Black magic blasting sand

[mikeb144]

What does everyone think about using black magic as substrate.

[CichlidFan]

I used it once....the particular mix I bought had slag mixed in it..and that slag is really nasty stuff....I had to clean each bucket full several times before adding it to the tank......the water comes out dark brown....over and over again...takes forever to clean thouroughly.....I'd go with something else if you have not already bought it...

CF

[mikeb144]

Thanks Steve

[CichlidFan]

I do know that some black beauty has no slag added....that would be best if you can find it so.....

CF

[Lydia]

Everyone,
I bought some recently. The grains are bigger than sand, but way smaller than gravel. I washed a small bucketfull to experiment last night. First, it is abrasive - duh - cut my hands all up. I would never use this stuff for fish that like to sift sand, etc.....would tear up their mouths ! And it left a black stain on my fingertips from working in it. Came off with lava soap easily, but could forsee it staining thngs and discoloring water - which would be a huge pain. It IS very pretty - has a nice shimmery sheen to it. Going to use it in my betta bowls - will be striking contrast against their beautiful colors. Other than that, I will use for my gardening hobby. If anyone finds some real black SAND that is reasonably priced, please let me know.

[justjuice]

thats all i use in my tanks. yeah it is a pain to get cleaned up but once your done it looks great and iv also noticed that the roots of my plants are more healthy

[Lydia]

Hey I am recanting my previous post. I realized that I had cut my hands all up with glass shards doing some glass cutting and forgot about it. It wasn't the black slag. Since this post, I now have 2 tanks using the black slag. I just rinsed it very good in buckets outside. In one tank it is just the pure black slag - it is beautiful and a very clean looking tank. Another tank I already had PFS in it and was too lazy to take it out, so I mixed the black with it. It is WAY cool - looks like a natural river bottom which is perfect with the petrified wood, etc. I also noticed that the tank cleared to crystal clear in less than 24 hours. Not so with PFS - usually takes 2 or 3 days even when rinsed well. So I LOVE this stuff - and I would never endanger my fish - too expensive and too emotional if anything were to happen.

[koi]

WHere can you buy some?

[Lydia]

I bought mine from an individual, but have since found out you can get it anywhere they sell sandblasting sand (that's what it is) ........local hardware stores, stores like Lowe's,etc......I use PFS in my other tanks and really like it, now have the Black Beauty and really like it too, and then mixed together in one tank like I stated. Now I'm looking for very white for some other tanks to have a wow factor......

[wesleydnunder]

I'm pretty sure all of that black blasting sand used for substrate is coal slag.

Mark

[GrovesFishman]

well it is used for sand blasting but what i have is not coal slag it is copper slag comes in two sizes small and very fine. very fine is not what you want to much dust