Black puffer safe sand

[kzimmerman]

So, I'm looking for black sand for a puffer tank. There is a sandblasting sand called black beauty or something like that. I hope that the stuff will work, but I'm not sure if it will affect the water in any way, or is it too sharp? Anybody with experience with the stuff?

 

[BIG-G]

I use Black Diamond. Never had any issues.
I’ve not kept puffers with it.
I do have several cat fish species and I’ve kept Geos with it.
Some say it can be to sharp for sand sifters like Geos but they have done fine with it.

 

[jjohnwm]

Black Diamond blasting sand? It is, literally, industrial waste; slag from some type of foundry processing, ingeniously re-purposed as blasting sand by some smart entrepreneur, and then re-re-purposed by aquarists for use as a substrate. Some people seem to like it; others talk about oily film on their water surfaces. My only experience with it comes from a friend in Ontario who tried it, was quickly disgusted and got rid of it; personally, I wouldn't touch it. To each his own!

 

[Hendre]

I use something similar, not entirely sure what it is tbh. I give it a good, long, rinse and off it goes. Have not had issues.

 

[kzimmerman]

For those of you who have used it, how sharp is it? It’s for my t. Miuris puffer, it’s a 75, and I’d rather not spend the money to get it from the pet store. I figure it will need to be 3-4” deep when all is said and done. That’s a lot of money!

 

[PhishMon84]

I would not use black blasting sand. It has metal debris and leaves the water oily for a very long time even with lots of rinsing. sure $14 for 50lbs seems like a good deal until you see what the actual product is.
I regrettably put black blasting sand in several aquariums years ago. its not like pool filter sand in any way other than how cheap it is. its cheaps to buy and a cheap by product

 

[kzimmerman]

Okay, I think I figured out it's not a good Idea. I'd really like a black substrate, as I feel it would show off his colors more.