sand that is pitch black, not grey....

[henward]

similar to silica sand, same texture and grain -

is there such a thing as BLACK SILICA SAND?

looking for something that is identical or extremely similar to silica in texture but black, pitch black.

[burrowssj]

similar to silica sand, same texture and grain -

is there such a thing as BLACK SILICA SAND?

looking for something that is identical or extremely similar to silica in texture but black, pitch black.

im also wanting something like this

You could try west coast iron sand ?

[myfishybuisness]

you could get iron sand , but thats off a beach :-? so i dont no if its ok

[Ira]

you could get iron sand , but thats off a beach :-? so i dont no if its ok

Beach sand is fine.

It's also grey not black.

[blueether]

Beach sand is fine.

It's also grey not black.

When it is pure it is blue

Here is some in my native tank, a westcoast stream theme.

The blue/black is near pure iron sand and the brown in other 'impurities', It bands nicely when pored into water.

[Joe]

Try and find some iron sand and go through it with a magnet to pick out all the black stuff. Wash it, and it will be suitable for your tank.

[blueether]

Iron sand is very fine unlike silica sands

[Ice222]

If you cna dish out the dollars, flourite black sand is quite fine and is about the darkest I have seen. Not sure how it compares in grain size to silica sand though.

[Joe]

But it's a plant fertiliser, so its made out of clay, isn't it? Won't that cloud the water?

[SamH]

Fluorite is designed to be used as the sole substrate. It can be used on it's own without anything covering it. I would imagine the same goes for the Onyx Sand.

[Ice222]

But it's a plant fertiliser, so its made out of clay, isn't it? Won't that cloud the water?

I know it's a plant substrate but don't know exactly what it is. It isn't clay though. Seachem recommends to use it on it's own and its supposed to be stable, so there should be no leeching of nutrients into the water column. I've read from a lot of forums that is is really really good, just also very expensive. It will cloud the water at the start, but it should clear in a few days.

[suphew]

Aqua one do a black sand that is nice, your LFS would be able to order it in if they don't already have it.

[henward]

mero forward thinking, seachem sands are great, but fkor plantedt anks, eventually yes but... realistically, i dont see myself filling a massive tank with seachem substrate lol too expensive.

iron sand may pose a probloem with filters if they get sucked up too.

another issue i may have.

mmm

touch position.

i see that some ashtrays in malls, have this black sand in them.

wonder what that is

[blueether]

iron sand may pose a probloem with filters if they get sucked up too.

another issue i may have.

I doubt that the iron sand will get into the filters, it hasn't here, as it is very heavy.

I have a 10L bucket that is 2/3 (at the most) full of dry iron sand and I cant pick it up by the handle as the last time I did that it did break'd it.

[malevolentsparkle]

the 'black' in west coast sand is titanomagnitite (iron/titanium ore) it should be very stable and heavy. the rest is just sand. a magnet would pick out the titanomagnitite and leave the sand. might take a bit of work though...

[henward]

oh ok

cos silica sand tends to get blown around and then go into the filters, ever so slightly but i imagine if Titano magnetite gets in there, it will cause damage tot he impeller and magnet

[malevolentsparkle]

yes it would stick to the magnet and could cause problems but as it is very heavy it shouldn't get in there. just watch were you put the intakes

[henward]

probably just bring the intake up higher.

yeah good feedback guys