What gravel/sand is this?

[darkages]

Hi everyone,

I just started this hobby. And I have a friend who is willing to give me this gravel/sand or whatever it is to start my 1 feet tank.

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/3492/p1020614rb3mk3.th.jpg (http://img522.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p1020614rb3mk3.jpg)

1. What's the name of it?
2. Can it be used to lay the entire 1 feet tank with live plants and a couple of tetras?
3. Are pea gravel better than these?

Please advice. Thanks in advance.

[joylynn]

I don't know what that is, but it looks like it has some sharp edges on it. Are you planning on having any bottom dwellers? If you are I wouldn't use it as it could scratch them up.

[jm1212]

if oyuare planning to keep this substrate, do not keep corydoras, for their barbels will wear down easily for the gravel looks quite sharp

[Hurley]

That almost looks like crushed up Obsidian. I wouldn't use it in the tank. Like the others have said it looks sharp and may hurt any bottom dwelling fish you have.

[Dangerdoll]

looks like charcoal to me. I would advise against it as well as it looks pretty sharp and isn't bottom feeder friendly.

[DaisyTattoo]

When I first looked at it, I thought it looked like charcoal, but when I enlarged the picture, it looks like glass. Either way, not good for your tank.

[darkages]

It is very fine, shiny and edges are sharp. No one can identify what is that because I'm looking for more details about it ie. name, properties and so on.

What about putting a layer of pea gravel on top, would that prevent hurting the fish. I did have the thought to keep corydoras.

[DaisyTattoo]

You could always go with play sand. You just have to rinse it very well. I paid 6 bucks for 100 lbs of sand. Looks good too and my loaches love it!

[joylynn]

Yep. play sand is an excellent cheap substrate. If you really want the look of black sand, there are a couple of brands out there that sell black sand (Tahitian Moon I think is the name of one), but they are very expensive.

[jm1212]

i wouldnt go with play sand... it is very fine and can easily be blown around by the current of the filter

[dorkfish]

i wouldnt go with play sand... it is very fine and can easily be blown around by the current of the filter

In my reef tank, I have pool filter sand as a substrate. I also have 16x turnover inthat tank. The only time I have EVER had the substrate blown around was when a powerhead was aimed directly at it. Not sure if play sand and pool filter sand are similar, but, jodi is smart enough to not suggest it if it doesn't work.

[jm1212]

thats fine with me.. you learn something new everyday i guess... you have proven me wrong and i accept that :)

[darkages]

Yep. play sand is an excellent cheap substrate. If you really want the look of black sand, there are a couple of brands out there that sell black sand (Tahitian Moon I think is the name of one), but they are very expensive.

Yup, I'm looking for something that looks black.
But will it be suitable for live plants?

[DaisyTattoo]

Not sure if play sand and pool filter sand are similar, but, jodi is smart enough to not suggest it if it doesn't work.
Awwww.....Thanks Dorkfish :o I don't have any problem with play sand blowing around in my tank. I run 2 HOB's on my 55g with no problems. Pool Filter sand is a little smaller/lighter(I think) and I know pool filter sand is whiter. My sand is plain ol brown. Just the way I like it. Pool filter sand is also more consistant. The playsand has different sized granules. At least mine does. The black sand at the LFS near me is 5-7 bucks for a 5lb bag, so it can be pretty costly. I don't know about growing plants in it though. All of mine are fake.

[joylynn]

In my tanks with the sand I actually have about an inch to an inch and a half of flourish under the inch or so of sand. I get the look of sand and the nutrient rich substrate for plants. Plus, Flourish is dark so if they got mixed a little, you would hardly even see it.

[podheadx]

How does that work for you sand people when you siphon the substrate.
Does the sand get sucked up, or stay some what sunkin like gravel?

[darkages]

Someone told me it might be onyx sand- http://www.aquariumguys.com/onyxsand.html

Well I have decided to play safe, gonna use sand like what you guys suggested.

[Jadis]

some one last night mentioned to me (when i commented on the love i had for their black substrate) about 3M colorquartz which comes in colors (even black), and is made for pools and doesnt leach colors. and better yet. its cheap!

there is a list of distributors on the 3m website and i think i will be going with that in my new tank

[DeRo316]

I had tahitian moon black sand with live plants and it worked fine, although I think it would work better with some flourish under it, coudnt hurt! And some of the sand does come out during gravel vacs but most of it stays. It wont be a noticeable amount that dissapears.

[flyfly]

definately obsidian. I think your right to try something else.