Question: Added sand, can't see a thing

[Beate88]

Hey, I'm new here! And new to keeping axies too

So I added sand to my tank...and now it's one giant cloud. I picked the most fine sand I could find since the gravel the other pet store sold us ended up in their stomach She said it was too large for them to swallow, but...apparently they did.

Will my axies care at all that they can't see much? Will the sand damage their gills? Can I put them back in even though it's cloudy?

The filter is running so I'm hoping it will settle down in a few hours

Love the axies though funny little creatures eat from my hand

 

[HMAxolotl]

Did you clean it before you put it in, if not i think you should have... If you did clean it really well then i think it will setle in time and i don think you should put them in untill it clears up a bit... Thats the only advice i have still kind of new to the axolotls myself I like to hand feed mine too

 

[Beate88]

Damn...I forgot to clean it how bad is it that I didnt and put the axies in?

 

[HMAxolotl]

I dont know how bad it is, i just knew you had to clean it hopefully someone else can help you out with this.... :happy:

 

[morphyrichards]

If it was me I would try to catch the axos again and keep them in a container then use something like a sieve to get as much of the sand out as possible, rinse it and then start over again. Might be tricky catching axls if you cant seem them though... Although ... did you already have the tank set up with water in when you poured the sand in because if you empty the whole thing out to clean the sand you will probably have to cycle your tank again too

 

[sek]

Don't worry about the cloud. It will soon settle. Your sand has disturbed the bacteria. Do a 20%-40% water change each day to clear your water. Do not remove your axies, this will stress them after already having a change.

Next time please remember to rinse your sand.

 

[TheWaffleFairy]

Haha hello, i am also new and i've also done this, although there isn't anything in my tank apart from live plants atm.... will it settle on its own or do i seriously have to start again?

 

[Beate88]

I let it just be alone until today (next day), and it's clear now
Just a tiny bit foggy but a water change can take care of that.

I did save some of the old water and kept some in the tank when i changed to sand. The axies were in their own container until i put them back in the tank

The axies do however seem a bit shook after the whole event and are hiding alot

 

[Crysta]

Sand settles fine, I just switched my axies into another tank, and therefore have a sand cloud too. if you've got the right kind of sand it should be clean enough anyway.
I agree with Sek, don't take them out, and do daily water changes.

WaffleFairy, just let it settle on it's own, sand always makes the water at least a little foggy. Disturbing it will only prolong the opaqueness.

 

[JWERNER]

Sand in most cases is very dusty. I think that theirs one brand thats almost clean and causes very little problems which is what I use the most and its by a brand named Estes. Your lucky it settled down cause it can be harmful.

Im willing to bet the dust has settled down but that does not mean anything cause its gunna get nasty with each water change other wise.

I would take it out and wash it if it really matters to you.

Haha hello, i am also new and i've also done this, although there isn't anything in my tank apart from live plants atm.... will it settle on its own or do i seriously have to start again?

It is not the sand thats the problem.Its the dust found in the sand. Again, it will settle but the dust itself will kick up very easily. You could do a couple water changes making sure to swish it around good to keep the dust suspend in the water column ( it then gets sucked out with the siphon ) but it might be easier to just take it out and blast it with a hose in a bucket since theirs no tank inhabitants.