3mâ„¢ Colorquartzâ„¢ Ceramic-Coated Crystals(For a Sand Bed)

[24gnanonewbie]

I am currently looking at setting up a new tank. There is not that much real life experiences with this product in reef tanks, and I am looking here for guidance. I have attached a link bellow to the 3M website for the product info... I am really looking into this stuff because the cost, and color selections...

Does any one see where this would have adverse effects or problems in a salt water reef/fish tank.

Your guidance and opinions would be greatly appreciated.

3mâ"žÂ¢ Colorquartzâ"žÂ¢ Ceramic-Coated Crystals

 

[24gnanonewbie]

I would use it for a sand bed... and see it with live sand...

It comes real fine, like sand.

 

[Icefire]

It's artificial quartz, reef safe.

 

[spleen93]

The core is quartz but it's got an exterior ceramic coating with "inorganic pigments" that gives it its color. There is a potential that some of these "pigments" may leach into the water - possibly harming livestock in the tank. Some pigments used for coloring in general include things like copper (though 3M doesn't mention what exactly they do use). I personally wouldn't use it without somebody else trying it first. If you're concerned about cost, why not just use sandblasting sand or concrete sand from HD? Silica based sands have been used for a while now and nobody really has mentioned any real problems with them ...

Spleen

 

[squeezix]

Stay away from it. I know a little bit about pigment chemistry and the previous poster is correct. Green and Blue are always copper pthalocyanine. Just like Malachite green and Methylene blue. They kill single celled organisms. Brown and reddish browns are almost always Iron Oxide. These are the safest colors to use for the purpose 3M has designated. These are very fine particles that probably will leach into your tank.