Black Sand?

Weezel111 · 08/03/2006, 10:13 AM

i plan on breaking down my 72 bowso i can get it drilled and make a sump...the substrate i had was play sand from home depot...id rather not keep it...i will get some live sand but was wondering if there is black sand that would be suitable...i really think it would be a nice contrast to all the other colors...the only black sand ive found so far is "Arag Alive Aragonite Indo-Pacific Black Reef Sand"...but this is only half black...the other half is white...i want to have it all as black as night...anyone know where to get some?

also...

will there be any problems with using it?

will my cuke still clean it?

are there any drawbacks to this?

-b-

xtrstangx · 08/03/2006, 10:16 AM

The black will show detritus a lot easier and a lot of people get sick of it after a while.

IMO, I'd stay with the traditional white sand.

NYer · 08/03/2006, 10:20 AM

Yea I have all black, and at first thought it was really cool but beleive it or not it shows detritus more than the white, and I will be replacing all of mine this week.

inch and a half of black sand in a 180 tank is a lot...

P.s. if you wanted to PM me I'll give you mine free but you pay shipping !!! (it really isnt that nice)

thealy · 08/03/2006, 10:22 AM

i have two tanks...one with white sand and one with black sand and the white is soooo much better. I am so sick of the black sand but its only a few months old so I do not want to replace it just yet but in time I will. Save the money and go with white live sand...its nicer.

TKByrnes · 08/03/2006, 10:22 AM

super petz sells some. I dont know if you have a superpetz around you or not but if you dont i have one very close to me. the black sand is $2.99 for a 10 lb bag i think. if you cant get it let me know and if you send me the money ill pick up however much you need and ship it to you. shipping wil prob cost alot though. let me know.

Weezel111 · 08/03/2006, 10:29 AM

wow 3 replies within 10 minutes saying its a bad idea...i suppose id be a fool to go with black then...y'all seem pretty adimate about no black sand...my sand right now is more brownish then it is white cuz of it being playsand from home depot...do y'all have white white sand? where did you get it? i guess the whiter the better then, no? i am asking cuz i really dont want to have to replace this all again any time soon...so better to do it the right way....

also, on a sidenote: any one know of anywhere in the Aurora IL area that will be able to drill my tank? for how much?

thanky ou for the quick replies...

Weezel111 · 08/03/2006, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TKByrnes
super petz sells some. I dont know if you have a superpetz around you or not but if you dont i have one very close to me. the black sand is $2.99 for a 10 lb bag i think. if you cant get it let me know and if you send me the money ill pick up however much you need and ship it to you. shipping wil prob cost alot though. let me know.

thank you...tahts very nice of you but i think ive been convinced to stay away from black...but thanks for the offer...

-b-

Weezel111 · 08/03/2006, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by thealy
i have two tanks...one with white sand and one with black sand and the white is soooo much better. I am so sick of the black sand but its only a few months old so I do not want to replace it just yet but in time I will. Save the money and go with white live sand...its nicer.

do you have any pictures of your tank with the black sand? while i value all your views, i still ahve to make my own decision...what makes it look bad? just the over color of the tank? gets dirty too easy? tank looks dark? i would really appreciate some pics if you have them...

-b-

Aquaman · 08/03/2006, 10:44 AM

you can order the drill bit from aquatic Ecosystems and drill the tank yourself, Im sure if you do some searches here you can find info on how to drill it.

MCary · 08/03/2006, 10:47 AM

Black sand

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113554

Black sand is a silica based sand and will not help buffer the water .

Mike

Weezel111 · 08/03/2006, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MCary
Black sand

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113554

Black sand is a silica based sand and will not help buffer the water .

Mike

all i had before was playsand...does this help buffer the water? i never really had any probs with ph or alk...

