Has anyone ever used

[TheRealMacDaddy]

I am going to convert from pea gravel to sand as my daughter spilled the beans and told me I can expect a pair of T-Cup Rays for Father's Day.

I know that Silica Sand is not advisable as it will cause irritation to the rays.

So I was looking at substitutes preferably in darker colors and I thought of Sand Blasting Media.

Has anyone ever used like an 80 grit Glass Bead or Aluminum Oxide (figure 70 or 80 grit) for bottom cover and specifically anyone who may have kept Rays with this type of bottom?

As a last resort I will use Swimming Pool Filter Sand (even though it is the cheapest it just comes in white), but would like to know what other readily available alternatives might be out there.

 

[Cholly]

Don't go too fine, I just set up my first sand bottom in 40 years and made that mistake. Looks awesome, but it's a PITA.

 

[Davey_8313]

pool filter sand is a good choice if you have to resort to it b/c it's good size, not very fine...

 

[velanarris]

Don't use the sand blasting stuff. A lot of that material is not chemically neutral when exposed to water. Pool filter sand will give you the same effect and it's relatively inert after it's washed.

 

[TheRealMacDaddy]

Don't use the sand blasting stuff. A lot of that material is not chemically neutral when exposed to water. Pool filter sand will give you the same effect and it's relatively inert after it's washed.

Thanks for that info!

I found 3M Color Quartz (black) this morning at a nearby Pool Supply $20 for 50# bags. Only thing is he sold his last 2 bags about a 1/2 hour before I called...it'll be here on Wed.

I would have went with the SPF Sand as I said as a last resort, but besides showing "every turd in the pond", light/white substrate I think washes out a fishes natual color.

But I will remember what you said about the blasting media and will advise against using it in the future.

 

[JakeH]

I use "Tahitian Moon" black sand from the LFS. Its great stuff, but no idea of silica content.