question about sand in saltwater tank

discus510 · 09/13/2010, 09:07 PM

ok a lil about the past i had a tank tat was setup and i wanted black sand so i went ahead and used black beach live sand which isnt black its more like black and brown and now im setting up another tank and i wanna use a sand as black as possible so i was wonderin if anyone has experience with using black beauty sand or the 3M quarts tats black and wats the pros and cons of it
thanks

E36328i · 09/13/2010, 10:09 PM

The 3m black sand has been used successfully in F/W aquaria for years now... And as far as I know, it is the same thing as the Tahitan Moon black sand (which works fine in saltwater and reefs). You might want to keep in mind though, most sands we use offer some buffering capability and the black sands will offer nothing in this regard.

Cheers!

brycerb · 09/14/2010, 07:23 AM

Black beauty is iron slag used for sand blasting, I would guess it would rust. It also has very sharp edges/points, not good for sand sifters. 3M sand is totaly inert.

Palting · 09/14/2010, 08:26 AM

I wouldn't go with any freshwater sand that is not also deemed safe for saltwater. If you want black, you can go with Arag-Alive sand. They come in two types in black. Not cheap. But, I don't believe there is any non-live sand recommended for reef/saltwater that is black. I have Hawaiian black in my tanks.

discus510 · 09/14/2010, 10:50 AM

ive went witht he argo black live sand they called it black beach its not really black its like black and brown mixed together its not as black as i want it to be was just wonderin if i got other choice out there

Stuart60611 · 09/14/2010, 10:54 AM

Be very careful with the black sand. It is known for causing scratching of glass it caught in a magfloat, etc.

lordofthereef · 09/14/2010, 03:47 PM

Just thought I would add my two cents about the buffering comment. This has pretty much been debunked. For there to be any real buffering, pH levels would have to go far lower than what any of your livestock can withstand. In other words, it really shouldn't be a part of your decision process when picking sand.

09/13/2010, 09:07 PM	#1
discus510 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: San Jose, California Posts: 803	question about sand in saltwater tank ok a lil about the past i had a tank tat was setup and i wanted black sand so i went ahead and used black beach live sand which isnt black its more like black and brown and now im setting up another tank and i wanna use a sand as black as possible so i was wonderin if anyone has experience with using black beauty sand or the 3M quarts tats black and wats the pros and cons of it thanks

09/14/2010, 07:23 AM	#3
brycerb Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Isle of wight, VA Posts: 541	Black beauty is iron slag used for sand blasting, I would guess it would rust. It also has very sharp edges/points, not good for sand sifters. 3M sand is totaly inert. __________________ -Luckily, my wife is reef safe so I can use my normal income for this hobby. -My cichlids love RO waste! Current Tank Info: 7.5 gallon box with water in it.

09/14/2010, 08:26 AM	#4
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	I wouldn't go with any freshwater sand that is not also deemed safe for saltwater. If you want black, you can go with Arag-Alive sand. They come in two types in black. Not cheap. But, I don't believe there is any non-live sand recommended for reef/saltwater that is black. I have Hawaiian black in my tanks. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

09/14/2010, 03:47 PM	#7
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	Just thought I would add my two cents about the buffering comment. This has pretty much been debunked. For there to be any real buffering, pH levels would have to go far lower than what any of your livestock can withstand. In other words, it really shouldn't be a part of your decision process when picking sand. __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
FS: 100G Saltwater Tank, Sump, 2 Tangs, 1 Foxface , Misc. Items	SS21CA	Southern California Reefers	12	04/23/2012 10:34 PM
What are the best fish or creatures to have in your tank to clean the sandbed?	aquariumkeeper2	New to the Hobby	34	08/08/2010 08:50 PM
Adding live sand and rock to my first saltwater tank	ray242	New to the Hobby	6	08/04/2010 05:47 AM
does anyone use black sand in their saltwater tanks	lounge13	New to the Hobby	3	02/03/2009 11:18 PM

09/13/2010, 10:09 PM	#2
E36328i Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Atascadero, California Posts: 241	The 3m black sand has been used successfully in F/W aquaria for years now... And as far as I know, it is the same thing as the Tahitan Moon black sand (which works fine in saltwater and reefs). You might want to keep in mind though, most sands we use offer some buffering capability and the black sands will offer nothing in this regard. Cheers!

09/14/2010, 10:50 AM	#5
discus510 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: San Jose, California Posts: 803	ive went witht he argo black live sand they called it black beach its not really black its like black and brown mixed together its not as black as i want it to be was just wonderin if i got other choice out there

09/14/2010, 10:54 AM	#6
Stuart60611 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 2,979	Be very careful with the black sand. It is known for causing scratching of glass it caught in a magfloat, etc.