Black sand...what's the scoop?!?

ShelbyJK500

ShelbyJK500

Dolphin
M.A.S.C Club Member
#1
#1
Just curious if there are any issues with using black sand?? Looks stunning in tanks I've seen. The only ones i've seen in person were freshwater, but i've seen pictures of marine tanks with black sand.

Is the lack of buffering the issue with going solid black? I've seen some mixed black/white sand beds which looked awesome too. Any issues with that? Just making up my mind today or tomorrow on the sand beds...input appreciated!
 
dv3

dv3

Beluga
M.A.S.C Club Member
#2
#2
depnding on what you get the size isnt uniform and it can be magnetic ....i have it in my tank with both of those issues but i like it
 
KhensuRa

KhensuRa

Dolphin
M.A.S.C Club Member
#4
#4
I have seen a new Black and white sand at petsmart for salt tanks. I really like the look of the white and black mixed.

As for issues with black sand, only thing negitive I have read is that poops really shows on the black sand.
 
ShelbyJK500

ShelbyJK500

Dolphin
M.A.S.C Club Member
#5
#5
So, I really like the look of solid black or mixed. I just looked as crusty's build with pictures. Looks great. So is the lack of buffering really an issue or not??

This whole thing leads me to another big question that I need to research here and on RC. One of my tanks is going to be a FOWLR, how the heck do you keep it clean if you can't keep too much of a clean up crew based on fish selection? I'm not doing a predator tank, but that would be an example of a tank that can't really have a CUC?? What keeps everything clean??
 
ShelbyJK500

ShelbyJK500

Dolphin
M.A.S.C Club Member
#9
#9
rockys_pride;127267 said:
The cube only got to 2 months old before I got rid of it.
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hurrafreak;127271 said:
I've got it in my 29 gallon and haven't seen any magnetic properties. To me it works just like white sand does.
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Did/do you guys like the black sand? Does it get really dirty and look like crap after awhile? Just curious, I love the look and may go that direction.
 
Walter White

Walter White

Reef Shark
M.A.S.C Club Member
#10
#10
I am curious about this too I was also considering black sand. I thought it might help hide nuisance algae but i'm probably wrong.
 
ShelbyJK500

ShelbyJK500

Dolphin
M.A.S.C Club Member
#11
#11
kalgra;127277 said:
I am curious about this too I was also considering black sand. I thought it might help hide nuisance algae but i'm probably wrong.
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LOL...anything to hide the ugly! ;) You around this evening...we're going to be out and about reef shopping to button up this build! Salt is at the top of the list since the the tanks/sump are filled with RO water after 4 days!
 
H

hurrafreak

Orca
M.A.S.C Club Member
#14
#14
I've always liked it. Also had a black/whit mix in my old 300. I think it gets just as dirty as the white sand. Just depends on your CUC and maintenance techniques
 
miwoodar

miwoodar

Tang
M.A.S.C Club Member
#15
#15
ShelbyJK500;127259 said:
Is the lack of buffering the issue with going solid black?
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By the time crushed coral sand would do anything meaningful to help buffer your tank, all of your livestock will be dead due to low pH.

Black can look pretty darn cool. I've never had the nuts to try it though for fears of metals being leached. Maybe someday I'll get past that fear.
 
Cake_Boss

Cake_Boss

Blue Whale
M.A.S.C Club Member
#16
#16
ShelbyJK500;127272 said:
Did/do you guys like the black sand? Does it get really dirty and look like crap after awhile? Just curious, I love the look and may go that direction.
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The food remnants showed up better. It's sand, what can I say?

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk
 
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