Black Sand?

[Prophet]

Where is the best place to get it. Perfer live but I got time to cure it if I have too. Also some place here in the states.

[Michael_Lambert]

Well first.. MOVE YOUR BUTT UP TO THE GREAT WHITE NORTH!!! Canada Rocks!!!

But other than that, I think you are stuck with Mail order.. Maybe try PremiumAquatics.com many people in the states use them.. As for Live sand.. most of our guys here cant do much due to Cities.. But if you want Dead Black sand they may be able to help you out, Check out ORG , Emarine our local sponsors.

[Mugster]

Maybe try one of the LFS in your area. If they don't carry it maybe they can redirect you to one of your local fellow reefers who can help you out.



Kev :twitch:

[ajx22]

What you're looking for is made by Caribsea - and is called:
Tahitian Moon Sand

Some US suppliers:

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=CS0821

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=C-TAHITIAN20&Category_Code=Substrates

Arag-Alive Indo-Pacific Black Sand

( Aragalive Contains a Full spectrum of Bacterial Types and Species including Heterotrophic and Autotrophic Bacteria to help eliminate organic wastes. Plus, Aragalive controls dangerous ammonia levels and reduces nitrate and nitrite.

Comes in a bag preserved in there special solution of water and bacteria. It has a 12 month shelf life and can be added directly to a new or established tank)
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=C-ARAG-L-IB&Category_Code=Substrates

HTH,

[Prophet]

Thanks guys. I knew you would come through for me. My local LFS was trying to charge me 25.00 for a 10lb bag and I knew there had to be a place cheaper then them.

[vaporize]

but for SW, most black sand are not agaronite based, so won't pH buffer the water then. Is this right?

[Cellenzweig]

but for SW, most black sand are not agaronite based, so won't pH buffer the water then. Is this right? I thought the same, but Dman set me straight...

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=3956

Read under "Am I Buff Enough?"

[Lauriem]

I don't know about the black sand. But how how natural would that look?

[vaporize]

it looks pretty cool in my piranha tank & neon growing skeleton head LOL not sure about reef tanks thou

[pdhenderson]

www.thatpetplace.com (http://www.thatpetplace.com) carries it.

[Prophet]

lol.. think outside the boxes guys. So to speak...


http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=235054
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=235057
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=235058
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=395240
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=395236
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=309085

[vaporize]

Prophet, so which kind of black sand did you use?

[Prophet]

Those tanks are not mine. Just picturs I found that got me thinking black sand. If I remember right those guys used Tahitian Black Sand.

[rangerdave1]

I like those tanks alot. I think i'm gonna look for some too. I want my tank to look a little different and the black makes the corals stand out alot more too.

[vaporize]

I love the first pic with the big orange circle right in the middle, that's "high lighted"

[Prophet]

Well found out a couple more things.....


1. That sand gets dirty quick because I guess fish and snail poop is white...lol. Not really worried about that to much as long as you just clean it with a vaccum and get fish that can turn that sand. Sand sifting starfish and Gobies. I am thinking about doing this with my 45 gallon now instead of my 20.

2. The sand absorbs light alot. Make sure you have strong lighting.

Other than that this sand is good as any other.

[vaporize]

Well found out a couple more things.....

2. The sand absorbs light alot. Make sure you have strong lighting.


you mean black sand does not reflect light as much right, therefore it looks more dim? ;-D As far as I know from my physics, only blackhole absorbs light.

If you don't mind using Caribsea's indo black sand, it might be a bit better hiding the poops since that is not pure dark black. But if you do use pure dark fine black one like the other brand, you will have a problem with LR falloffs/poops/etc... and you better be prepared to siphon it often. I learnt the lesson from my piranha tank, else you will always see this thin layer of poop/dust/mixture on top of your pure black sand, doesn't look too nice.

Thanks for the info & pics, this is cool.

[Prophet]

lol.. ok ok it does not reflect light as much as white sand. Yeah people where saying it is like a black car. Hard to keep clean. But another thing I like is taking pictures is good because light does not get reflected back like white sand. Now I just got to decide which tank I want to do this with. My 20 will be easier to clean with a syphon then my 45 but my 45 can house more fish and sand sifting stars then my 20.