Black Sand

[edman79]

Does anybody here use black sand? I've seen a few pictures of it and I like the look. I've never seen a tank with it in person though. What are your opinions on the look and other factors.

Thanks

Eddie Ed

 

[ReefWhatYouSow]

I won't be doing it in my tank just because I'm going for a different look. I've seen it in a tank recently and I thought it looked pretty good. All of the colors in the corals popped more than they would if the sand was white IMO. Some of the fish too.

Here is a pic of his tank.

 

[doggydoc]

Here is my old tank.
I LOVE the look of the black sand

 

[NavyBlueSea]

I had a tank with it for a while. I really liked the look and it did make the corals stick out, but it required more attention in cleaning because any detrius tended to show more.

 

[Ludwigia73]

Loved it in my 18g... ditto on the detritus... vaccuum parts of the sand during water changes, but never more than a third per change. Also, possibly double the amount of light you think you'll need, black absorbs where white reflects. I ran 2 x 96w power compact quads and it was my favorite tank of all time. I had a great 65g full of stonies and lush growth, but it was always the 18 gallon that got the wows. Lots of people here saw that tank.

 

[NavyBlueSea]

Some other considerations is some are "non-buffering" and I've read that it is slightly magnetic. I do remember particles sticking to my mag cleaner if I got close to the sand. I had the tahitian moon sand (I think it had easter island figures on the outside packaging)

 

[edman79]

Thanks for all the replies. I really like the look.

Eddie Ed

 

[blackthunda77]

Does not buffer the water like normal white sand, detritus stands out more and grain size is more limited. Other than that its all personal preference.

 

[mbingha]

Does not buffer the water like normal white sand, detritus stands out more and grain size is more limited. Other than that its all personal preference.

Sand won't buffer a tank unless pH drops low enough for it to dissolve (7.5 I believe). Testing (and dosing) alk will buffer a tank.

 

[ShawnL]

I have it in a 29g biocube. Only suggestion is to keep good flow cause you see all the detritus as stated above.