Black Diamond sand blasting media - Tractor Supply - Is this a safe substrate?

[tugboat]

Not skimping if you find a safe cost effective alternative, I learned about it from a breeder who has been in the hobby over 20 years.

[Steve]

I don't mean to offend anyone but, it's Sand Blasting Media! They make this stuff it's called Aquarium Substrate. You can get it at every aquarium shop I've ever been in and even Meijer. If your going to buy enough of it most shops will even make you a deal. Washing substrate is by far my least favorite part of setting up a new aquarium, so I buy the pre-washed stuff.  Don't skimp on the substrate it's one of the most important parts of the Aquarium. That's just me.

I got ya man, but, here's the prob I have with "approved  sand".

I've been going to my LFS since the 1980's (Royal Tropical fish) and when I got back into the hobby last fall, I went to Royal looking for sand. They had no sand, Mike that works there (and has for many years...Ask Tony he know Matt personally)  he flat out told me (because he & Matt are super honest/nice guys) but he told me "We don't have it but just go to Home Depot and buy it for $3 for 50lbs it's the same thing we buy". Now I had already spent $500 or more there so maybe that's why he told me, but still, sand is sand from what he said' and if you buy "sand" at a LFS your just paying for nothing.

Just my experience.

[Helloitsme]

I understand, I don't like washing substrate.  Everyone's entitled to their opinion.

[djlamonica]

I don't mean to offend anyone but, it's Sand Blasting Media! They make this stuff it's called Aquarium Substrate. You can get it at every aquarium shop I've ever been in and even Meijer. If your going to buy enough of it most shops will even make you a deal. Washing substrate is by far my least favorite part of setting up a new aquarium, so I buy the pre-washed stuff.  Don't skimp on the substrate it's one of the most important parts of the Aquarium. That's just me.

K you keep buying gravel for 20 bucks a 25 pound bag I'll keep buying the gravel that takes 20 minutes to clean for 4 bucks a 50 pound bag.

[Helloitsme]

I don't mean to offend anyone but, it's Sand Blasting Media! They make this stuff it's called Aquarium Substrate. You can get it at every aquarium shop I've ever been in and even Meijer. If your going to buy enough of it most shops will even make you a deal. Washing substrate is by far my least favorite part of setting up a new aquarium, so I buy the pre-washed stuff.  Don't skimp on the substrate it's one of the most important parts of the Aquarium. That's just me.

K you keep buying gravel for 20 bucks a 25 pound bag I'll keep buying the gravel that takes 20 minutes to clean for 4 bucks a 50 pound bag.

Thanks I will! Maybe you should give a program at a club meeting on how to clean a 50 lb. bag of gravel in 20 minutes and see if you can get me to change.

[four_by_ken]

OK, I bought some aquarium sand.  Only because I thought it would save me some time last weekend.

I still spent 20 min plus per bag (2 of them) rinsing. And it still took two days to clear up.

Play sand for me next time.

[djlamonica]

I don't mean to offend anyone but, it's Sand Blasting Media! They make this stuff it's called Aquarium Substrate. You can get it at every aquarium shop I've ever been in and even Meijer. If your going to buy enough of it most shops will even make you a deal. Washing substrate is by far my least favorite part of setting up a new aquarium, so I buy the pre-washed stuff.  Don't skimp on the substrate it's one of the most important parts of the Aquarium. That's just me.

K you keep buying gravel for 20 bucks a 25 pound bag I'll keep buying the gravel that takes 20 minutes to clean for 4 bucks a 50 pound bag.

Thanks I will! Maybe you should give a program at a club meeting on how to clean a 50 lb. bag of gravel in 20 minutes and see if you can get me to change.

Is cleaning gravel a hard thing to do get a few buckets split your gravel up fill it with water let it poor out swoosh it around.  ta da! 

Do you not wash the stuff you buy from the LFS?

[Ron]

IMO people try to wash too large of an amount of sand at one time. Wash a little at a time and wait until the water pours out clear.

Then when filling up the tank, pour water into the tank on a plate so the sand doesn't get stirred up. Done properly the tank won't be as cloudy as people keep describing on here.

[LoveTheFishies]

Has anyone used or know someone who has used Black Diamond Sand Blasting media from Tractor Supply as a substrate in an aquarium ?

Is this media safe for Fish ?

http://www.tractorsupply.com/sandblasting-tools-accessories/black-diamond-20-40-blasting-media-50-lb--3905403

Is this a black or is that just a name brand?

[four_by_ken]

It's black.

[LoveTheFishies]

It's black.

Oh that would look nice.

[RichE]

IMO people try to wash too large of an amount of sand at one time. Wash a little at a time and wait until the water pours out clear.

Then when filling up the tank, pour water into the tank on a plate so the sand doesn't get stirred up. Done properly the tank won't be as cloudy as people keep describing on here.

Logic is not allowed

Also Play sand is too fine if you are using any type of filter with a motor.

[54zamboni]

not sure if its the same name brand, but Menards sells black  slag  in 50 lb bags as well, at less than $10 a bag.  not sure if they've opened their new stores in the detroit area yet?   i've used it  with all types of cichlids for several years, from fronts to tropheus to shell dwellers, plecos and syno's.  i personally don't think it looks good by itself, but mix it  with white sand and i think it looks great. 

[Helloitsme]

Do you not wash the stuff you buy from the LFS?

It's more of a light rinse. If I am using it to pot a plant, no.

[Ron]

Logic is not allowed

LOL

Also Play sand is too fine if you are using any type of filter with a motor.

FWIW, some types of canister filters are designed so that the impeller is after the filter media. So if you have sufficient mechanical filtration media, the impeller should survive sand getting sucked into the intake.