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Posted by FU Manchu on June 16, 2005, 7:07 pm
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Anyone seen any good sources of black live sand? Can I even use black sand?
Is there such a thing available for a small reef tank?
Thanks
That Guy Over There
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Posted by kim gross on June 17, 2005, 3:58 am
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FU Manchu wrote:
> Anyone seen any good sources of black live sand? Can I even use black sand?
> Is there such a thing available for a small reef tank?
>
> Thanks
> That Guy Over There
>
>
I would guess that the only source of live back sand would be some
aquacultured sand, and to be honest I don't know of anybody that is
producing it. You might try INland Aquatics. Or just get the black
sand and rather than purchasing live sand go to Inland Aquatics and/or
IPSF and get the detrivore kits to seed your dead sand.
Kim
jensalt.com
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Posted by Don Geddis on June 17, 2005, 11:47 am
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> Anyone seen any good sources of black live sand? Can I even use black sand?
> Is there such a thing available for a small reef tank?
I suspect that it wouldn't have the same beneficial effects as the (white)
live sand that most aquarists are used to.
In addition to nutrient processing, a Deep Sand Bed also aids with calcium
and alkalinity buffering, because generally people use a calcium-based sand
that has origins in broken-down coral reefs.
In nature, the black sand beaches (like on parts of Hawaii) are generally
the remains of volcanic activity. Volcanic rocks have a totally different
chemical composition than crushed-coral white sand beaches. Most likely,
their also filled with an abundance of heavy metals. I suspect that if you
just casually tried to find some black sand, and put it in your tank, that
you'd wind up quickly poisoning all your livestock as the metals leach into
the water.
Not to say that it's strictly impossible. But I've never heard of anyone
having live black sand in a saltwater tank (vs. [dead] black gravel in a
freshwater tank, which is possible). And I bet it wouldn't be easy to arrange.
You'd have to be awfully careful with the chemical composition of what you
set up. Almost certainly your first attempts would result in total failure.
-- Don
_______________________________________________________________________________
Don Geddis don@geddis.org http://reef.geddis.org/
As Larry watched, the big hammerhead shark circled closer and closer. His eyes
were empty and death-like, and so were the shark's. He thought of all the
things he should have said to Linda, like "Help! A shark is attacking me!"
-- Deep Thoughts, by Jack Handey [1999]
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Posted by Boomer on June 18, 2005, 3:05 am
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Yes Don most black sand is a sand naturally made from basaltic lava
--
Boomer
Want to talk chemistry ? The Reef Chemistry Forum
http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin/index.php
WCWing@nospamChartermi.Net
Former US Army Bomb Technician (EOD)
Member; IABTI, NATEODA, WEODF, ISEE & IPS
If You See Me Running You Better Catch-Up
: > Anyone seen any good sources of black live sand? Can I even use black sand?
: > Is there such a thing available for a small reef tank?
:
: I suspect that it wouldn't have the same beneficial effects as the (white)
: live sand that most aquarists are used to.
:
: In addition to nutrient processing, a Deep Sand Bed also aids with calcium
: and alkalinity buffering, because generally people use a calcium-based sand
: that has origins in broken-down coral reefs.
:
: In nature, the black sand beaches (like on parts of Hawaii) are generally
: the remains of volcanic activity. Volcanic rocks have a totally different
: chemical composition than crushed-coral white sand beaches. Most likely,
: their also filled with an abundance of heavy metals. I suspect that if you
: just casually tried to find some black sand, and put it in your tank, that
: you'd wind up quickly poisoning all your livestock as the metals leach into
: the water.
:
: Not to say that it's strictly impossible. But I've never heard of anyone
: having live black sand in a saltwater tank (vs. [dead] black gravel in a
: freshwater tank, which is possible). And I bet it wouldn't be easy to arrange.
: You'd have to be awfully careful with the chemical composition of what you
: set up. Almost certainly your first attempts would result in total failure.
:
: -- Don
: _______________________________________________________________________________
: Don Geddis don@geddis.org http://reef.geddis.org/
: As Larry watched, the big hammerhead shark circled closer and closer. His eyes
: were empty and death-like, and so were the shark's. He thought of all the
: things he should have said to Linda, like "Help! A shark is attacking me!"
: -- Deep Thoughts, by Jack Handey [1999]
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Posted by Pszemol on June 17, 2005, 4:14 pm
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> In addition to nutrient processing, a Deep Sand Bed also aids with calcium
> and alkalinity buffering, because generally people use a calcium-based sand
> that has origins in broken-down coral reefs.
If you keep your tank properly maintained the calcium from the sand
has zero chance to get dissolve in the water...
This process happens when the pH drops below 7.5, which should
never happen in well maintained tank with good gases exchange
and clean water. Your pH level should stay at 8.2 or slowly swing
daily from 8.0, 8.1 after night to 8.3 after whole day of photosynthesis.
At this pH level calcium does not dissolve, so it would not matter
what is your sand made from.
On top of this, dont forget the sand particles will be sourounded with
living bacterial film. Bacteria, as living organisms, would modify
chemistry around the sand particles, so we will not be able to apply
regular inorganic chemistry rules to the process: bacteria will
successfully insulate sand particle from dissolving in water.
If you read many articles about Deep Sand Beds by dr Ron Shimek
you will find in many places references to the statement: it does
not matter what the sand is made from, it could be calcium, silica
or any other material. What does matter is what is the average
particle shape and what is the mixture of particle sizes in the sand.
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> Is there such a thing available for a small reef tank?
>
> Thanks
> That Guy Over There
>
>