Looking for Black sand.

[koop171]

http://www.ramrfq.com 3M Colorquartz Ceramic-Coated Crystals for architectural surface applications. Available in 14 individual colors and 2 grade sizes.

3M isn't readily available around here and I heard they were discontinuing it anyways.

get a bucket dunk sand in, fill with water, stir and then dump out water, repeat this until water comes out clear, always stir vigerously (or however it is you spell that)

this is how I did my black sand tank. it takes FOREVER!!! And you still won't get it 100% clean.


I used Estes' black marine sand it can be picked up at most pet places but it's around $1 a LB. and for a 180 you're looking at over $100 to do a light layer in the tank.

 

[Kcoastsurfguy]

I rinse mine over and over again very thourougly in a bucket then drain very carefully with a lid and try not to let any of the sand squeeze through when u dump it with the lid pulled back a little. Kinda like dumping boiling water if your cooking noodles and you didnt have a strainer but its alot harder to not dump the sand lol. Good Luck!

 

[BigJ]

3M isn't readily available around here and I heard they were discontinuing it anyways.




this is how I did my black sand tank. it takes FOREVER!!! And you still won't get it 100% clean.


I used Estes' black marine sand it can be picked up at most pet places but it's around $1 a LB. and for a 180 you're looking at over $100 to do a light layer in the tank.

You seen the 3M anywhere local? Where did you purchase "Estes"? How much would you buy? I don't want it thick. I like the thinner look.

 

[koop171]

You seen the 3M anywhere local? Where did you purchase "Estes"? How much would you buy? I don't want it thick. I like the thinner look.

No I called alot of places around columbus too and they simply acted like they never heard of it. I called landscaping places and pool/spa outlets and I got nothing.

I got the estes from AA and from pet supply plus (they were cheaper) I used about 100lbs.in a 125 and got a semi thin layer. If I were you I would get 130Lbs. to start and see if you like that. and if you don't use it all you can take it back b/c you have to buy it in 5LB. bags. so you'll alos have to either go all over town or you'll have to special order some.

 

[BigJ]

No I called alot of places around columbus too and they simply acted like they never heard of it. I called landscaping places and pool/spa outlets and I got nothing.

I got the estes from AA and from pet supply plus (they were cheaper) I used about 100lbs.in a 125 and got a semi thin layer. If I were you I would get 130Lbs. to start and see if you like that. and if you don't use it all you can take it back b/c you have to buy it in 5LB. bags. so you'll alos have to either go all over town or you'll have to special order some.

Really? That's Ohio for you. lol

 

[koop171]

Really? That's Ohio for you. lol

Hell I even called 3M and they wouldn't even tell me what vendors sold it. IDK if I caught the girl on the wrong week but she was kind of rude.

 

[woofy]

i still stand behind the moon sand, it doesnt take that long to clear up, and even if you get a bit of dust in the tank, a filter will clear it up in a few hours, adding polyfill will speed it along too. and its ot that hard to find and pretty cheap.

 

[Diogenes]

yeah they discontinued the 3M sand. TMS isn't cheap but it does come pre soaked in microbiota for whatever thats worth. I was gonna add it to my new tank, but the sand ends up on the bottom and can become anaerobic. So if you use sand use all sand.

 

[Fat Homer]

I used to use a black sand by AquaOne which worked pretty well, although i don't know if its the type of sand your looking for...

Any way, i would be some what skeptical about putting sand in your tank while the fish + water are in it.... the reason i say this is because i would presume you'd be leaving your filter on as you were doing this, and if too much of the sand gets sucked into the filter it could damage the propeller inside...

 

[sponger_2]

dang that sucks about the 3m stuff. i guess i better hold onto my black sand. at the time it was 50lbs for $20