Where Can I Get Black Sand?

[GoldfishAttentionSpan]

I am already thinking about how I would like to set up my 55 gallon tank when I get it, and I haven't even gotten it yet!

I would like to have a black background, black sand, several large pieces of grey slate, and an albino tiger oscar. I will get him as a wee little thing and watch him grow up! I also think I will add some bubble stones or wands to keep the oxygen levels up, and I think the bubbles would look cool and break up the plain background. I won't do any plants because the oscar would just end up ripping them up anyway.

Anyway, what is the cheapest way to get a fairly large amount of aquarium-safe black sand?

 

[charlie4486]

http/www.bigalsonline.com/edealinv/servl...mp;ctl_nbr=3684

that seems to be pretty cheap. this is good quality black sand. there is also black beauty, but that is actually powdered iron slag used for sand blasting and can be sharp. black tahitian moon sand seems to be the way to go. hope this helps.

 

[GoldfishAttentionSpan]

Thank you! That does seem cheap.

About how much would I need for a 55 gallon tank? I know it is 4 foot long, but I'm not sure about how wide it is.

 

[bobross]

About how much would I need for a 55 gallon tank? I know it is 4 foot long, but I'm not sure about how wide it is.



I hate to be the one to say it, But I hope you realize that it won't take long for that oscar to outgrow the tank. I seriously wanted an o until I watched how fast they can grow. Within seven months, I watched my friend's oscar grow from two inches to ten! And half of the time, the oscar was in a 30g with another oscar. Now, that same oscar is a 90g and it almost seems like he's too big for that tank.

With that out of the way, you'd still have time to watch the fish grow to a decent size.. long enough to enjoy it. Plus, you would have a cool looking tank for some other type of fish later on.


I would think the amount of sand you need all depends on how deep you would want it to be. Maybe 50-70lbs. would be a good start and go from there.




BobRoss

 

[GoldfishAttentionSpan]

I was under the impression that a 55 gallon was suitable for an oscar as long as it is the only inhabitant (which he would be), you kept up on water changes (which I would), and used heavy filtration (which I would).

I just looked up the index profile on it, and it does say 75 gallons, but I believe that elsewhere on this forum I have read 55 gallons more than once. I shall look into it.

 

[loachman]

3M COLOR QUARTZ

You get it from pool and flooring suppliers. It is the cheapest "black sand" around. It's inert and amazingly homogenous in its' size and color. It is the colored specs you see in custom pool walls and bottoms. The only problem with it is you need to rinse it alot.