Where Do I Get That Cool Black Sand Everyone Has?
- Thread starter Amour
- Start date
Rinsing finer grade sand in a pillow case may be easier than a bucket or tub for some folks.
TMS is great stuff... it's actually an extruded glass product which means it's inert/neutral. That makes using root tabs for root feeding plants that much more crucial. The edges aren't sharp either which is why it's safe for bottom dwellers.
In the tanks where I'm using TMS, I've found I can still "gravel" wash it like we do with regular gravel using a python after buying an extended length tube for the python. Keep the water pressure kinda low (-ish) and hold the tube at an angle instead of pointing straight up and down. What sand gets sucked up the tube part of the way will begin to sink and slide back down the tube as the dirty gunk continues up and away. That might be helpful for people who've avoided switching to sand because they don't quite know how easy it is to keep clean.
TMS is great stuff... it's actually an extruded glass product which means it's inert/neutral. That makes using root tabs for root feeding plants that much more crucial. The edges aren't sharp either which is why it's safe for bottom dwellers.
In the tanks where I'm using TMS, I've found I can still "gravel" wash it like we do with regular gravel using a python after buying an extended length tube for the python. Keep the water pressure kinda low (-ish) and hold the tube at an angle instead of pointing straight up and down. What sand gets sucked up the tube part of the way will begin to sink and slide back down the tube as the dirty gunk continues up and away. That might be helpful for people who've avoided switching to sand because they don't quite know how easy it is to keep clean.
It IS harmful to bottomdwellers- I found this out myself. My cory cats are going into a sand tank as all their whiskers have been damaged 
I used 3M colorquartz black in many many tanks and never had a single problem with it (also all the other colors). You've got to rinse it well, I suspect the people who had problems didn't rinse well enough. I love the stuff, it's heavy & soft feeling and the Corys and Plecs have a blast burrowing through it. I had a big problem with Tahitian Moon Sand rubbing my Corys barbels off years ago which is why I switched to 3M. The last I heard they don't make/sell it anymore.
Callmeconfused
The sad effect of sleep deprivation
Whoa ksane, I hadn't heard of that happening before. They do still sell the TMS. Fosters and smith has it, and I just picked some more up from petsmart about a week ago.
TMS is not Bottom Dweller Safe. Or thats what the bag says but when I had it in my tank with my L-144's I had no problems. They didnt have no injuries to the fins or redness to the bellies. And they didnt lose there appetites.
There was a discussion about it on WetWebMedia, they said it was made of glass. That was when it occurred to me it could be the reason my sweet little Corys barbels were wearing down :-( since I'd had it in their tank. I switched their sand to 3M color quartz and their barbels all grew back.Callmeconfused; said:
Back then (in 07') it didn't say anything on the bag about it not being bottom dweller safe, I wish I'd have known that.
I use TMS in my 55 Gallon Axolotl Tank. They are delicate skinned amphibians and I've never had any problems with it. Just keep it an inch or under if no undergravel.
Callmeconfused
The sad effect of sleep deprivation
Ouch! I have it in my shrimp only tank. Given there are currently only two RCS in there at the moment. Do you think it's fine for them?
