[angelsword]

I haven't posted in years... I've just passed the second anniversary of the thing nobody wants to go through and somehow abandoned my aquariums. I've been as obsessed as everyone else here for about twenty years but, well... Everything is dead and it's from neglect.

I lost interest in the African Cichlid tank and sold it to a dad and his very excited little girl of about 13. Dad was nice and sent me photo updates periodically of the once perfect environment of rockwork I'd created. He and his daughter replaced the rock with pirate ships but the fish didn't seem worse for the wear.

My amazing brackish tank is gone. My kids (two now grown) and I have fond memories of holidays when we'd have family over and my nephews loved watching the puffers tear apart a fiddler crab and the Archers shoot down crickets. I accidentally sat a bag of salt on the power strip which turned it off and I was shocked to find everything dead the next day after work.

That's after coming home one day to find twelve diamond blue discus I raised since buying them from Hans at two inches dead.

My true love is Angelfish! My 125 was all broadleaf plants and my 75 was twelve species of Ludwiga. My angels thrived in both.

My planted tanks were established and perfect. I was injecting CO2 with an expensive system from GLA and EI dosing.

I've emptied everything out and have replaced the MGOPS topped with pool filter sand in my 125 with five bags of Fluorite. I've got three more bags on the way. I rinsed and rinsed but am about to give up.

I did Fluorite ten years ago. It was frustrating but I figured it out. These pics are after endless rinsing then draining and filling several times. I think I need to get back into the hobby and would appreciate any advice before everything goes for nothing on Craigslist. Is it possible to rinse this stuff? Before I either order Angels and put them in a terrible environment or give up all together I'd love any advice anyone has to offer because I'm tired of draining and refilling this big tank.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions!

 

[Red Leader]

Just fill it up completely, let it run for a few days, change about 50% of the water and it should clear up. I just started a 45 gallon with Flourite and it was crazy clouded for a few days but cleared up after the water change. Clean your filter with the water change too.

 

[brothermichigan]

I got a really dirty bag of Eco Complete a while back that looked almost as bad as what you're showing. I cleared it up with some Seachem Clarity and some filter floss. Fill the tank up, add the Clarity, and change your filter floss every day. Stir the substrate a bit every day if you really want to clear it up, but I just let everything settle that wanted to and vacuumed it out with the next water change.

 

[angelsword]

Thanks so much for your advice guys.

I got the other three bags and rinsed them, maybe like three or four cups at a time like I did with the first bags. The water never runs clear... LOL. I've done this before on my 75 gallon so I know it's possible but I think I'm going to hold off for a while.

I got a TDS reading of 192! Not too shabby for my substrate rinsing abilities!

Given that I've been so irresponsible with my tanks the last two years I don't think I should start ordering fish. So I'll have a 120 sitting empty for a while? That's okay.

I've decided to start in small and have an ADA 45F on my desk at work that I'm working on. It's in the ammonia spike phase now and I'm researching how to translate EI dosing to three gallons of water.

Thank you for feeling my pain with a big tank stained with red clay!