Black sand

S

s_wall98

AC Members
Sep 9, 2007
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I currently have a 30 gallon with old, nasty, white gravel. It looks pretty dull, and I'm trying to liven up the place a bit. I have a couple loaches and 4 corydoras that I think might enjoy something a little smaller and I'm thinking sand. I use HOB filters so shouldn't have any problem changing to sand.
I'm looking for something as close to black as I can find. All that I can find locally is Petsmarts tahitian moon for $25/bag.
I've also seen leveling sand at Lowes, but haven't really seen anything about it and am a little unsure about the color.
Any suggestions on where else or what else I could use for black sand?
Thanks
 
I've been unable to find a good "black" (or even dark) sand at hardware stores. I tried leveling sand, don't use it!! It will definitely muck up your tank, ruin filters, etc. If you do find a good alternative, please let us know. Sorry I couldn't help, but hopefully someone can. :)
 
Hmm, everything that I've read about leveling sand basically says that if you take the time to wash it (might be easier said than done) that it works fine.
I bought one bag just to play around with. I think I've got it clean. Threw it in an old aquarium just to check things out. It seems to sink pretty well, so I wouldn't think it would be a problem with filters. You do have HOB filters don't you??
Well, I guess this may be back to the drawing board. Im gonna hook up an old too small HOB and keep her running for awhile and see what happens I guess.
How did your fish fair with it?
 
I'm using 3m colorquartz in black...and I like it. My only mistake (sort of...it was necessary) was using Soilmaster Select under it for the plants. The soilmaster is VERY light weight and so tends to rise up through the fine colorquartz.

Anyhow, it was 18$ for a 50lb bag, and the color is VERY nice. The granules are almost totally round, and it doesn't seem to irritate any of my fish at all. The sharks scoop food off of it and you'll see a little puff of it out their gills which settles immediately. Vacuuming it hasn't been a problem either, and the little bit that's gotten into my filters just settles...and because it's so fine and round...it hasn't hurt the impellers (no noise at all).

Anyhow...the negatives are that you have to do an INCREDIBLY THOROUGH cleaning on it. Some bags wash up instantly, some bags take a hundred rinse cycles. What I finally did is put about 10lbs at a time in a large stock pot in my kitchen sink and used scalding water...which cleaned it up immediately.

Here's some pictures, ignore the chunks of white/grey, and the larger black granules as that's the soilmaster select that came through =/...

DSCN3928.jpg


And a larger image...the colorquartz is towards the foreground, and again ignore the large bits, that's soilmaster select...

DSCN4149.jpg


Hope that helps!

Cris
 
You can pricematch at Petsmart.... Just print off the web page with price and they will give it to you for that..Mine will pricematch other competetors prices...if yours will you can get it for

$15.29 Big Al's

or

$19.99 Petsmart
 
s_wall98 said:
Hmm, everything that I've read about leveling sand basically says that if you take the time to wash it (might be easier said than done) that it works fine.
I bought one bag just to play around with. I think I've got it clean. Threw it in an old aquarium just to check things out. It seems to sink pretty well, so I wouldn't think it would be a problem with filters. You do have HOB filters don't you??
Well, I guess this may be back to the drawing board. Im gonna hook up an old too small HOB and keep her running for awhile and see what happens I guess.
How did your fish fair with it?
Click to expand...

The tank I put it in has both an XP2 and a HOB. It was washed about 4000 times (ok, exaggeration only 20 times) before adding it to the tank.
 
If you are afraid that the sand will ruin your filter, pu a fine sponge over the intake. This will also get rid of the "cloudiness" as long as you squeeze out the mud in the sponge every 30 minutes.

And to clean it, just put it in a bucket, stick a hose all the way to the bottom and turn it on as far as it will go. Also stir it around every few seconds.
 
Thanks for the replies guys. So far, this leveling sand is looking pretty good. Filter problems kinda worry me, but I think a sponge, like David said can get me past that hurdle. I turned on my old filter in my tank before it was all the way settled, so we'll see.
I've try price matching with internet stores at my Petsmart before and they wouldnt have it. If I can't find anything else though, its definiteyl worth a shot. Thanks southpaw.
Anderson, that 3m looks great. Where did you get it, I'm assuming online, I can't find any here.
David, thats pretty much how I cleaned mine. Filled up a 5 gallon bucket about half way, put in a little water, stirred her up real good, then filled it up until it ran over clear. I did that about 5 or so times, then put her in my "practice aquarium"
Thank again guys, keep em coming
 
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