Fine Black Gravel (bottom dweller safe)

[tickle]

Hi,

Im currently at the stage of buying black substrate. I want something that is going to be able to last, be safe for a wide range of fish and be able to accomadate plants should i choose, it also needs to not be too expensive and preferably fine and natural.

Tall order i know.

I looked into Tahitian moon sand, but it is apparantly too coarse for soft bellies, as is black beauty sand.

I can get some Petex fine black roman gravel from a local chain store at £9.99 kg, however it is either fast dyed or epoxy coated and i dont know how this will be in terms of longevity and safety. However it looks the part and suits the wallet.

I also found hagen 'marina' fine black gravel, plastic coated. Also Hagen extra fine black river gravel is highly recomended online, however i can't find out if this is different to the plastic coated stuff i mentioned or not since i cant source it.

Another is Unipac Limpopo Sand, not black i think, and not sure whether it is dyed.

I would really prefer something natural, but i cant find anything natural that isnt sharp.
Anyone able to advise me on the listed products, or on a different product that will fit the bill.
Eco-complete planted is perfect, apart from the high price it is just too expensive for the 60kg (approx 120lb) i need, it would be the most expensive thing for my tank by far, even more than the tank which is custom made!

Thanks for reading!

 

[tickle]

I should have pointed out that black is a loose requirement, i should have said dark!.

Slate is likely the lightest i want to go, i want the contrast if i plant.

 

[romanjetfighter]

zeolite sand?

 

[tickle]

A quick google returned it has a high CEC content, whats this? The thread seems to indicate this is good for plants.

However;

Theory was also mentioned that it absorbs amonia atc as if it where carbon, but when saturated releases it back into the aquarium.
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/substrates/44545-zeolite-sand.html

 

[tickle]

I had a good look at the colour fast (pettex) and plastic coat (hagen marina) gravel today and it just look cheap and nasty imo. More like black coco pops than stone >< Anyone come across colourquartz t grade, or s grade? looks nice in photo's but cant find it anywhere! Would be great if i could get some input on the limpopo sand or some natural dark gravel also if anyone knows about some? I need to get things into motion this week, who would have thought that for all the black rocks i see laying around that proper natural black gravel is a myth,, sucks.

 

[Dark Jester]

I looked into Tahitian moon sand, but it is apparantly too coarse for soft bellies, as is black beauty sand.

What kinds of soft bellies are you looking at?

I have 3 Pictus that cruise around on Tahitian Moon all the time and I've never seen any issues. Also have 5 Cories that are constantly sifting through it with their barbels. My Cichlids (Convicts and Jack Dempsey) have no troubles moving it around. And my Firemouths pick up mouthfulls of it sometimes and chew a bit before spitting it out. Plants seem to root pretty well in it too.

Overall it hasn't seemed all that abrasive to me, and I currently have it in all of my tanks.

 

[aclockworkorange]

Flourite black sand.

Edit: Try to find it online for cheap.

 

[migdem]

Seachem flourite black sand

 

[tickle]

awesome, looking into the flourite in a mo,,

BN pleco is a possible future choice, the folks at wetwebmedia 'scorn' the black sand for soft bellies, or at least they did when i asked.

Said black beauty was volcanic, contains iron, and is coarse.

Said Tahitian Moon sand was a by product of glass making, and sharpish.

Also said both are magnetic and can duff your filter / tank.

Maybe the are just being over cautious? If your confident its good stuff and are actually using it i trust that over theory craft tbh!

 

[tickle]

http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/FlouriteBlackSand.html
http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/OnyxSand.html

Looking at this would you suggest onyx over black? inverts are a deffinate in the tank.
Looks like ony has a lower iron and copper content, although i wouldnt have a clue if the levels in black are even harmfull to start with! It is also pretty expensive, more than eco-complete!

Or would say treating the substrate with a typical water treatment eliminate the trace metals anyway and make it safe?
If this is the case then maybe tahitian moon sand all the way, if its not as bad as its press.