Black Sand Users!

[SM8]

This is my concern

I am changing from white sand to black sand to hide the poo and dirt but if it shows it up exactly the same then there is no point in me spending a fortune on black sand


Im so confused as i want a dark black substrate but it has to be safe for lots of bottom feeders



What is it that you have in your tanks?



And can anyone offer any advice for the above?

 

[nellynelly]

I have tilapia, silver dollars, synodontis, never found issues with bottom feeders, other tank with betta, cae, garra rafa, again no issues..

 

[SM8]

What substrate do you use and any pics showing colour ?

 

[nellynelly]

The pictures make it look lighter, as i mixed in some normal gravel too...got to photo section, will bump thread

 

[SM8]

Tanks look great!

Substrate is a little light for my setup as i really need as black as possible

 

[balraj_bangar]

I am wanting to change to black sand or gravel. The issue is that if its dyed it does go grey i heard. But saying that i have even seen some sand and gravel labelled as black. It looks dark grey to me tho.

 

[SM8]

I am wanting to change to black sand or gravel. The issue is that if its dyed it does go grey i heard. But saying that i have even seen some sand and gravel labelled as black. It looks dark grey to me tho.

absolutely

There are loads marketed as black but are brown or grey

This is why ive posted this thread but so far not much luck and not many black sand or black substrate owners !

 

[balraj_bangar]

I was thinking to just go brown. I seen some cat litter people talk about from tesco. Its fine and seems all once colour and consistent and not sharp.

 

[SM8]

That would work but i need black

 

[mrvillicus]

unipacs black sand gravel is good, also pets at home do great black sand gravel, the tahitian moon is the best by far and that will be fine with bottom feeders and in regards to cleaning the sand just mix it up a with a vacuum if you have one, if not just poke about in the sand with something but be careful with sandbeds they can harbour pockets of dangerous gases if left for too long so make sure you keep on top of maintenance

 

[Jenste]

I just changed from black sand to play sand (beige colored). I have white sand in another tank and in my opinion the black shows the waste just as much as the white. Fish poo, plant debris etc is not black and therefore stands out. Try adjusting your filter out put or add a powerhead for better circulation in the tank to get the debris to the filter intake.

 

[SM8]

Thanks guys i have bought Tahitian moon so hope it goes well!

 

[Sammy1911]

I have changed from natural gravel to black tahitian moonstone sand. i love it, gives a completely different look, i have corys, plecs and earth eaters who seem to get on fine with it. my oh thinks its more of a fine gravel tho...!

 

[Royston]

I use play sand and at £2.99 for a large bag I don't mind sucking it up when cleaning... I have about 70 fish in the tank and the sand never looks very dirty