Aquarium Sand

I just took out all of my old sand in my 100gal African cichlid tank. I had white arognite sand in there mixed in with black and white cichlid sand. I am looking for a new look. I want to go either completely white or completely black. I don't want to pay a whole lot. Does anyone have any recommendations on sand that is a decent price?? Has anyone heard of black diamond blasting abrasive sand?? Is is safe to use?? Thanks!!!

honestly, im fortunate enough to live by the beach so even though i have freshwaters tanks i can just get free sand there. i know they say not to use it because its "live" or whatever but i put it in a bucket and stick a hose in there and basically "wash" it out. i havnt had any problems with it and my cichlids love it. theyre constantly spitting it out in different places and making little underground caves everywhere lol :) but if you have the right kind of light it looks pretty white. i have one natural 10000k and one actinic bulb works great! good luck

"black diamond blasting abrasive sand" I would imagine it would appear safe to use at first for fish other than bottom dwellers, cories would get cut up fast.

And at 8$ for 50lbs of black sand sounds too good to be true. and it sadly is. it has doesnt have any silica in it, which is bad, cuz silica is non reactive. this stuff however is primarily composed of very dense carbon granules with metallic compounds that can and likely will turn aqueous over time with aquarium bacteria it would break down over time and youd risk a massive crash.


i wouldnt use for fish, but perhaps you could get away with it for pure planted tanks.

sadly here i paid a $1 per lb for my Tahitian Moon black sand. >_>

Wow, really good to know!! Thanks so much for that explanation. :)

hope everything works! post pics once its done! :)

Thank you I will!!

no problem

Pool filter sand is not quite white but its close. It's $8&change for 50lbs.

yeah i heard pool filter sand worked prety good too.

bossman wrote:

honestly, im fortunate enough to live by the beach so even though i have freshwaters tanks i can just get free sand there. i know they say not to use it because its "live" or whatever but i put it in a bucket and stick a hose in there and basically "wash" it out. i havnt had any problems with it and my cichlids love it. theyre constantly spitting it out in different places and making little underground caves everywhere lol :) but if you have the right kind of light it looks pretty white. i have one natural 10000k and one actinic bulb works great! good luck

Really? I would think the fish would be TOAST!

i used play ground sand and i'M NOT VERY HAPPY WITH IT GETS DIRTY VERY QUICKLY..besides that it works fine

pool filter sand is pretty light colored, but that means EVERY speck of mulm and poop gets visible!

KMX wrote:

bossman wrote:

honestly, im fortunate enough to live by the beach so even though i have freshwaters tanks i can just get free sand there. i know they say not to use it because its "live" or whatever but i put it in a bucket and stick a hose in there and basically "wash" it out. i havnt had any problems with it and my cichlids love it. theyre constantly spitting it out in different places and making little underground caves everywhere lol :) but if you have the right kind of light it looks pretty white. i have one natural 10000k and one actinic bulb works great! good luck

Really? I would think the fish would be TOAST!

yeah thats what i thought too but i havnt lost a fish since i've started using it and it makes water changes way easier when your trying to suck poop up, plus you dont need a gravel vac!

that's impossible Bossman the salt will still be on the sand not to mention foren items like sticks dead sea weeds and critters.

Plus taking sand from the beach is illegal in the state of VA. They have the conservations set up all around Sand Bridge and Munden.
The east coast of the United States is slowly, and in some places quickly, being eaten away by the ocean. States spend millions of dollars replacing the sand after bad storms(MY TAX DOLLARS). I doubt any locals seeing you do it would hesitate to call the police. Beach sand erosion is an ongoing problem due to human activity such as dams. Not only is it illegal, it is environmentally irresponsible to deplete a struggling natural resource.

Dang, Was not aware of that.

Yeah but no way this works. Do NOT USE beach sand for your freshwater aquarium. One of the not smart things I have herd on this forum.

I used black diamond sand blasting sand. I just took down a 100 gallon tank with it. I could be able to use yours since i am tired of all black. Maybe a trade?

Pitbull wrote:

I used black diamond sand blasting sand. I just took down a 100 gallon tank with it. I could be able to use yours since i am tired of all black. Maybe a trade?

oh wow i didnt know that either, but i also live on a river and own a canal.. so would it be illegal to get sand right out of my boat ditch?

and by the way it does work, theres no sticks or anything in there just clean sand. i wash it about 6 times before introducing it to a tank. just sayin, but yeah if its illegal then definately dont do it! lol

i think that's where the confusion lies. you live by a river beach? at first you said you live by a beach so everyone's thinking SW, but now it's by a river so no wonder it works for you LOL.

I wouldn't mind trading, but I just set up my 37 gal and put most of it in there. The rest I gave to friend. Sorry! thanks for the offer though!!

bossman wrote:

and by the way it does work, theres no sticks or anything in there just clean sand. i wash it about 6 times before introducing it to a tank. just sayin, but yeah if its illegal then definately dont do it! lol

fishface30 wrote:

i think that's where the confusion lies. you live by a river beach? at first you said you live by a beach so everyone's thinking SW, but now it's by a river so no wonder it works for you LOL.

Yeah IM confused.