Black Sand Question?

[Troy Valentine]

Fellow MAAST Members,

Does the black sand still look as good after the tank has aged(1+ years)? Or does it slowly turn to Salt & Pepper? Are you constantly having to add more black sand?

[ismvel]

Troy, I couldn't answer that question for sure, as I have only had my black substrate since September. However, I am trying to get my larger tank set up in the next 2 - 3 months. So if you are inquiring for a future project, you are more than welcome to have mine at that point.

It isn't the really fine stuff, it is that gray coast substrate from PetCo or Petsmart (can't remember off the top of my head). It was two bags that I purchased (but I can't remember if it came in 15, 20, or 30 pound bags).

[hobogato]

i have the caribsea tahitian moon black sand in the clam tank, and it has not changed color at all. the only drawback i have noticed is that sps and lps die quickly if they touch it. i know, frags tend to die if they fall over in the sand, but it seems faster and more severe in the black sand for some reason.

[Troy Valentine]

Thanks for the feedback, I will probably be setting up a nano in the near future.

Is the black sand Oolitic Araganite?

[Troy Valentine]

Ace,

Did your wife get the Micoblasto from Jason?

[ismvel]

Is the black sand Oolitic Araganite?
Mine is not, that is for sure. If you make visits to Petsmart, check it out and see if that is what you are looking for, if so, and timing is right, you can take mine...

Grey Coast something or another... :)

[hobogato]

no, the sand is not araganite, and no, she didnt get the Blastomussa merletti from jason. nice colony, but we already have some just like it.


Ace,

Did your wife get the Micoblasto from Jason?

[ismvel]

Question for you Ace.....if I were to take out that Grey Coast and put in other sand (aragonite that I could transfer to the other tank), how much trouble could my current tank be in? Would new sand cause a cycle and kill things off? I would clean and rinse this new sand out, but I am not sure if it would kill off everything in the tank.

Small 29 gallon
and about 20 - 30 lbs of new sand

[erikharrison]

i have the caribsea tahitian moon black sand in the clam tank, and it has not changed color at all. the only drawback i have noticed is that sps and lps die quickly if they touch it. i know, frags tend to die if they fall over in the sand, but it seems faster and more severe in the black sand for some reason.

Black holds in more heat, and is less reflective than white(er) sands???? Maybe that's why? Hotter coral with less light can't be good?

[erikharrison]

Question for you Ace.....if I were to take out that Grey Coast and put in other sand (aragonite that I could transfer to the other tank), how much trouble could my current tank be in? Would new sand cause a cycle and kill things off? I would clean and rinse this new sand out, but I am not sure if it would kill off everything in the tank.

Small 29 gallon
and about 20 - 30 lbs of new sand

I dumped about 60 lbs of sand from someone elses tank into mine. I think it would probably depend on what tank it came from. The tank that mine came from the sand was stirred constantly, and no visible detritus was built up. I ran some fresh carbon and skimmed a little wetter than normal, but it did not hurt my system. If you wash the sand in some ro/di saltwater a few times and make sure to remove any muck, you should be fine.

[greenmako]

I cant remember all the details, but I think its crushed obsidian or something similar. The result is it is very sharp and horrible for burrowing creatures and sand sifters (snails and gobies etc).
-christina

[aprilmayjune]

Erik I think you are right about the heat part. Also the black sand is less reflective of the lighting so if you have a reef tank the underneaths of your corals won't be getting as much light as with white sand. At least that is what I've been told before.

[ismvel]

I cant remember all the details, but I think its crushed obsidian or something similar. The result is it is very sharp and horrible for burrowing creatures and sand sifters (snails and gobies etc).
-christina
You are right, although I don't know the details...it is small and sharp looking. I do have burrowing snails (nassarius) and a fancy nassarius, that get under there...they are probably screaming an cursing me for having that stuff...:mad::mad: