Are black pebbles, usually used for planting, reefsafe?

[smartwater101]

I'd like to fill my frag tank (plumbed to display tank) with some heavier black substrate that won't blow around due to the powerheads. Is there anything I should keep in mind when purchasing something like this?

EDIT: this brand is not reef safe. Anyone know where I can find something similar? All the ones I'm finding are coated in paraffin wax

 

[smartwater101]

"coated in pure paraffin wax to enhance color and shine"

apparently that is not reef safe. ugh. I'll keep searching. Anyone know of a brand that is reef safe?

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

I don't know if the below are unpolished or not, but I know the brand does offer unpolished rocks - so I'd give them an email and see (unpolished rocks wouldn't have the wax, so they shouldn't be harmful):

 

[Doctorgori]

I’d say it’s ok, although I’m not seeing any porosity for bacterial surfaces but go for it

 

[smartwater101]

I think I might just go with this black gravel from Home Depot. I thought about lava rock but apparently that is too high in iron and could be a problem.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Why don't you use a not so fine grade of sand? Or bare bottom, it is a frag tank?

 

[smartwater101]

Why don't you use a not so fine grade of sand? Or bare bottom, it is a frag tank?

I like the look of black substrate in a frag tank, and since its a shallow tank they need to be larger because of flow.

 

[TX_REEF]

you could buy some dark colored dry rock and smash it up into rubble.

 

[kevgib67]

I know you want black but I’m going to throw this out there. What about taking a look at TBS live reef rubble. Far from fine and with increased biome.

 

[smartwater101]

I went with this non-polished gravel from Amazon and it looks great.