What they don't tell you about black sand

[DRteugelsi]

For those of you have been looking around for information about black sand.

1. They sale it all over eBay for a pretty decent price IMO ( I ended up buying 40 pounds for my 60 gallon and it was plenty from Petco for less than $30 on sale)

2. I wouldn't recommend the blast sand. I work for an industrial supply company and that stuff is pretty gnarly. I wouldn't want to rub against if I were a fish. And it seems it would be pretty hard to clean enough to get all the gunk off of it.

3. Black sand makes your the aquarium seem pretty dark (duh) but it makes lights more necessary in my other tanks with brighter colors substrate pop more without lights on. I didn't think it would be that big of a deal but it's noticeably darker in that tank, and I mean very noticeably.

All in all I really enjoy the black sand because it makes everything in that tank pop. The kind I got seems to be on the heavier side so cleaning hasn't been that big of a deal. If you have several tanks I'd recommend to try it in at least one tank. It just makes a completely different perspective for looking at all your fish and I enjoy it.

 

[brent245]

I've used the blasting type sand with no ill effects in a very densely planted tank. I had a bunch of loaches and corys that would constantly sift through it too. Just rinse very well because it contains fine particulates. It looks very good in heavily planted tanks.That being said, if the tank is only sparsely planted, I prefer pool filter sand. A wide open black sand bottom with only a few plants looks too dark and unnatural.

 

[Keemofish4ever]

I really think this is the best black sand you can get. CaribSea Instant Aquarium Tahitian Moon Gravel

 

[xraycer]

it makes everything in that tank pop.

......including poop

 

[DRteugelsi]

I got the imagiquarium or whatever but it was extremely easy to clean and more on the coarse side