Black or white sand ?

[madweazl]

I've done both quite a few times now over the years. Your substrate isnt going to buffer your pH so you can drop that as a consideration. The amount of light reflected from white vs black is minimal at best and is likely no factor as well. This leaves you largely with personal preference but there are issues with some black sands. A local reefer used CaribSea Tahitian black sand and was having issues with elevated nickel and vanadium. Another local reefer took some to work and did some neutron activation analysis; he estimated the sand contained 300ppm vanadium.

I also use black sand but have Nature's Ocean Bio-active black and it's been trouble free (four ICPs done with nothing outside the norm in 2.5 years). These are the only two I can provide direct feedback on but be cautious with your selection of black. Oh, in regard to being magnetic, there are some pieces that will stick to a magnet in the Nature's Ocean sand but I've had none migrate to my algae scrubber (I have a blade so I dont get super close to the sand either). I do enjoy the look of the sand and largely chose it because the shrimp gobys are generally light colors and I wanted them to stand out better. Grain size is large enough to not blow around like crazy and fine enough that diamond gobys can still sift it.

 

[count krunk]

white white white white white white white white white white white white white white white.

i'll also never go barebottom. i'm not an SPS junkie either tho

 

[Jacked Reefer]

I feel like white sand is far more natural. Never seen or heard of a natural reef with black sand. Yes some beaches have black sand but not any actual reefs. The magnetism has been mentioned here already too. IMO if you want black substrate do planted tanks. BB with the glass painted is a better option if you want the contrast that has been previously mentioned. Also bb is much easier to care for.

 

[Luna]

I have both, there both nice my 75 gal has white sand & my nano 20 long has black sand. I used the Hawaii black sand, but didn’t like it the size was to big so I found a finer size black sand. I like them both basically come down to preference. I lean more to the white cause it seems more natural.

 

[sfin52]

It depends on the black. It seems that black can contain heavy metals. @Robin Haselden and at @Brew12 have had experience with this.

 

[Everett625]

I have black sand preferably for myself makes the corals and colors pop way more in my opinion also makes all the critters lik stand out when they get coraline algae on there shells and stuff

 

[Brew12]

It depends on the black. It seems that black can contain heavy metals. @Robin Haselden and at @Brew12 have had experience with this.

Yup. Black sand is typically crushed lava. If that vein of lava that was processed to make the sand has metal in it, that metal can leach into the tank water. If it has iron in it, there can be a problem with it sticking to magnetic glass cleaners making it easy to scratch the glass.

 

[SashimiTurtle]

Yup. Black sand is typically crushed lava. If that vein of lava that was processed to make the sand has metal in it, that metal can leach into the tank water. If it has iron in it, there can be a problem with it sticking to magnetic glass cleaners making it easy to scratch the glass.

And if it has nickel and vanadium it will make you pull your hair out looking for the source of metal contamination.

 

[Dragon52]

I had Black sand in my 120gl & when i upgraded to my 185gl I switched to white. The Black sand is actually hard (sharp corners) on bottom dwellers that sift sand at least for me it was a problem & magnetic. Since switching to white sand I have kept some gobies/pistol shrimp & a Yellowhead Jawfish for some time with no issues.

 

[YES]

I've done both quite a few times now over the years. Your substrate isnt going to buffer your pH so you can drop that as a consideration. The amount of light reflected from white vs black is minimal at best and is likely no factor as well. This leaves you largely with personal preference but there are issues with some black sands. A local reefer used CaribSea Tahitian black sand and was having issues with elevated nickel and vanadium. Another local reefer took some to work and did some neutron activation analysis; he estimated the sand contained 300ppm vanadium.

I also use black sand but have Nature's Ocean Bio-active black and it's been trouble free (four ICPs done with nothing outside the norm in 2.5 years). These are the only two I can provide direct feedback on but be cautious with your selection of black. Oh, in regard to being magnetic, there are some pieces that will stick to a magnet in the Nature's Ocean sand but I've had none migrate to my algae scrubber (I have a blade so I dont get super close to the sand either). I do enjoy the look of the sand and largely chose it because the shrimp gobys are generally light colors and I wanted them to stand out better. Grain size is large enough to not blow around like crazy and fine enough that diamond gobys can still sift it.

Wow I love your tank )
Thanks for an amazing reply I have white sand now and in my bigger tank I will go with black I got the naturals ocean black beach sand I like your tank

 

[YES]

I have black sand preferably for myself makes the corals and colors pop way more in my opinion also makes all the critters lik stand out when they get coraline algae on there shells and stuff

Yes that’s what I thought too about

 

[pokegirl1332]

It’s an old tank picture of my 130 gallon before adding fish and most rocks but actually use a combo sand with both black and white and it’s super clean looking

 

[Ashley Kekua]

White Sand Aragonite best! or No Sand!

 

[YES]

thanks

 

[jimmyb007]

Aesthetically for me its fine white sand only...really don't like how black sand looks

Nice