3m quartz sand for reef tank

discus510 · 10/15/2009, 01:00 PM

hi i was wonderin if anyone have used 3m quartz as a substrate for there reef tank. or if u know if its ok to use it. im tryin to put black in my reef tank but havent found any black sand to my liking. i ordered 20 bags of 20lbs black live sand from a LFS and its not all black cuz they got me the black beach and didnt like it so now im just wonderin if anyone tried using 3m quartz and can anyone tell me good or bad
thanks
wing

TP123 · 10/15/2009, 01:12 PM

I used the colorquartz black in my freshwater and haven't had any issues with it. Looks good and stays put. It is very dusty though and needs a lot of rinsing first.

The main drawback is going to be a lack of buffering capacity that you'd have with common reef substrates.

Toddrtrex · 10/15/2009, 02:11 PM

IMO, the pH of our tanks doesn't get low enough for the substrate to offer any buffering.

As for the quartz sand --- I believe that I read somewhere that if you plan on keeping any sand sifting fish to avoid it -- too sharp for them.

lordofthereef · 10/15/2009, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toddrtrex

IMO, the pH of our tanks doesn't get low enough for the substrate to offer any buffering.

As for the quartz sand --- I believe that I read somewhere that if you plan on keeping any sand sifting fish to avoid it -- too sharp for them.

+1 on all that was said

discus510 · 10/15/2009, 03:10 PM

thanks for reply. guess tats outta question. ill just stay with the black beach live sand tat i already have

TP123 · 10/16/2009, 12:21 PM

It is too sharp? The one grade is nearly perfect spheres.

A sea K · 10/16/2009, 01:56 PM

I could be way off base but I "think" i recall reading somewhere that you need to be very careful when cleaning the glass if you have quartz sand.

I'm not at all sure but its probably something you should be aware of if you choose to go this route.

Frogmanx82 · 10/16/2009, 02:22 PM

+1 on A sea K. One grain of quartz sand caught on a scraper will do major damage to the glass. Aragonite is so much softer and safer.

discus510 · 10/16/2009, 03:42 PM

my tank is acrylic so anythin gettin on magnet cleaner will scratch surface

aquaventions · 12/17/2009, 04:11 PM

I spoke with a 3M representative. The S grade are quartz spheres with a ceramic coating. It is totally inert. The spheres are so smooth they should pose no problem to bottom dwellers or sifters. I have not heard of anyone who has had a problem with it.

The T grade is crushed quartz (angular) with a ceramic coating, and is about a 12 mesh size. From what I've read on the forums people have had no problems with it. I expect the ceramic coating smooths out the edges.

The 3M website lists vendors. The product is currently discontinued until the swimming pool industry improves.

Asterix · 12/17/2009, 06:25 PM

I used the black color quart on a FW planted tank once, but the time and effort that went into locating it would have made the black Tahitian moon sand more economical (the kind they sale in LFS).

10/15/2009, 01:00 PM	#1
discus510 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: San Jose, California Posts: 803	3m quartz sand for reef tank hi i was wonderin if anyone have used 3m quartz as a substrate for there reef tank. or if u know if its ok to use it. im tryin to put black in my reef tank but havent found any black sand to my liking. i ordered 20 bags of 20lbs black live sand from a LFS and its not all black cuz they got me the black beach and didnt like it so now im just wonderin if anyone tried using 3m quartz and can anyone tell me good or bad thanks wing

10/15/2009, 02:11 PM	#3
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	IMO, the pH of our tanks doesn't get low enough for the substrate to offer any buffering. As for the quartz sand --- I believe that I read somewhere that if you plan on keeping any sand sifting fish to avoid it -- too sharp for them. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

10/16/2009, 01:56 PM	#7
A sea K Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Branford Fl Posts: 3,024	I could be way off base but I "think" i recall reading somewhere that you need to be very careful when cleaning the glass if you have quartz sand. I'm not at all sure but its probably something you should be aware of if you choose to go this route. __________________ I am not a pro so excuse me if I'm wrong. Current Tank Info: 30gal Deep Blue rimless 9/10/2014, 80gal Deep Blue rimless 40gal sump/refugium 9/11/16 LPS reef, 2 x Kessil A160 with a single Maxspect Razor, RO Prime 150INT skimmer, Sicce 3 return pump, Vortech MP40 and MP10

10/16/2009, 02:22 PM	#8
Frogmanx82 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,515	+1 on A sea K. One grain of quartz sand caught on a scraper will do major damage to the glass. Aragonite is so much softer and safer. __________________ Exodus 8:2 Check my homepage for tank pics and details. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon, 2x maxspect R420R LED, 4 Ocellaris Clowns, Yellow Eye Kole Tang, Flame Angel, Foxface Rabbitfish, Banggai Cardinals, Azure Damsel, rock flower anemone, cleaner shrimp, serpent star

12/17/2009, 04:11 PM	#10
aquaventions Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Oconomowoc WI Posts: 17	ColorQuartz I spoke with a 3M representative. The S grade are quartz spheres with a ceramic coating. It is totally inert. The spheres are so smooth they should pose no problem to bottom dwellers or sifters. I have not heard of anyone who has had a problem with it. The T grade is crushed quartz (angular) with a ceramic coating, and is about a 12 mesh size. From what I've read on the forums people have had no problems with it. I expect the ceramic coating smooths out the edges. The 3M website lists vendors. The product is currently discontinued until the swimming pool industry improves.

10/15/2009, 01:12 PM	#2
TP123 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 205	I used the colorquartz black in my freshwater and haven't had any issues with it. Looks good and stays put. It is very dusty though and needs a lot of rinsing first. The main drawback is going to be a lack of buffering capacity that you'd have with common reef substrates.

10/15/2009, 03:10 PM	#5
discus510 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: San Jose, California Posts: 803	thanks for reply. guess tats outta question. ill just stay with the black beach live sand tat i already have

10/16/2009, 12:21 PM	#6
TP123 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 205	It is too sharp? The one grade is nearly perfect spheres.

10/16/2009, 03:42 PM	#9
discus510 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: San Jose, California Posts: 803	my tank is acrylic so anythin gettin on magnet cleaner will scratch surface

12/17/2009, 06:25 PM	#11
Asterix Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 328	I used the black color quart on a FW planted tank once, but the time and effort that went into locating it would have made the black Tahitian moon sand more economical (the kind they sale in LFS).