silicon carbide for substrate?????

[black056mtc]

Hello, i'm currently have some 16 grit silicon carbide available. just want some input from those whose now something about this stuff. This stuff consist of silicon and carbon. love to have this shinny black stuff for my fronts.... maybe try 25 lbs in a small tank with some fishes in there and see? Input comments.....please....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon_carbide

 

[Krawnik]

I think it'd probably look really nice. However, my initial thought of it as a substrate is that it wouldn't be a good idea. To my knowledge carbon absorbs organic wastes up until a point of saturation. To my understanding, at that point it starts to re-release these organic wastes in a somewhat toxic form. If you were to use it as a substrate, I'd imagine that would be hard to deal with and somewhat counterproductive.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[gomezladdams]

Its an inert compound so it shouldnt cause any problems.The only concern is if the particles are sharper than regular silica sand It could injure your fish.And as with silica care must be taken when cleaning the tank as it will scratch the glass.

 

[black056mtc]

Its an inert compound so it shouldnt cause any problems.The only concern is if the particles are sharper than regular silica sand It could injure your fish.And as with silica care must be taken when cleaning the tank as it will scratch the glass.

sharpness is my only concerned so far. this stuff are hard!
Silicon is just mostly sand stuff
Carbon, don't we used this stuff to remove odor and chemical?

Anyway, i added some in a 20 gal and put some malawi cichlids in there. same water perameter, with a sponge filter will have some pic up later.

 

[Krawnik]

Carbon, don't we used this stuff to remove odor and chemical?

Yes, but I don't think you'd find any experienced aquarists who would condone leaving carbon in indefinitely.

Like I said, just my 2 cents. I don't definitively know if the carbon in SiC would act the same as typical activated carbon in an aquarium setting.

 

[black056mtc]

Like I said, just my 2 cents. I don't definitively know if the carbon in SiC would act the same as typical activated carbon in an aquarium setting.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the input. I don't know much about this stuff, that's why i asked. I will not put this stuff in my main tank untill i done with some long term tests. it would be great if it works, if not then atleast i try.

This SiC (16 grit) is larger than the play sand and pool filter sand (30+ grit) less to worry about it blowing everywhere. Also, its shinny and most of all it will not cost me anything for it if it work.

Here is a pic of right after it was put in. The fishes are shifting it now and then... Will check the water again next week to see if its the same parameter.

 

[Krawnik]

It does look nice.

 

[Pacifist]

Like I said, just my 2 cents. I don't definitively know if the carbon in SiC would act the same as typical activated carbon in an aquarium setting.

Thanks for the input. I don't know much about this stuff, that's why i asked. I will not put this stuff in my main tank untill i done with some long term tests. it would be great if it works, if not then atleast i try.

This SiC (16 grit) is larger than the play sand and pool filter sand (30+ grit) less to worry about it blowing everywhere. Also, its shinny and most of all it will not cost me anything for it if it work.

Here is a pic of right after it was put in. The fishes are shifting it now and then... Will check the water again next week to see if its the same parameter.

View attachment 470229
[/QUOTE]

Can you please advise if I can use Silicone carbide please?

 

[twentyleagues]

Thanks for the input. I don't know much about this stuff, that's why i asked. I will not put this stuff in my main tank untill i done with some long term tests. it would be great if it works, if not then atleast i try.

This SiC (16 grit) is larger than the play sand and pool filter sand (30+ grit) less to worry about it blowing everywhere. Also, its shinny and most of all it will not cost me anything for it if it work.

Here is a pic of right after it was put in. The fishes are shifting it now and then... Will check the water again next week to see if its the same parameter.

View attachment 470229

Can you please advise if I can use Silicone carbide please?
[/QUOTE]
Thread is 11years old.
I use a product called black diamond blasting sand. It's cheap, works great, has a very similar look, It's fish safe. I have used bdbs for a few years and no know issues. Others use it also.

 

[Oughtsix]

Silicon Carbide is very hard, much harder than silicone glass. Silicone carbide will scratch glass quite easily which is why "I" wouldn't use it.