Black sand

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
teqvet said:
I use Black Diamond 20/40, blasting media. 7-8$ for a 50lb bag. I just picked up 4 backs of it yesterday actually from Tractor supply. 4-5 years ago when I had my first 75g It's what i used (3m color quartz back then actually), and it's currently in my both of my daughters 20 gal tanks where they have plants that are thriving (had to remove them from my 125g due to being too hat)

I'd look in to that if you don't feel like paying pet shop premiums.
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That is what I use.. I have it in 6 tanks and love it!!! Never had any problems with it getting in filters or messing with the fish!!
However I can not stress enough to you how important it is to clean it very, very, very, very good!!! And after you think it is clean clean it 2 more times!!! Then after you get it all clean find the biggest strongest magnet you can find and run it through it real good for a long time over and over again because it does have little tiny pieces of metal in it that will poke the fish if you don't get it all out!!!
 
I use blasting sand from tractor supply. no complaints here. I have it in my 10 gallon planted tank and 125 gallon tank.
 
As with anything, crap can happen. I've used over 800 lbs of the stuff in the last several years on my own tanks and several relatives and friends tanks. Not once in those 17 bags did I have any irregularities when I cleaned it.

Example of crap happening. I went to the restaraunt Bennigans once and my Monte Cristo was served to me with shards of glass cup that had evidently shattered in the kitchen. If you check the Web that happened to many people, but thousands more were served great sandwiches.

At 8$a bag, on the off chance something was wrong w the bag, it's not a huge loss as irregularities are easy to spur before adding to tank. Far more of us have had good results w it than not. I've got 4 bags I just got the other day. I'll update later w pictures.

Op should certainly use his own judgement though.

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The black diamond does seem to be the best priced option, is it fine enough that catfish and rays won't be bothered? I am looking to fill a 125 and 240 with darker sand but don't want it disturbed easily like pool filter sand.
 
I am another big fan of Black Diamond. I use it in two tanks, one being my 150 planted that I keep my Fahaka in. Some people report it causing abrasions to delicate fish that dig but I haven't had any issues with it.
 
Estes does have very good substrates.
 
teqvet said:
As with anything, crap can happen. I've used over 800 lbs of the stuff in the last several years on my own tanks and several relatives and friends tanks. Not once in those 17 bags did I have any irregularities when I cleaned it.
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agreed, but there are more than one thread on here about it with longer discussions but that was the first one turned up in the search. I think the consensus was a certain area was more likely to have problems.

personally I take a strong magnifier to check out my sand before buying. I've seen PFS that was so jagged and sharp edged it would have de-barbelled my cories in minutes.

kndmercer - no, from pool manufacturers and garage floor builders supply stores. I got my bag from a pool builder, but now, I don't have anyone local or I wouldn't have bought the PFS..
http://www.permacolorquartz.com/
 
Thanks guys I ended up picking up estes stony river black sand

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