henward Posted May 8, 2011 Report Share Posted May 8, 2011 swanson industrial sands sell black silica does anyone know, does this affect water params? i know silica doesnt, but black silica? any experiences? or facts at hand? i heard it may leech something i am looking at buying this but dont wanna risk fish life of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GZ_Loach Posted May 8, 2011 Report Share Posted May 8, 2011 I have black silica sand, its fine to use Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted May 8, 2011 Report Share Posted May 8, 2011 The black sand sold by LFS's looks more like man made sand to me, maybe from glass or similar. Iron sand is black, and Lava sand is also black, I don't think either of these would be good in a tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-obstacle Posted May 8, 2011 Report Share Posted May 8, 2011 The black sand sold by LFS's looks more like man made sand to me, maybe from glass or similar. Iron sand is black, and Lava sand is also black, I don't think either of these would be good in a tank. Any reason why? I assume the iron in the sand Henward is talking about would somehow leach into the water collumn which would be good for amazon swords but maybe bad for fish, although I'm not sure of that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GZ_Loach Posted May 8, 2011 Report Share Posted May 8, 2011 I have water in my tank that is 3.03 parts per million Iron, 4 years later and all is still well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted May 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2011 http://www.industrialsands.co.nz/iron_sand.html this here who uses this? BUMPY BUMP!!! i wanna know if i can use it :bounce: http://www.industrialsands.co.nz/iron_sand.html or this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GZ_Loach Posted May 8, 2011 Report Share Posted May 8, 2011 Do a quick google search about ferric oxide Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted May 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2011 AquariumsFerric oxide in a granular form (GFO, granular-ferric-oxide) is readily available for purchase in the saltwater aquarium and reef community. Its primary function as a filtration media is to pull phosphates out of the water column to aid in the control of nuisance algae. Branded products such as PhosBan, ROWAphos, and PhosLock contain proprietary blends of granular-ferric-oxide and granular-ferric-oxide-hydroxide (GFH).[6] got this from wiki as before. what does it mean in freshwater? it says that ferric oxide is used in salt water what but i cant find what effects it has in fresh water. will it alter ph, make it basic? acid reacts to it thus making it basic? dont know. im not really a chemist:) that why im asking for help. it will help with blackbeard algae in the freshwater tank lol thats good but what else? will it poison wateR? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-obstacle Posted May 8, 2011 Report Share Posted May 8, 2011 It appears to absorb and chrystalise once it's reached it max. Doesn't leech at all apparently. Interesting stuff really... I'm keen to give it a go. Probably no good for planted tanks though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted May 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2011 it could also absorbe trace and minerals that is good for fish in that regard i guess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted May 8, 2011 Report Share Posted May 8, 2011 I'm not sure if the iron in iron sand is bad but ore sands tend to also be full of lots of other heavy metals. I'm guessing they would be reasonably stable in salt water (as GFO is) but the pH tends to be stable and up round 8, fresh water tanks often tend down to 6pH or so which is low enough to dissolve some substrates. I have no idea if this is actually an issue, but given that it doesn't seem to be commonly used I'd hazard a guess that it is a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hovmoller Posted May 8, 2011 Report Share Posted May 8, 2011 Someone on here used iron sand collected from Muriwai (or similar) for a native freshwater setup. He/she had an avatar with an awesome looking torrentfish lying on black sand.. Perhaps he/she woul dknow more on this... Sorry can't remember who it is. But maybe do a search on torrent fish or something Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hovmoller Posted May 8, 2011 Report Share Posted May 8, 2011 Ah.. I think it was blueether. http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=50529&p=552759&hilit=torrent+fish#p552759 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted May 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2011 yeah i guess im keeping arowana, clown loaches maybe not worth the risk! i will call swanson sands, ask if they have any black sands that is stable and inert. but if not, i will have to settle for the midnight or satin black !! i bought a sample to see how fine reason is that i dont wanna gravel siphon to clean and silica fine sand tends to not let dirty down the bottom of substrate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GZ_Loach Posted May 8, 2011 Report Share Posted May 8, 2011 midnight looks nothing like its picture, its grey. I'm also waiting for a sample of black satin :mbh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshlikesfish Posted May 8, 2011 Report Share Posted May 8, 2011 midnight looks nothing like its picture, its grey. I had that stuff once. It was rather dark but not really what you are all after. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted May 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2011 apparently the satin black is same stuff but fine like silica sand, when wet, it becomes black as the properties change i am going to morrow to check it out to see how black ti is. if its darke nough iw ould gowith it, id ont wanna risk the ferric oxide stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcrudd Posted May 9, 2011 Report Share Posted May 9, 2011 I have midnight that I bought from Petstuff in my tank This is what it looks like edited to show you exact gravel I bought from Petstuff as in Link below http://www.trademe.co.nz/Pets-animals/Fish/Stones-pebbles/auction-373642592.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted May 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2011 looks pretty black! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted May 9, 2011 Report Share Posted May 9, 2011 I did a little research on page 2 of this thread: http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=52336&start=15 to be honest I though Henward had some already. From what I read I thought that it wouldn't do anything unhelpful other than if it got in the impellor. You needed double the amount of phosphate removing products for freshwater than salt if that helps you decide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GZ_Loach Posted May 9, 2011 Report Share Posted May 9, 2011 the midknight stuff i got is nowhere near as dark as black silica sand, I can't even call midknight black -its grey. But maybe they screwed up, in that case i am pissed off with them :an!gry Follow this link and you will see black silica sand and midknight sand mixed togeather. http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=50854 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueether Posted May 9, 2011 Report Share Posted May 9, 2011 As mentioned on page 1 I use black iron sand, collected from south of Raglan. This stuff is very heavy, a 3/4 full 10l bucket will weigh in at some 20kg. I haven't had any issues with it other than the second lot I got had lots of very fine 'dust' that clouded the thank for about a week. I don't test pH so cant say one way or another how it effects this, and I dont grow plants so cant say how good it is for this - but I can't see that there would be any problems. About it getting into the filter, I have had some get into my cf1200 but it just sits in the bottom - doesn't seem to work it's way up to the impeller. See http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=50025 page 2 & 3 for photos ps Depending where it is collected from the colour will range from very dark blue/black to very dark grey to grey. One interesting thing that happens is the iron sand and silica/rock/etc will separate out slightly to give bands and patterning where there is different amounts of current or if you poor it through the water column. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted May 9, 2011 Report Share Posted May 9, 2011 Back satin midnight from Petstuff101 is extremely fine gravel, it is not sand. I also have the fine gravel but not the sand and it's almost black depending on the lights shining at the time. If you are buying it for looks then great, if you are buying it for fish with barbels then I suggest not so great but each to his own. The only thing I would now get to make my planted tank base blacker is the Iron Sand concentrate from Swanson Industrial Sands, or a beach if I ever got that far, but for a handful or so that I want, it's not a priority. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted May 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2011 any9one here tried the stuff from swanson industrial sands? i believe it may have adverse effects in my water. i dont wanna risk it satin black if black enough will be ok for me does anyone know where to source these in larger bulk? I will need a large amount. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted May 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2011 why is satin black not good for fish wtih barbels? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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