anyone use black sand in their reefs?

pogiboy67 · 01/19/2009, 08:56 PM

was looking to see if anyone use black sand in their reefs?

FirstContact · 01/19/2009, 09:36 PM

I could be wrong, but I don't think the black sand has the same dissolving proporties over time that aragonite does. If I remember correctly, I think it helps buffer ph...I'm sure others might point out a lot of other benefits too.

noboddi · 01/19/2009, 10:05 PM

I am not sure about the dissolving properties, but it doesn't reflect light as well. That's the main reason I see

bigclops · 01/19/2009, 10:11 PM

your ph would have to drop pretty low for argonite to help out.. at that point your in trouble anyway.. with that out of the way.. i think black sand looks wicked!

noboddi · 01/19/2009, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bigclops
your ph would have to drop pretty low for argonite to help out.. at that point your in trouble anyway.. with that out of the way.. i think black sand looks wicked!

pH is lower at the bottom of a DSB. I dissolve an inch or two of sand in 18 mos or so. The pH in the tank is pretty constant at 8.3.

iamwrasseman · 01/19/2009, 10:42 PM

i have 30% mixed in one of my tanks just for the different look of it . don't know of any goods or bads to it but it doesn't seem to get any more or less algea due to the coloring . i really don't have an algea problem in that system so its hard to tell if theres any difference. it does look cool with both white and black sand ,havent had any problems ,it's been running for four years now .

pogiboy67 · 01/20/2009, 06:09 AM

so a 100% black sandbed for a reef tank ok or no ?

redvicki · 01/20/2009, 06:16 AM

From what I learned when I was setting up my tank you can use the black sand if it is what you want.

Klaus777 · 01/20/2009, 07:45 AM

There's a guy here trying 100% black sand out

http://www.kwas.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=11047&page=2

Sugar Magnolia · 01/20/2009, 07:53 AM

I like the look of a mixed black sand/aragonite sand bed.

oppih · 01/20/2009, 10:32 AM

Some black sand has crushed glass in it.... So it wouldn't be safe
for dwellers/sifters

cornhusker85 · 01/20/2009, 10:40 AM

I got a buddy who has two tanks with 100% black sand it looks cool. idont know of any porblems with doing it. I would do it.

oppih · 01/20/2009, 10:47 AM

Here's what i was going to use..

http://www.caribsea.com/pages/produc..._aquarium.html

phish guy · 01/20/2009, 11:32 AM

i love the look of all black sand in nanoreefs. it does make coral colors pop more, never seen all black in a larger tank. would love to see pics if you do it.

seapug · 01/20/2009, 12:22 PM

There are new types of black sand that perfectly safe for a reef. No, it won't dissolve in dsb layers like Aragonite, but it won't hurt anything. I agree that black sand can look really cool, but it will show "dirt" just like white sand does and can look even worse when not maintained well-- like dirty pavement.

L98-Z · 01/20/2009, 01:39 PM

I'd like to see a large tank with black sand as well.

Hannawa · 01/20/2009, 02:38 PM

A friend of mine has all black in his 12g. It looks pretty cool but it doesnt stay all black for too long.

gws76 · 01/20/2009, 03:52 PM

Here is a pic of a freinds tank that has all black sand. She had it up for somewhere around two years without problems. I thought it looked awsome.

01/19/2009, 08:56 PM	#1
pogiboy67 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: pleasant hill/ san ramon Posts: 676	anyone use black sand in their reefs? was looking to see if anyone use black sand in their reefs? __________________ Carlo T. Current Tank Info: 75 AGA, 30 GAL AGA sump, mag 9.5, and tek 5 lighting

01/19/2009, 10:05 PM	#3
noboddi Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 813	I am not sure about the dissolving properties, but it doesn't reflect light as well. That's the main reason I see __________________ Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem - William of Ockham Current Tank Info: 55 gallon (36x18x20), 40 gallon sump, 25 gallon refugium, TEK 6x39w fixture, Osmolator, Kalk Reactor, Vortech MP20, 2 Koralia 3s on controller, Acropora, Anthelia, Montipora, Starry Blenny, Yellow Watchman, Rainford Goby, Tiger Gobies

