Black Sand

[Marchillo]

I ended up going with "natural" looking sand. I do appreciate all the pictures of people's setups with Black sand. I think it looks good but couldn't pull the trigger. The back glass will be black which I think will look good.

 

[Xxero]

Awesome! I just want to grab that chunk in the pic and build a glass cube around it! :eek2:

 

[DamonG]

I have read (not confirmed) that the edges of the sand are sharp, so it may not work well with wrasses and other fish that burrow.

I was thinking and going to pay the same thing about flow with the sand. Though, honestly, it applies to any system.. Keep the flow good, and no problems..

I love the black sand also. I have heard other people mention a magnetic property to it, but I have never experienced this for myself. Just keep good flow, as with any other sand, and detritus isn't an issue. :bigeyes:

117 Days Old:

L.T.A.

 

[DamonG]

I have read (not confirmed) that the edges of the sand are sharp, so it may not work well with wrasses and other fish that burrow.

I actually have two wrasse in my system, with no problems with the sand at all..

 

[Johnnycat]

I ended up going with "natural" looking sand. I do appreciate all the pictures of people's setups with Black sand. I think it looks good but couldn't pull the trigger. The back glass will be black which I think will look good.

No worries! It all looks good - white sand, black sand, bare-bottom. At risk of sounding like Bob Ross, it's your happy tank!

 

[SFish]

I've been thinking about putting in a mix to get a salt and pepper look my self.

 

[SFish]

I love the black sand also. I have heard other people mention a magnetic property to it, but I have never experienced this for myself. Just keep good flow, as with any other sand, and detritus isn't an issue. :bigeyes:

117 Days Old:

L.T.A.

Looks great

 

[Bent]

I would think black sand would absorb some light and you would end up with lower par readings than with the same light and white sand?

 

[JoeVandal49]

I would think black sand would absorb some light and you would end up with lower par readings than with the same light and white sand?

I have black sand and IMO this is definitely likely.

Shadows are far more embellished due to less light reflection.

I like the look, but others could hate it.

 

[Bent]

I have black sand and IMO this is definitely likely.

Shadows are far more embellished due to less light reflection.

I like the look, but others could hate it.

I was really just spit balling, but it makes sense.

Take a black car, leave it in the sun and put your hand on it...hot enough to burn you. Do the same with a white car, and it's cool to the touch.

I'd be interested to see par readings from the same source with black and white gravel and see the diff.

 

[CStrickland]

I would expect it to change the shapes that coral grow into after a while. I'm thinking that an sps that's only lit from above would branch wide to maximize exposure and have a less full shape as the top parts shade the lower ones. As opposed to when light is reflected up underneath where you might see a fuller shape. Maybe the first would be more natural, but the second could be what looks better in a full-up tank. It would still be personal taste.

Also, I think there's two types. My natural black sand is from iron deposits off the east coast of the U.S. so it is magnetic. Idk if sand that is black from being busted down lava rocks like you see in Hawaii would behave the same way. It wouldn't surprise me if you could buy reg aragonite that's dyed black either.