Black Diamond Blasting sand in Salvini Tank and GT tank?

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AllAlaskan

Gambusia
MFK Member
Nov 22, 2012
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Mat-Su, Alaska, USA
Would Black Diamond blasting sand be ok to use with Salvini and Green Terrors? I am getting some of each soon and was thinking about using Black Diamond blasting sand in their tanks. What I am not sure about is if it would be to sharp for them. I am still researching and learning so if I seem ignorant on this I am sorry, just want to make sure it is safe to use with these fish.

I love the look of black sand but I am also trying to keep cost down. I will mention that I am considering building a 400+ gallon tank this summer and will need a "cheep" substrate that I would also like to be black.
 
I'm not a big fan of black substrate. Coal slag will not hurt anything but vacuming the gravel will cause alot being sucked into the tube or if the fish stir it up it could get into the filter. I use pool filter sand as substrate in my tanks maybe mixing some would be ok. I've mixed TMS with PFS with good results in the past but straight black sand was too light, weight wise and stirred up to easly.
 
Was it the same black sand? I thought about pool filter or play sand as well but I like the look of black sand with drift wood and rock.
 
I had it with my GT and Salvinis in my 90 gallon and all was well. Never had any issues.


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No it wasn't the same TMS is Tahitian moon sand. I mixed the Tahitian moon sand with PFS for a nice looking substrate. You could do the same with the coal slag. The TMS was to light and would get sucked up when vacuming, people told me the coal slag does the same thing if you get too agressive while cleanning but I never used it. I like a heavier sand. Like I said eariler you could use it in your tank if that's the look you want. IME some fish don't show well over a dark substrate.
 
O ok. I didn't realize thats what was lol.

As I said I plan on having Salvini and Green Terrors, possibly an Oscar. I am not sure if I will be keeping the Oscar or not. I have seen some Oscar tanks with black sand and just loved it. Has me wondering how it would make the Green Terror look when they are adults. They are suppose to be around 2 inches I believe so they will be babies. I remember some where a article talking about how darker substrate will make your fish look better because with lighter substrate they will try to lighten up to blend in where if you use darker it makes them darken up and enrich their color. Not saying its fully true that is just one reason I was looking at black substrate.

I am getting the Salvini from Freshwaterpredators Monday or Tuesday I think so I will see how he has them set up and what he is using too.
 
Where do you get that at? Some where like Home Depot or Lowes? Those are the two biggest stores local to me with a local one called Spenard Builders supply.
 
Play sand was a nightmare for me. It makes a decent beach sand look once it is settled in, but initially caused considerable water clouding for days. I even rinsed it until I didn't get the frothy mud water. When my jag would scoop it up and spit it into corners, it would frequently get sucked into the filter motor. What can I say, I tried to save some money and it didn't work out. I would definitely stick with the pool filter sand or something purpose made for aquariums. The blasting sand sounds like an interesting experiment.
 
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