01/19/2009, 10:42 PM	#6
iamwrasseman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: syracuse Posts: 7,003	i have 30% mixed in one of my tanks just for the different look of it . don't know of any goods or bads to it but it doesn't seem to get any more or less algea due to the coloring . i really don't have an algea problem in that system so its hard to tell if theres any difference. it does look cool with both white and black sand ,havent had any problems ,it's been running for four years now . __________________ This hobby certainly can put you in some weird positions ! Dave Current Tank Info: 40 freshwater,25saltwater 2000 gallons ,enough tanks for an army ?

01/20/2009, 06:09 AM	#7
pogiboy67 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: pleasant hill/ san ramon Posts: 676	so a 100% black sandbed for a reef tank ok or no ? __________________ Carlo T. Current Tank Info: 75 AGA, 30 GAL AGA sump, mag 9.5, and tek 5 lighting

01/20/2009, 07:53 AM	#10
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	I like the look of a mixed black sand/aragonite sand bed. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

01/19/2009, 09:36 PM	#2
FirstContact Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Glenn Dale, MD Posts: 1,613	I could be wrong, but I don't think the black sand has the same dissolving proporties over time that aragonite does. If I remember correctly, I think it helps buffer ph...I'm sure others might point out a lot of other benefits too.

01/19/2009, 10:11 PM	#4
bigclops Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 73	your ph would have to drop pretty low for argonite to help out.. at that point your in trouble anyway.. with that out of the way.. i think black sand looks wicked!

01/20/2009, 06:16 AM	#8
redvicki Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 499	From what I learned when I was setting up my tank you can use the black sand if it is what you want.

01/20/2009, 07:45 AM	#9
Klaus777 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kitchener, ontario Posts: 244	There's a guy here trying 100% black sand out http://www.kwas.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=11047&page=2

01/20/2009, 10:32 AM	#11
oppih Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 62	Some black sand has crushed glass in it.... So it wouldn't be safe for dwellers/sifters

01/20/2009, 10:40 AM	#12
cornhusker85 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Cape Coral,FL Posts: 70	I got a buddy who has two tanks with 100% black sand it looks cool. idont know of any porblems with doing it. I would do it.

01/20/2009, 10:47 AM	#13
oppih Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 62	Here's what i was going to use.. http://www.caribsea.com/pages/produc..._aquarium.html

01/20/2009, 11:32 AM	#14
phish guy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: South NJ Posts: 1,003	i love the look of all black sand in nanoreefs. it does make coral colors pop more, never seen all black in a larger tank. would love to see pics if you do it. __________________ Who are we? We find that we live on an insignificant planet of a humdrum star lost in a galaxy tucked away in some forgotten corner of a universe in which there are far more galaxies than people. Current Tank Info: 150 Gallon Reef, Reeftech LEDs ( on their way out for reefbreeder Photons), Reef Octoput NWB250, Custom made Sump/Refufium, Mp40wES, Koralia's. SPS, LPS, Zoas/Palys

01/20/2009, 12:22 PM	#15
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	There are new types of black sand that perfectly safe for a reef. No, it won't dissolve in dsb layers like Aragonite, but it won't hurt anything. I agree that black sand can look really cool, but it will show "dirt" just like white sand does and can look even worse when not maintained well-- like dirty pavement. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

01/20/2009, 01:39 PM	#16
L98-Z Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Warner Robins, Georgia Posts: 1,230	I'd like to see a large tank with black sand as well.

01/20/2009, 02:38 PM	#17
Hannawa Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: W. Henrietta, NY Posts: 228	A friend of mine has all black in his 12g. It looks pretty cool but it doesnt stay all black for too long.

01/20/2009, 03:52 PM	#18
gws76 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: El Reno, OK Posts: 1,691 Blog Entries: 2	Here is a pic of a freinds tank that has all black sand. She had it up for somewhere around two years without problems. I thought it looked awsome. __________________ "Let there be Rock!" ~ Bon Scott 2010-2011 COMAS POTM Chairman Current Tank Info: 150 gal. Starphire Mixed Reef