Black sand

[Huhhhhh]

The girls are going to start up a 90 and want to do black sand.

I haven't heard to many good things about black sand.
Any one have any thoughts on this?

 

[rmougey]

My 175 FOWLR Bowfront is setup with Tahitian Moon Black sand. The only issue that I've come across is that there is NO buffering capability using this product, as it isn't crushed coral. You may find that extra attention will be needed to handle buffer requirements for your tank. I find that I dose Marine Buffer much more often, along with more frequent water changes to maintain pH.

Of course, my tank is heavily loaded as well.

It's an attractive look.

-Rob

 

[roushracer]

I've been running the same sand for awhile now and I've had no problems with it.

I have it in one of my 29g w/ 75 lbs of live rock, and I have a 1" layer of the sand. I have 4" of regular live sand in my refugium so maybe that helps...

 

[ADA33]

Here is the ultimate black sand Tank check it out

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1106423

 

[IsThisNameTaken?]

I ran it for probably 5 months and it is very hard to keep clean. I replaced the bed in its entirety 3 times. Looks awesome when clean though!

 

[lfduty]

I did it in my 75g sea horse tank for about 1year it was a pane in the a$$

 

[Thurge]

I have it in one of my Mantis tanks and like it, but it only has a single mantis in the tank. I used Seachem's Grey Coast which is not argonite, its made from Calcite shich according to there website has better buffering properties than Argonite. I plan on setting up a 30XH seahorse tank with it and low fish load.
Crap doesn't "blend in" like it does with a white SB but it also tells you when you need to clean it. I am also at a disadvantage in that since its a mantis tank clean up crew members are short lived.

 

[wantsalotta]

The reading I have done as of late indicates that there is actually little buffering done by aragonite sand in marine aquaria. Go for the balck, give it a try.

I have some experiences in fw with tahitian moon, it is very hard to keep clean. I was also wondering how the microorganisms would do, what "live" black sand would look like after a year or two of being exposed to LR, it would have to be live, right?

I think with a lower fish load (as a reef should be) and sparse feedings, it would stay fairly clean. DSB of tahitian moon in a 90=$$$

 

[Deuce67]

I think that is a big misinformation that arogonite helps buffering. Unless you run your Ph at around 6.7, there should be little to no buffering. Kinda like on how a CaRx would work.

 

[rekn]

if it starts to buffer your tank then your corals are melting

 

[PuebloReefer]

My 72g tank had black sand in it. I really liked it and wouldn't change it. I did have a base of established crushed coral under it though, and the cc was exposed behind the lr I had. It looked very nice.

 

[aquaman2000]

So, have you made up your mind yet?

 

[Huhhhhh]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9905475#post9905475 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by aquaman2000
So, have you made up your mind yet?

I think since the new tank will be connected to mine via the sump that we'll stick with the same stuff I have in mine. I would hate for it to affect the system in some way.