Weezel111 · 08/03/2006, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Aquaman
you can order the drill bit from aquatic Ecosystems and drill the tank yourself, Im sure if you do some searches here you can find info on how to drill it.

to be honest, im not really sure i trust myself...if i break my tank then i am selling everything cuz i wont have another grand to invest in another tank...would be much safer if i could have someone else do it that knows what they are doing...you know?

-b-

MCary · 08/03/2006, 11:40 AM

No silica based sand helps buffer water. This is not necessarily a bad thing. I run bare bottom myself. It just means you get no added benefit.

08/03/2006, 10:13 AM	#1
Weezel111 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 161	Black Sand? i plan on breaking down my 72 bowso i can get it drilled and make a sump...the substrate i had was play sand from home depot...id rather not keep it...i will get some live sand but was wondering if there is black sand that would be suitable...i really think it would be a nice contrast to all the other colors...the only black sand ive found so far is "Arag Alive Aragonite Indo-Pacific Black Reef Sand"...but this is only half black...the other half is white...i want to have it all as black as night...anyone know where to get some? also... will there be any problems with using it? will my cuke still clean it? are there any drawbacks to this? -b-

08/03/2006, 10:22 AM	#4
thealy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Toms River, NJ Posts: 146	i have two tanks...one with white sand and one with black sand and the white is soooo much better. I am so sick of the black sand but its only a few months old so I do not want to replace it just yet but in time I will. Save the money and go with white live sand...its nicer. __________________ Tracy

08/03/2006, 10:22 AM	#5
TKByrnes Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fairfield, PA Posts: 1,331	super petz sells some. I dont know if you have a superpetz around you or not but if you dont i have one very close to me. the black sand is $2.99 for a 10 lb bag i think. if you cant get it let me know and if you send me the money ill pick up however much you need and ship it to you. shipping wil prob cost alot though. let me know. __________________ Baby it was on sale half price I PROMISE!!!! Current Tank Info: 90 gal mixed reef-55 gal sump-mag 9.5 return pump-10 gal frag tank 15 gal refugium. 2x 150 watt HQI outer orbit 4x pc actinic

08/03/2006, 10:44 AM	#9
Aquaman Fishinchick's better half Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: St Cloud, FL USA Posts: 2,278	you can order the drill bit from aquatic Ecosystems and drill the tank yourself, Im sure if you do some searches here you can find info on how to drill it. __________________ Tang Police most wanted Outlaw. ORCA Founder Previous tanks, 125,120, 55,37,20, 15, 10, 5 Current Tank Info: 65 reef

08/03/2006, 10:16 AM	#2
xtrstangx Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Shawnee, Kansas Posts: 4,568	The black will show detritus a lot easier and a lot of people get sick of it after a while. IMO, I'd stay with the traditional white sand.

08/03/2006, 10:20 AM	#3
NYer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New York Posts: 68	Yea I have all black, and at first thought it was really cool but beleive it or not it shows detritus more than the white, and I will be replacing all of mine this week. inch and a half of black sand in a 180 tank is a lot... P.s. if you wanted to PM me I'll give you mine free but you pay shipping !!! (it really isnt that nice)

08/03/2006, 10:29 AM	#6
Weezel111 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 161	wow 3 replies within 10 minutes saying its a bad idea...i suppose id be a fool to go with black then...y'all seem pretty adimate about no black sand...my sand right now is more brownish then it is white cuz of it being playsand from home depot...do y'all have white white sand? where did you get it? i guess the whiter the better then, no? i am asking cuz i really dont want to have to replace this all again any time soon...so better to do it the right way.... also, on a sidenote: any one know of anywhere in the Aurora IL area that will be able to drill my tank? for how much? thanky ou for the quick replies...

08/03/2006, 10:47 AM	#10
MCary Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hardin, Montana Posts: 3,142	Black sand http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113554 Black sand is a silica based sand and will not help buffer the water . Mike

08/03/2006, 11:40 AM	#13
MCary Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hardin, Montana Posts: 3,142	No silica based sand helps buffer water. This is not necessarily a bad thing. I run bare bottom myself. It just means you get no added benefit.