Sand

Run a diatom on it for 24 hours

I gave up after about 12 hours.


Going to do plants instead of fish that like sand.

Plus I can use an undergravel filter.

Water changes will help, but will stir it up some too.  Overall it will get better faster though.  I remember being frustrated for a couple days when I switched my 75 over from gravel, but it eventually settles out and clears up.

I really sounds like it was cleanned enough, but it will definitely settle.  I second doing a couple 100% water changes.

It could take a day to settle. Especially is there is some current in the tank.

Honestly I would do a couple of 100% water changes to clean the sand some more.

It won't scratch the tank on it's own but if it gets caught between something and the glass it will scratch then.

Sand will ruin an impeller if it gets inside of it.

How do you keep your sand on the bottom of the tank?

I got a 40 pound bag of pool filter sand,  rinsed it for a good twenty minutes, water seemed clear,  added to new 29 gallon tank, filled with water.  It's looked like a milkshake for the last 6 hours.

will this stuff ever settle down or should I just go back to gravel?

Also, does sand end up scratching up the glass?  how about the plastic impeller in a power filter?