Reef safe sand alternatives?

[SeymourDuncan]

I have used play sand for 2 years and it works well. After the initial diatom bloom it looks great. It keeps mangroves well. It even houses all the stuff that lives in regular reef sand. The only issue is when ur power head flies off its suction cups which I replaced with magnets.

I am setting up a new 125 and want black sand but don want to pay for hype. Is there any alternative that is relatively similar to play sand that is black? Hd lowes menards ace big r whatever, nobody carries it locally. The black Sand at the pet stores is holy macadamia nut pricey for the non live stuff.

Any ideas? Silica leaching has not been an issue at all for me since I let it go nuts and remove its biproduct once its done.

 

[fyrfytr]

Have you checked with your local sand companies or rock centers? Locally here we have a couple brick and rock places as well as a local sand seller.

 

[SeymourDuncan]

Yeah. No black though

 

[LukeG]

There is a black sand product sold in pool supply stores. I think it is used in coloring pool decks by mixing it in with the concrete. I have a buddy that uses it in his high end freshwater plant tanks with no ill effects.

 

[SeymourDuncan]

I'll look into that, thanks.

 

[SeymourDuncan]

When the pool stores open up agin lol. It snowed pretty nicely this week

 

[Tinola]

I wonder if turface will work. They use it on planted tanks.
Turface can come in black.

 

[SeymourDuncan]

Another thing to look into. Thanks!