Black Substrate - pros/cons and photos?

[samnaz]

Who here has used black sand? Particularly either of these types:

Hawaiian Black (0.25 - 3.0 mm)

Indo-pacific Black (0.25 - 5.0 mm)


I am thinking about creating a tank with a Lembah Strait/Sulewsi Indonesia theme. The sand there is mucky, black and made up of volcanic matter.


I know the main issues with black sand are the lack of buffering abilities, as they are not calcium based. Has anyone every tried mixing it with some calcium based substrate? I was thinking about mixing it with some of the Caribsea Special Grade Reef Sand, to provide some calcium buffering.


Another issue is the grain size which has a wide range, up to 5.0 mm which is much too large. Could I use a strainer to sort out the extra large grains?



If you have used black sand in your tank, POST A PIC! I want to see what it actually looks like in real life.

 

[trevormass7]

Sorry for the crappy quality but I've had my tank on black sand for about 3 months and haven't had any problems. Corals getting great from small frags (can't see it in the picture but I can post close ups if you need more proof). Same as any other sand so far

 

[Cory]

If you like the look its fine.

The main concern is iron. Which may or not be a concern. Some are magnetic.

I wouldnt worry about size of grains.

Aragonite doesnt buffer at all unless ph gets below 7.6 in which case your tanks going to be in trouble. And that rarely happens

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I know the main issues with black sand are the lack of buffering abilities, as they are not calcium based. Has anyone every tried mixing it with some calcium based substrate? I was thinking about mixing it with some of the Caribsea Special Grade Reef Sand, to provide some calcium buffering.

.

I don't consider that any issue as sand doesn't appreciably buffer unless you have terrible pH problems.

Just be sure it is real sand and not coal slag or some other potentially contaminated product.

 

[samnaz]

Apparently, Nature's Ocean Bio-Activ Live Aragonite provides "enhanced" buffering abilities. Can anyone confirm this is true?

Has anyone used this stuff? I can't find out what the grain size is.

 

[samnaz]

Sorry for the crappy quality but I've had my tank on black sand for about 3 months and haven't had any problems. Corals getting great from small frags (can't see it in the picture but I can post close ups if you need more proof). Same as any other sand so far

Is that Caribsea Hawaiian Black? Looks good.

 

[Cory]

Would be nice so you dont see nasty algae growing on it (compared to white)

Volcanic scares me though because it comes from the earth. Just think of all the metals down there molten. Could be good or bad though. Could contain copper, nickle, lead or anything. Might even be beneficial as its like a slow dose of "micro nutrients". Id suspect aragonite doesnt come with as much impurity as volvanic sand would becaise coral doesnt bind much impurities.

 

[samnaz]

Would be nice so you dont see nasty algae growing on it (compared to white)

Volcanic scares me though because it comes from the earth. Just think of all the metals down there molten. Could be good or bad though. Could contain copper, nickle, lead or anything. Might even be beneficial as its like a slow dose of "micro nutrients". Id suspect aragonite doesnt come with as much impurity as volvanic sand would.

I actually read a lot of the opposite regarding cleanliness. Many have said it's hard to keep clean. I never fully understood how that could be true.

 

[Jd120988]

I prefer regular sand in comparison to the black substrates. I have no ph issues at all however I have cosmetic issues id like to address. Detritus and any and all debris that settle on the substrate stick out like a sore thumb meaning more effort is needed to maintain a clean substrate bc literally everything stands out. I'm more than likely pulling it out slowly and going with a different substrate. Only positive I have of using it is it doesnt make sand storms because it's heavy.

 

[trevormass7]

Is that Caribsea Hawaiian Black? Looks good.

Yes it is, and thank you

 

[samnaz]

I prefer regular sand in comparison to the black substrates. I have no ph issues at all however I have cosmetic issues id like to address. Detritus and any and all debris that settle on the substrate stick out like a sore thumb meaning more effort is needed to maintain a clean substrate bc literally every stands out. I'm more than likely pulling it out slowly and going with a different substrate. Only positive I have of using it is it doesnt make sand storms because it's heavy.

What black substrate are you currently using?

 

[samnaz]

I prefer regular sand in comparison to the black substrates. I have no ph issues at all however I have cosmetic issues id like to address. Detritus and any and all debris that settle on the substrate stick out like a sore thumb meaning more effort is needed to maintain a clean substrate bc literally everything stands out. I'm more than likely pulling it out slowly and going with a different substrate. Only positive I have of using it is it doesnt make sand storms because it's heavy.

Can I see some photos? Also interested in photos of the detritus/debris you speak of?

 

[Jd120988]

I'm using the hawaiin black, I'll try to get some pics later when I get home from work. Tonight's clean up/water change night so it should be nice and dirty for ya lol.

 

[trevormass7]

I haven't had any debris issues but I have lots of snails and crabs cleaning it up also I only have 6 fish so maybe I just don't have much building up

 

[trevormass7]

Oh also if you're worried about ph drop, only when it's really low. Add a teaspoon of baking soda. Doesn't harm fish or corals and will bring ph up almost instantly. That's why I only say in emergencies because that's a rapid parameter change

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Apparently, Nature's Ocean Bio-Activ Live Aragonite provides "enhanced" buffering abilities. Can anyone confirm this is true?
]

It's not. lol

Aragonite cannot dissolve in seawater until the pH drops well down into the 7's.

 

[trevormass7]

I feel like you have other more important problems then and buffering if your ph is in the low 7s

 

[Jd120988]

I feel like you have other more important problems then and buffering if your ph is in the low 7s

You got that right

 

[Keepswiming]

Apparently, Nature's Ocean Bio-Activ Live Aragonite provides "enhanced" buffering abilities. Can anyone confirm this is true?

Has anyone used this stuff? I can't find out what the grain size is.

I used this stuff on two of my tanks. I do not believe that it has "enhanced buffering abilities". My sps tank is have issues with PH lately because I have to run the AC all day because it is 110 degrees out here! It drops to 7.6 at night sometimes!

 

[Reef_Tank_Fan_SC]

Caribsea Hawaiian Black and it's been running perfectly for months. I have had very stable parameters from day one. Not to mention I really love the look of the black sand