Flourite Question

[Fishnut]

So I'm setting up me new 72 bowfront and trying out some flourite.  I got 2 bags of it that were different types.  One was dark brown, sharper shards of rock and it rinsed out nicely, but in comparison to the regular gravel it took quite a bit more rinsing.  The second bag just is a mix between black, terra cotta and brown rocks and doesn't seem to be coming clean!  I put 1/8th of it in my bucket and did the usual rinsing procedures, but after the 6th rinse, (which fills the bucket) I'm still getting mud water!  I put it in a fish net and rinsed it that way, but the tank is still slightly cloudy from the dust on it.  I was certainly tossing a lot of fine sand into the snowbank with each bucket of muddy water.  Is this normal?

[charlie]

Yes it`s normal ,the stuff you are tossing is part of what you paid for  , just let it be & the tank will clear up in a week or so.
Regards

[jetstream]

If you done it properly, your tank should be crystal clear within few hours with/without help of a filter! I'm sure you won't repeat the same mistake for your next new tank!   

Cheers

[Fishnut]

Well I'm glad I only used an 8th of the second bag!  So how do I rinse it properly?  Am I supposed to just put it directly into the tank?

[dan2x38]

I don't rinse it like Charlie says your throwing out what you paid for. Use a saucer on top of the substrate and pour water in slowly. The dust will clear. Around the edge on the to of the water there will be a ring like in the tub... just wipe it clean after a bit.

[Fishnut]

Unfortunately my tank was already full.  I dumped in the rest of the bag and my tank looks like mud.  The bag says that it could take 2-12 hours to clear...I think it's going to be more like 24, but I'll see!

[BigDaddy]

You are going to need a lot more than 2 bags to fill a 72 gallon to a depth that will making planting easy.

My 75 took 5 bags and even now there are spots I wish I had a bit more gravel.

[dan2x38]

I have 3 1/2 bags eco-complete, 1 flourite, & 25-30lbs Moon Sand putting at the very bottom. I have close to 100lbs of substrate. I am calulating that will be barely enough for my 75g only 3g more. I will even need more to get 2-2.5" depth substrate to plant anything into. Here is an online calculator.

[Fishnut]

Guys, don't worry.  I bought 3 bags of regular gravel with my 2 bgs of Flourite and I'll be adding the gravel from my existing planted tank, with will bring the total up over 100 lbs.  The Flourite is something I wanted to try as a supplement to my regime of fish poop fertilizer.    All 5 new bags are in there and I have about 3" depth of gravel