bought for the 15
> gallon that I have on order and using only Eco Complete. Fluorite is
> beautiful, but only when you can see it!
We don't have these products easily available around here, so I don't really
know what you're talking about ;)
Oz
--
My Aquatic web Blog is at http://members.optusnet.com.au/ivan.smith
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Date: 27 Feb 2005 14:02:17
From: Nikki Casali
Subject: Re: Fluourite - Boy is my tank cloudy
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Elaine T wrote:
> I saw this fab 2 gal planted tank at LFS and it inspired me to yank the
> UGF from Squishy's 2 gallon hex and put on a Red Sea nanofilter and
> Fluorite substrate. Lighting is a 14 watt 5500K spiral compact
> flourescent that seems plenty bright over a tank this tiny.
>
> But OMG - I rinsed and rinsed my fluorite and it never did rinse clear.
> I finally gave up and set up the tank and the water is STILL cloudy an
> hour later. Will this mess actually filter out? I put a second pad in
> the filter, but it only seems to be getting a little bit better. Squishy
> is annoyed and I don't blame him.
>
> Also, is this cloud going to reappear every time I move a plant or
> replant stem plants? If so, I'm returning the bag of flourite I bought
> for the 15 gallon that I have on order and using only Eco Complete.
> Fluorite is beautiful, but only when you can see it!
>
I set up a new tank with a Fluorite base and thick top layer of sand.
Hopefully, plant roots will dig down into the Fluorite.
I didn't rinse the Fluorite before I placed it into the new tank because
I wanted to try rinsing it in situ. I filled the tank from a hose. But
did it look like a Martian dust storm! The 3 watts per gallon of
lighting couldn't penetrate more than 1 inch of water! A simple wash was
not going to help so I attached another hose with a power head to empty
the tank while another was filling to clear out the dust. 3 hours later
of constant washing and the dust had reduced by 2/3. At that point I
placed a thick layer of sand on top to lock in the dust.
But, OMG!
Nikki
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Date: 27 Feb 2005 01:40:27
From: Margolis
Subject: Re: Fluourite - Boy is my tank cloudy
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flourite is horrible that way. But yes, it will all settle out eventually
and the tank will be crystal clear again. It may take a few days, and
possibly up to a week though. A diatomaceous earth filter will help
immensely if you have one handy.
Once the tank gets good and settled you shouldn't have to worry too much
about the cloud reappearing when just replanting a single plant or two. You
may get a little "puff", but nothing like this initial setup.
--
Margolis
http://web.archive.org/web/20030215212142/http://www.agqx.org/faqs/AGQ2FAQ.htm
http://www.unrealtower.org/faq
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Date: 27 Feb 2005 07:07:45
From: Richard Sexton
Subject: Re: Fluourite - Boy is my tank cloudy
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Now you know why I prefer sand. You can alwsys put some flourite under
it, in fact it says on the bag it weorks as wel mixed with other stuff.
My preferred substrate these days is Farfard Aquatic Soil mixed with
profile with fine bach sand on top. To be sure there's metal partricles
in the playbox sand I buy from Home Depot - just drag a magnet through
it - and I keep waiting for something bad to happen from that. Fifteen
years later I'm still waiting.
--
Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
http://www.mbz.org
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