3M for sand substrate

[MightyWarMonger]

Ok I was wondering if you can use 3M color quarts for the substrate in a marine tank? I have it in my fresh water tank and love it I like the way it looks and I think my fish like it as well. I'm going to set up a marine tank some time in the near future and wanted to know if it was safe to use. For some information on it look hear http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/...ducts/Crystals/ (http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/ColorQuartz/HomePage/Products/Crystals/) and I have some pictures of it in my fresh water tank if any one wants to see it just let me know & I'll post some pic's for you.

[Max]

well from the description it's inert so it would work. The only issue I could think of is that it wouldn't give you any buffering but, if you're not worried about that go for it.
cheers
Max

[MightyWarMonger]

Whats the buffering do for a SW tank.

[Reefscape]

The buffering from the sand aid in keeping the pH in balance. What it will also do is release calcium into the water column, again, "aiding" in keeping the calcium at an acceptable level. You will not get this from sands such as playsand, 3m or regualr sands.

Niko

[Grins]

I'm not familiar with it, is the S grade they have listed fine in particle size? Sugar sized? I'd be cautious if the crystals are so large that they'll trap waste.

[Charlesr1958]

Since calcium carbonate is insoluble unless subjected to low pH, How does it dissolve and release calcium or act as a buffer? Oh, and using "crystals" is a horrible idea, you will get the same negatives as when using any large grained substrate such as crushed coral.

Calcium Carbonate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium_carbonate)

Chuck

[Amphiprion]

Since calcium carbonate is insoluble unless subjected to low pH, How does it dissolve and release calcium or act as a buffer? Oh, and using "crystals" is a horrible idea, you will get the same negatives as when using any large grained substrate such as crushed coral.

Calcium Carbonate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium_carbonate)

Chuck

It actually does dissolve in seawater, but that value is so infinitessimal to be negligible. Not to mention that is reduced by factors again when the grains are coated with a biofilm. Therefore even CaCO3 substrates are effectively inert in marine aquariums. The crystals' fracted surfaces will cut and grind some infauna that normally live in the sand, not to mention the shape trapping detritus. I agree with charles1958 on all of this.

[MightyWarMonger]

I'm not familiar with it, is the S grade they have listed fine in particle size? Sugar sized? I'd be cautious if the crystals are so large that they'll trap waste.

Hear is a sample they sent me with a dime and chain from a ceiling fan for size comparison. The S grade is on the left and T grade is on the right. I have S grade in my fresh water tank and i doesn't trap detrus in it, it settles on top I would compare it's size prety close to a little biger than sugar a little smaller than salt.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k96/garfeild2020/220gal%20tank%20build/IMG_0236.jpg

Hear is a pic of it in my tank you can see by the rock were the waste sits on top of the 3M sand, I also love the color of it personaly, my son has play sand in his and I defanatly prefer 3M to others.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k96/garfeild2020/Fish%20tank/Clown1.jpg

And this is a crapy pic of the whole tank you can't see it to well but you can see the color of it. I went with white cause I thought it would bring out the colors of the fish.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k96/garfeild2020/Fish%20tank/APCTANK.jpg

[Grins]

I suppose I don't understand why you'd not use a quality aragonite of a similiar size if you like a color so close to it.

[MightyWarMonger]

never seen it... i found this stuff and I like it. Not that I'm not open to new ideas... I think if I can find some I will use the aragonite in my marine tank.. witch is still in the reserch phase