Basalt Sand

[kevster]

Hi all
I'm new to this forum, and returning to tropical fishkeeping after a break of a few years. I'm setting up a tank on a budget and wanted to use black grit/sand if possible.

My local gravel merchant has black basalt sand at a good price and I was wondering if it is suitable as a substrate? Apart from grading for size, it is unprocessed and clean. It comes in two sizes: 1-3mm and 2-5mm.

I was hoping to use it over a bed of a clay planting grit with a mesh separating the two. The tank is to be heavily planted and filled using soft water for a mixture of fish to include discus, cardinals and dwarf cichlids.

Thanks for any help
Kev

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Isn't basalt like a volcanic rock or something?

 

[kevster]

Isn't basalt like a volcanic rock or something?

From what I can find...yes. Should this mean it is OK?
Kev

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Isn't basalt like a volcanic rock or something?

From what I can find...yes. Should this mean it is OK?
Kev

I wouldn't personally use it if its proper basalt sand, there are quite a few types of basalt rock and at first glance at least some of them could be very toxic to fish based on what the rocks are made out of/contain;

http/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basalt


So i wouldn't use it .

 

[The-Wolf]

as Tokis says, many types of basalt so it would really depend on which basalt you have.
best air on the side of caution and not use it