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Inexpensive Black Sand?

Mxx

Member
Joined
9 Sep 2011
Messages
49
Is there a UK source for good black sand? I'd like some to use as a cap atop a mineralized top soil base, but I'm having trouble sourcing it here as all the source I found seem to be in the US.

All I've found is products such as Flourite Black Sand which is decent and which I use in a tank already, but it would cost a fortune for a large tank, and regular cheap sand works just as well over a soil underlay.

I'm looking for something such as black pool filter sand or 3M Black Quartz Sand. I had also seen one which consisted of ceramically coated small grains which sounded interesting.

I'd however perhaps prefer to avoid silica sand though, as the silica seems to result in algal problems for some, though I haven't been able to confirm that, unless others can?
 
I use caribsea, Tahitian Moon sand. its jet black hasn't lost its colour after two years and looks really nice.
 
The Caribsea Tahitian Moon Sand is still over four times the price that I'd been seeing for 3M Colorquartz, or Spectra Quartz, and I'd seen a few complaints about the Moon Sand as well. And Black Beauty sand which some use is far more inexpensive than that, but I don't really trust it.

Pool filter sand is at least half the price of Moon Sand, and play sand is a fraction of that even, but I've yet to see pool filter sand here offered in black.
 
most maidenhead aquatics stock it , it's an excellent top coat for substrate.
 
Agreed most MA stores stock it. Another tip check out the candle/vase isle in the warehouse/department store. They have some nice Black sands sometimes.
 
I found this black volcanic sand, http://www.specialistaggregates.com/mor ... bb80f71e62
which appears to be the desirable grain size, and it's less than £0.33/kg, which is an eight the price of Tahitian Moon Sand, although that price is for buying it in one tonne quantities, which even for a 2 metre long tank might be a lot. With their 20 kg bags it's £1.58 per kilo though.

Has anyone used anything like this before?
 
Fired clay is usually very light, floats and even if it doesn't it's kinda painful to plant carpeting plants. It also has the tendency to level after a while.
I've tested a broad range of clay substrates from Manado, Stoffels GranuPor, Dupla Ground etc and none made any difference in plant growth when using EI than plain sand or quartz gravel.

The volcanic sand if it's not treated for aquaristics has sharp edges and can injure your fish.

If you really want a nice black sand try and find a Dennerle distributor who sales black quartz (not the expensive nano version) anyway I'm sure there are plenty of other options in UK.

Mike
 
clonitza said:
Fired clay is usually very light, floats and even if it doesn't it's kinda painful to plant carpeting plants. It also has the tendency to level after a while.
I've tested a broad range of clay substrates from Manado, Stoffels GranuPor, Dupla Ground etc and none made any difference in plant growth when using EI than plain sand or quartz gravel.


Mike

That is true, Dupla Ground is something not for the faint hearted, and if this is the same as Dupla, only the small pieces are recommended.

Dennerle substrate, the one for shrimp, is the best substrate I have tried.
 
Estes Permacolor Quarz or Ceramquartz is what many aquarists seem to be using instead of the 3M stuff now in the States, but I'm yet to find a source here for that either.
 
Estes’ Marine Sand (also known as Ultra Reef and Stoney River) is nice in appearance if its available in the UK. Fish and Fins in Hailsham do mail order stuff and claim to be able to get Estes stuff so may be worth a try.
 
Antipofish said:
Estes’ Marine Sand (also known as Ultra Reef and Stoney River) is nice in appearance if its available in the UK. Fish and Fins in Hailsham do mail order stuff and claim to be able to get Estes stuff so may be worth a try.

Thanks! They seem to have some gravel type Estes substrates listed online, so likely they could get the sands through their same distributor as well!
 
Mxx said:
Antipofish said:
Estes’ Marine Sand (also known as Ultra Reef and Stoney River) is nice in appearance if its available in the UK. Fish and Fins in Hailsham do mail order stuff and claim to be able to get Estes stuff so may be worth a try.

Thanks! They seem to have some gravel type Estes substrates listed online, so likely they could get the sands through their same distributor as well!

Let me know if you can get it or find anyone who can will you ?
 
i have used sea coal the very fine stuff you find
washed up on the beach its inert just takes a lot of sorting and
washing
 
Antipofish said:
Mxx said:
Antipofish said:
Estes’ Marine Sand (also known as Ultra Reef and Stoney River) is nice in appearance if its available in the UK. Fish and Fins in Hailsham do mail order stuff and claim to be able to get Estes stuff so may be worth a try.

Thanks! They seem to have some gravel type Estes substrates listed online, so likely they could get the sands through their same distributor as well!

Let me know if you can get it or find anyone who can will you ?

I'll try to if I do, but I'm not going to need any for at least a good while still from the look of things.
 
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