Black Sand For Cichlids, Which To Go For?

[blagger]

New to the world Cichlids, my 330l tank will be here next week and I'm raring to get all the other equipment ready and the fishless cycle started.

I need help with the substrate, I want to go with black sand but I'm not sure which to go for, so far the choices have been:

CaribSea Tahitian Moon Black Sand (approx cost £66 for 36kg/80lbs)

or

CaribSea Eco-Complete African Cichlid Substrate Fine Grade (cost £120 for 36kg/80lbs)

Is the latter really worth the extra to keep PH levels up and all the other bits that come in it?

Are there any other suggestions which could save me a bit of money?

Or where I can get this stuff cheaper?

Thanks

 

[blagger]

Been searching the net and have found a cheaper alternative (cost £54 for 36kg/80lbs):

http/www.warehouse-aquatics.co.uk/caribsea-tropical-black-sand-9kg.html

I read on US forum that you can also use something called "Coal slag sand blasting grit (Black Diamond/Black Magic)", this is a lot cheaper. There's some stuff on ebay but I'm not 100% sure it is the same thing, link:

http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/shot-blasting-grit-sand-25kg-bags-/300624376800?pt=UK_Air_Tools_and_Compressors&hash=item45fe9bf3e0

If anyone can be give me some kind of idea that would be great.

 

[kiriyama]

Warehouse Aquatics - Caribsea Tropical Black Sand

Have used thism fine grade, cichlids love digging and spitting it , have also used the cichlid stuff, nice


Cheers, Sean

 

[blagger]

Nice one Sean, just realised they are quite local to me, so may take a trip down there.

Still interested in the sand blasting stufff if anyone has any ideas.

 

[Poseidons_daughter]

I have heard good things about CaribSea Moon Tahitian Moon Gravel, since it contains bacteria that helps with the water quality within your home aquarium. My roommate likes it because it's easy to use and you can use tap water with it.

 

[kiriyama]

Nice one Sean, just realised they are quite local to me, so may take a trip down there.

Still interested in the sand blasting stufff if anyone has any ideas.

Sand blasting stuff may be silica sand , have tried it a couple of times, the white stuff turned green eventually and was so light the tank looked liked a snow globe at times I have used silica made by a company called Roman Gravel, I used the pewter coloured stuff, sort of off white grey, the Multifasciatus loived ploghing through it to bury there shells, really nice stuff At the moment I have a ouple of small bags of the Pets At Home own brand pewter silica in the big tank with silver sand , play sand and Caribsea cichlid sand, I think it looks nice......


Cheers, Sean

 

[toddnbecka]

I used 100 lbs of coal slag in my 220, looks great and no problems with it. Paid less form 100 lbs of it than for 20 lbs of black sand. Added bonus, no silica means no diatom bloom. Check my thread for pics.

 

[blagger]

Warehouse Aquatics - Caribsea Tropical Black Sand

Have used thism fine grade, cichlids love digging and spitting it , have also used the cichlid stuff, nice


Cheers, Sean

Now bought this, £55!

Once it arrives do I need to clean it out or can I simply just chuck in the tank, wait a few days for it to settle and then start the fishless cycle?

 

[This Old Spouse]

I'd rinse it just to get any extra dust and nasties off it. You just never know. Plus it'll keep any dust off your filter.