29 replies to this topic

[bleecker]

http://www.ati-black...afety4B5219.pdf
Here is a link to the composition of black diamond abrasive. It's 99% coal slag.
What you say?

[Pi's_Human]

I think it's really hard to say, given that this data is meant for humans and not animals. Like I said, I am no expert but I do know that many folks have used it as a substrate for both fish and turtles and I have never heard any horror stories from it's use.

Doing a simple Google search on "use of coal slag as an aquarium substrate" turned up some interesting quotes:

"It's been used for years and is good for growing many aquatic plants. It has no buffering capacity and so allows the water pH to drop which discourages algae, encourages many plants, and predisposes the tank toward the needs of the small gentle fish creatures that fit the picture of a peaceful fully planted aquarium." http://answers.yahoo...19150413AA3R8gO

"I have been using a black blasting sand for over a year now with no issues. Mine is a nickel slag, but I would have no concerns of using coal slag. At the Black Beauty site, they mentioned that one of it's uses was for aquarium substrate. The price is hard to beat."

"The best carbon for water filtration comes from coal. lots of people have used Black Beauty and such, coal slags, with no problems."

""Black Beauty" Sand blasting sand in a medium grit works great! Its made from coal slag and is even recommend for aquarium use on the bag! The only problem is it can be sharp for sand sifters, so if your not keeping any sand sifters then you're good to go!"

These are just a few of the quotes I found, feel free to do the search yourself and draw your own conclusion. It appears that if you can get it in medium grit that reduces the size and sharpness of the pieces. The only negative drawback I have found from it's use (just from internet research) is that some of it can contain Iron Oxides (rust) that might stain your tank orange, but no one definitively stated that this has ever happened to them.

As I have previously posted, I plan on using it in the very near future, but I set that back a bit because I just ordered four new lights and some aquarium cleaning supplies, so I wanted to wait a little before ordering the Black Diamond. I'll keep you posted.

[Pi's_Human]

So I happened to be in the area of Tractor Supply this weekend and stopped in. I got three 50 pound bags of the Black Diamond for $7.99 per bag. I got the fine grain, which is exactly the same size as the run of the mill play sand, in fact it really does look just like black sand and not coal slag as we all know it is.

On Thursday I plan on draining my 120 gallon completely, removing the play sand and putting in the Black Diamond. I'll post pictures as soon as it's done.

[Pi's_Human]

I just now finished swapping out the play sand in my aquarium for Black Diamond sand blasting abrasive, and it looks fantastic! There was no dust whatsoever from this stuff, and it looks amazing! The only issue I encountered was that the grain is so fine and apparently coal is lighter than sand, so a very small bit of the slag is floating on the surface, but I think the filter will get those pieces eventually.

The pictures really don't do it justice, but here are a few anyway.







It definitely looks much better than play sand in my opinion. I'll keep you all posted as far as algae growth, etc, as time goes on.

[bleecker]

So Pi's human, how do like it so far?

[Pi's_Human]

It's great!

[Pi's_Human]

This stuff is an amazing substrate! It has been almost two weeks since I swapped out the play sand, so here are my observations.

I'm not sure why, but there is next to no "dust cloud" when she kicks up off the bottom of the tank, or when she roots around in it for food. Any little bit of dust that does surface settles back down almost immediately. The water is still crystal clear after almost two weeks, and there is no sign of any algae growth whatsoever. If you remember from one of my previous posts, one of the things I found regarding algae growth when using Black Diamond sand blasting abrasive was:

"It's been used for years and is good for growing many aquatic plants. It has no buffering capacity and so allows the water pH to drop which discourages algae, encourages many plants, and predisposes the tank toward the needs of the small gentle fish creatures that fit the picture of a peaceful fully planted aquarium."

This appears to be true because as I said there is no sign of any algae growth whatsoever. As far as any health related issues, neither Jazzy or any of the feeder fish appear to be adversely affected by being in it for almost two weeks. Granted, I don't think any potential health problems that might develop in a turtle would surface in two weeks time, but I would imagine that if it was harmful in any way that the feeder fish would have gotten sick or died.

The only negative aspect from using it that I have seen so far is it does make a black film on her shell, but this washes away very easily during her "bath time", and isn't any worse then what the sand used to leave on her shell.

I guess the true test will be when I open the canister filter in a few more weeks and see how it has affected that, but so far the water flow seems unaffected.

I'll keep you all posted.

Edited by Pi's_Human, 31 January 2012 - 12:52 PM.

[bleecker]

Looks great! Is the stuff sharp to the touch?

[Pi's_Human]

Just the opposite! It's fine grain, even finer than sand. It also has some white particles mixed in, not sure exactly what they are, but when the lights are on (I use two 10,000k  daylight and two 65 watt actinic bulbs) it kind of sparkles. Very cool to look at.

[Joel Browne]

neigh