Black Beauty Blasting Sand

RBoydIV

RBoydIV

AC Members
Nov 29, 2010
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Has anyone used Black Beauty Blasting Sand in a planted tank. With a little research on line it seems safe, but there are a lot of skeptics. Theres a place in town that sells a #100 bag for $15. If anyone here has used it please let me know. Would be pretty awesome if it safe.

Thanks,
Rob
 
What are you planning on stocking in this tank?

Coal slag is used for sand blasting because of its hardness, and sharp edges, which are ideal as an abrasive.
I would think twice before choosing this material for use in a tank with any soft bellied botom dwellers.
And because this stuff is actually the remnants of burned coal, I am not sure how it would be affected being underwater constantly.

I have heard of people using it, and I have heard several arguments against using it as well.
I'll just say this, It is pretty difficult to swap out substrate in a tank full of plant, and fish.
especially something as fine as this stuff.
 
They actual have too different grit sizes ones a Very fine and the other is a medium. If used it will go on top of MTS I am working on. I just want to use it as a cap. I will call Tractor Supply and see it they have it too. Thanks for the heads up. I just don't want to go spend a ton of money after buying all the ferts and going through the whole MTS process. If I buy some name brand sand I mine as well of bought Eco Complete. I think I'm going to try it.
 
I haven't used it in a planted tank, yet.

I have used it in my african cichlid tank. I bought the "fine" grit, and I have had absolutely no problems with it scratching the fish, glass, or myself. When I first started my tank a lot of the fish would scratch their bodys on the sand, and nothing bad happened there. I think it would work as a great cap for MTS.
 
So you had no problems with changes in your water chemistry? Did you have to rinse it a bunch too?
 
Water chemistry remained the same for me, but you have to rinse it out VERY well. It is a very dusty product.

When I rinsed mine I filled a bucket 1/4 full with it and filled it with water. When I stirred the sand around, the water turned black, just to give you an idea, and also turned my hand black (rinsed right off though).

I just upgraded to a larger tank and added more of this. I can test the water when I get home and let you know if anything has changed since I added it 3 days ago to an already established tank.

BTW my friend is also using this in his cichlid tank, and planted on of my brazilian pennywort stems in it. No ferts, co2, low light, and he says it has actually started to grow rooted, which mine won't even do in my high tech planted tank. weird.
 
Ended up going totally different direction. Found some paving sand at Lowes. It was $3 a bag and more of a gravel sand mix. I rinsed the stuff a ton, until the sand stopped bleeding colors and dirt. I couldnt find much about it online. After three days the stuff looks great and my water quality seem great. PH at 6.8 0 ammonia and nitrates. I would recommend this as a cap for MTS to anyone. Very natural looking.
 
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