anyone using black sand?

[DrDNA]

I have been getting the equipment and stuff together for my reef tank and am trying to decide on substrate. I have seen some of the tanks in photos with the black sand and they look pretty cool (I know it is silica sand and not a calcium-based aragonite). Anybody here using black sand in their tanks? If so, are you glad you used it?

Thanks!

 

[Wee-Reef Master]

I use Caribsea Indo Pacific Black, but it's not anywhere near all black. Nature's Ocean Black is now non-existent. The only other alternatives are not natural and I would not trust in my tank, not to mention that pure black is pretty dirty-shows everything!

Good luck.

 

[DarkDevil]

I am pretty sure the one I use is not silica sand, although it's not calcium-based aragonite, but it's magnesium-calcite, claimed to be the same thing, you can read more here .

I like the sand a lot, I am using it in 2 of my tanks, it's very unique compare to other tanks out there. less ppl use it the better I didn't do DSB with it so I don't really know the possible effect it may have. I use the sand mainly for looks. I got it from the petsmart in natomas, here's a pic of my new tank with the sand in it:

if u want more pics let me know.

 

[pbetito]

I have used the black sand from Bodega bay in fowlr tanks and it looks awesome, but for a reef I have no idea what bad may come of it...

 

[Justin74]

From what I understood it will be a haven for pods and critters just like any other and will also help denitrify the system. The only draw back is it's buffering capability. This is if I recall correctly.

-Justin

 

[wombat2]

I've used the Tahitian Moon brand before.

Stick it near a strong magnet. Some of the particles contain iron. It's just an algal nutrient, but you have plenty of that in a typical reef tank anyway. I never noticed any issues with the corals.

 

[saltykelly]

I used gray coast calcite in my 30 and regretted it. I constantly had to use ph buffer. I went 3 weeks without using buffer once and everything looked like crap, so I checked and my ph was at 7.5. I recently switched it out with coral sand. If you really want to deal with it I found live calcite at petsmart for super cheap, but it was on sale.