People using Hawaiian black sand.

[Paul31733]

What are you using to clean your tank if you are using the black sand?

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Are you looking to clean the glass or the sand?

 

[Paul31733]

Are you looking to clean the glass or the sand?

I am planning for my build now dont have black sand as yet... But cleaning the glass is what I'm interested in. I heard magnetic devices were bad idea.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Be forewarned, some folks using black sand have found elevated metals in their water that they associated with the sand.

 

[Paul31733]

Be forewarned, some folks using black sand have found elevated metals in their water that they associated with the sand.

I have also heard this.... I really love the look of it though... I am stuck in my decision.

 

[Blknovass]

I have a mix white and black. Didn’t think it was an issue until my magnetic frag rack fell and I had a bunch of black sand only stuck to the magnet. Will be pulling it out ASAP. There is definitely metal in the black sand.

 

[Paul31733]

I ended up staying away from the black sand just incase and ordered special reef grade aragonite sand.
Thanks everyone.

 

[Tamberav]

It tends to show dirt and turn ugly over time anyways. Debris is kinda whiteish brown and rock likes to drop particles on it.

 

[Paul31733]

It tends to show dirt and turn ugly over time anyways. Debris is kinda whiteish brown and rock likes to drop particles on it.

Ya that's what I have heard... Sometimes you see pictures of tanks looking so nice with it due to the contrast...but not worth scratching or crashing my hard work...

 

[GlassMunky]

It tends to show dirt and turn ugly over time anyways. Debris is kinda whiteish brown and rock likes to drop particles on it.

I disagree wholeheartedly. I’ve had a Biocube with black sand in it for over a decade and never have what you’re talking about.
It can be magnetic at first, but that’s easily dealt with by running a magnet over it when you first start the tank.
And as for metals, while it is volcanic rock, and the composition can vary, my tank shows no high metals of any kind via a Triton test so I find that argument negligible, but it could be batch specific since its natural sand/rock.
Overall I think most people make a bigger deal out of the “issues” that it can have and most of the people who talk about it have never actually had it so take it with a grain of salt

 

[Tamberav]

Yah

I disagree wholeheartedly. I’ve had a Biocube with black sand in it for over a decade and never have what you’re talking about.
It can be magnetic at first, but that’s easily dealt with by running a magnet over it when you first start the tank.
And as for metals, while it is volcanic rock, and the composition can vary, my tank shows no high metals of any kind via a Triton test so I find that argument negligible, but it could be batch specific since its natural sand/rock.
Overall I think most people make a bigger deal out of the “issues” that it can have and most of the people who talk about it have never actually had it so take it with a grain of salt

Meh. I tried it years ago and it showed white spots like wearing black pants with a white dog. Could be the rock I used.

I ultimately removed it because I found some comments about it may not be a good idea for a mantis shrimp tank with their delicate structure.

I wasn’t personally worried about metals because mine was also a nano which typically gets bigger percentage water changes then a large reef.

 

[CMMorgan]

My bow front 45 gallon had black sand. I loved it for about a week. Yes, it was magnetic, yes, it messed with my chemistry, yes... it showed every little thing.
When I upgraded to the 90 gallon, I said bye bye bye to the black sand and I have not regretted it for a single say. If I ever get the urge for the bottom to be black, I'll go bare bottom.

 

[1guydude]

Ive done mixed oreo sand. Yes kool for the black and white scooter blennys. Not kool for cleaning or magnets. It is magnetic.
D

 

[Wil__Mar]

I am planning for my build now dont have black sand as yet... But cleaning the glass is what I'm interested in. I heard magnetic devices were bad idea.

If you acrylic tank magnetic glass cleaner not recommended even if there advertise for it acrylic is very easy to scratch.

 

[Scdell]

I have high vandium issues because of black sand. Icp confirmed. I took most of it out but cant get to all of it. Wish I never put it in.