Caribsea aragonite contain magnetic particles

Rfish · 10/01/2011, 03:37 PM

I just bought few bags of Caribsea 40bl special grade aragonite from our LFS. I found that there are small amount of black particles well mixed in the substrate, and they are magnetic!!!!!!!!!!!

(Accidentally dropped my magnetic cleaner on the sand bed and came back with few small black sands attached. Then, briefly stirred the sand and caught more of them). I’m thinking they are either metal chips or some iron-based mineral particles.

After directly talked with Caribsea, they believe that those particles are either rust particles (oxide) or volcanic substrates that Caribsea produced. In either case the amount of soluble iron is fairly negligible and should not exceed natural seawater concentrations. And this is generally something that is not harmful

.

I am still bit worry about this, cause I had already put them into my SPS/clam dominated reef tank which I invested tons of $. Would like to ask forum members who may have same experience, is that normal and perfectly safe for my reef tank in the long run???? Could they cause any issues in the future (algae booming, cyanobacteria growing, etc.)

Thanks

lordofthereef · 10/01/2011, 04:07 PM

I wouldn't worry about the iron being an issue in your tank. It can and will scratch acrylic and sometimes glass if you are zipping around with your magnetic cleaner. Keep that in mind. It sucks to learn that the hard way!

aleonn · 10/01/2011, 04:29 PM

Wow, I never knew about this! I'm glad I switched to Fiji pink aragonite. However, when I used the Special reef grade years ago in my old system, I had no problems. In your case, I'd just run a magnet on the surface of the substrate to pick up more iron particles.

Austinchap · 11/18/2011, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aleonn

Wow, I never knew about this! I'm glad I switched to Fiji pink aragonite. However, when I used the Special reef grade years ago in my old system, I had no problems. In your case, I'd just run a magnet on the surface of the substrate to pick up more iron particles.

Just had this same problem today with the pink arag.

bunzaroo · 11/19/2011, 01:31 PM

I used to have the black "tahitian" sand in my nano and it was definately magnetic, I had a three little fishies nano mag and scratched my tank on a couple of occassions. My suggestion would be to run a magnet along the substrate to pick up as many of the particles as possible. On another note I never ha any issues with water chemistry using the magnetic sand.

hyperge · 11/19/2011, 03:01 PM

Caution is really recomended. The very first time i tried a magnet cleaner in my Elos tank, I got a multitude of tiny scratches from these magnetic particles. Because there is no means against the scratches, forcing me to live with them in an otherwise top notch tank, even several k$ in damages would not cover the felt damage.

10/01/2011, 03:37 PM	#1
Rfish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 2	Caribsea aragonite contain magnetic particles I just bought few bags of Caribsea 40bl special grade aragonite from our LFS. I found that there are small amount of black particles well mixed in the substrate, and they are magnetic!!!!!!!!!!! (Accidentally dropped my magnetic cleaner on the sand bed and came back with few small black sands attached. Then, briefly stirred the sand and caught more of them). I’m thinking they are either metal chips or some iron-based mineral particles. After directly talked with Caribsea, they believe that those particles are either rust particles (oxide) or volcanic substrates that Caribsea produced. In either case the amount of soluble iron is fairly negligible and should not exceed natural seawater concentrations. And this is generally something that is not harmful. I am still bit worry about this, cause I had already put them into my SPS/clam dominated reef tank which I invested tons of $. Would like to ask forum members who may have same experience, is that normal and perfectly safe for my reef tank in the long run???? Could they cause any issues in the future (algae booming, cyanobacteria growing, etc.) Thanks

10/01/2011, 04:07 PM	#2
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	I wouldn't worry about the iron being an issue in your tank. It can and will scratch acrylic and sometimes glass if you are zipping around with your magnetic cleaner. Keep that in mind. It sucks to learn that the hard way! __________________ "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!

11/19/2011, 01:31 PM	#5
bunzaroo Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Miami,FL Posts: 617	I used to have the black "tahitian" sand in my nano and it was definately magnetic, I had a three little fishies nano mag and scratched my tank on a couple of occassions. My suggestion would be to run a magnet along the substrate to pick up as many of the particles as possible. On another note I never ha any issues with water chemistry using the magnetic sand. __________________ Current Tank: Mized Reef 72 Bowfront, 105G (45X27X20) Reef Savvy Rimless in the works. Current Tank Info: 105 Gallon Reef Savvy Rimless, Mostly LPS/NPS and anemone's, 3 Bartlett Anthias, Royal Gramma, Green Spotted Mandarin, Yellow Tang, 2 Banghai Cardinals.

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10/01/2011, 04:29 PM	#3
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,041	Wow, I never knew about this! I'm glad I switched to Fiji pink aragonite. However, when I used the Special reef grade years ago in my old system, I had no problems. In your case, I'd just run a magnet on the surface of the substrate to pick up more iron particles.

11/19/2011, 03:01 PM	#6
hyperge Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 39	Caution is really recomended. The very first time i tried a magnet cleaner in my Elos tank, I got a multitude of tiny scratches from these magnetic particles. Because there is no means against the scratches, forcing me to live with them in an otherwise top notch tank, even several k$ in damages would not cover the felt damage.