Rinsing gravel for planted tanks

[SnakeIce]

I am sure there are several methods, but this is one that I used and found to be quite satisfactory although a little time consuming if very much gravel is to be rinsed.

I rinsed my gravel at the bathroom tub because of the chilly temperatures outside, but if conditions are pleasant there is no reason you can't take it outside. The net should be reasonably fine so as to save as much of the gravel that is larger than dust. A bucket is also helpful to prevent the fine sand component from going down the drain. A scoop and a place to put the rinsed gravel completes the items needed.

I used the water in the bucket to remove by agitation most of what would fall through the net and did a final rinse in fresh water untill the water ran clear. After I finished I ran a little water into the bucket to clear most of the fine dust and used the sinking silt as the first layer of gravel in my tank. (If it were not for the visual impact of cloudy water we would try to keep all the dust in the tank because that provides more surface area for the roots to work off of)

[OrionGirl]

Cleaned up some typos. Looks good!

I'm getting ready to setup the 20...I'd planned on rinsing the heck out of one bag to put on top but leaving all the silt and fines in the bottom 2 bags. Worked will for the 12!

[Corax]

Excellent timing, cuz I've got 6 bags of Fluorite to rinse in the next couple weeks. Thanks Snake =)

[RTR]

Flourite* is a special case, you need the fines - at least some percentage of them - for enhanced CEC and root hair attachment/absorbtion. My technique is similar to SnakeIce', but is done solely outdoors** (therefore some must be stored for the winter pre-cleaned if there are any projected resets with this substrate). My bucket is modified by the addition of large-ish holes (3/8")in an arc of about 1/3 the bucket diameter. If you don't mind a muddy shower on your feet you can run the band of holes all the way around the bucket (If anyone wants such a fully holed bucket, mine has been trashed - I hide my mistakes). Rather than a net, I use a very large stainless steel soup strainer (mega bucks at a restaurant supply, $5 at a yard sale) and the garden hose. The strainer fits the top of the standard home store plastic bucket quite well. I rinse with just water flow, no power spray, and very gentle shaking of the strainer handle. The smallest fines (water clouding sizes) go out the holes with the water, but a non-trivial portion of the larger fines collects in the bucket. Those fines, with a first fine dusting of sphagnum peat, provide a thin base layer before the rinsed material is added. Over time, substrates sort themselves by size anyway - the smallest material ends up at the bottom - so you might as well start out that way.

Flourite is friable, as bad or perhaps worse than crushed coral. The more you stir or rub, the more fines are generated. Avoid doing a self-defeating process. The more gentle you are, the quicker and better the material comes clean and clear.

*Flourite, not fluorite, as Seachem uses the general label of "Flourish" for their planted tank supplements and materials.

**I am on a septic system. I do not want inert/mineral fines building up in the system to need pumping out.

[Corax]

RTR, your method is close to how I did it the first time I used Fluorite.. I had a bucket with holes in the bottom. Dumped in the Fluorite and hit it with the hose. I didn't try to save any fines. It worked out ok, but I want to try it this way this time. I'll avoid the high dollar metal strainer, and opt instead for a $2 plastic one from the Dollar General.. I like that better than the fish net, for durability purposes.. Same concept though..

[RTR]

The strainer was fluke - friends of ours were moving and warned us that they were selling everything, but everything, and starting fresh at the new place. He is into cooking so my wife had to go early, and I went along for the heck of it (and brough more home than she did).