Any experience with Imagitarium sand from Petco?

So I have what I think is gorgeous black ( but really it’s color is more earthy brown black) BDBS 20/40. I love it. It’s in my show tank. However it’s lighter than water and so I suck up a ton every time I do a water change. To the point where it broke my python after 3 months. And I dread small things like sucking out food (like I will have to today) after a VERY long water change the other day. The other tank I have with imagitarium (Petco brand) black sand is a breeze to clean. With the bdbs I tried the figure 8 motion above the sand and it helped but I also sucked up two tetras (they’re fine!). So I am trying to decide between imagitarium black sand and BDBS medium grade. Tank is acrylic and I’m paranoid about scratches but sand is sand, right? I put a little imag. sand in there to test the color and it’s blacker than bdbs but not as pretty.
A.) is medium bdbs also the gorgeous earthy brown tone of the finer grades or is it darker?
B.) if you’ve had experience with either imagitarium black sand or bdbs 30/60 or 20/40 did you find any of them to be heavier or lighter than others? I def want black sand or would try PFS. I have a feeling 30/60 bdbs is what I need tho it looks sharp in pics. Just before I make a very long drive to get it I wanted to ask!

 

HI!
I can't help you on this but I used PetSmart (topfin) black sand and love it. Only a few particles are light enough to travel up my gravel vac. Most that get sucked up fall right back down. I (think) that I have sucked up all of the super light pieces and now can do a deeper clean. Is if for your 35hex or the krib grow out tank? (both look like show tanks to me).

 

HI!
I can't help you on this but I used PetSmart (topfin) black sand and love it. Only a few particles are light enough to travel up my gravel vac. Most that get sucked up fall right back down. I (think) that I have sucked up all of the super light pieces and now can do a deeper clean. Is if for your 35hex or the krib grow out tank? (both look like show tanks to me).

You’re so nice! The 35. I have to take a pic of the sand now. I’ve grown used to the color. It’s funny you say that about pet smart bc they didn’t have it back when I started with black so I got their gravel (which I did like) so that’s a good idea. I love how fine the bdbs is and it looks so natural like a river bottom BUT it’s not worth it bc it’s so tough to clean. But I like the idea of petsmart bc I like Petco brand but I don’t love it. I would likely layer the new heavier sand over the fine sand and then eventually the light sand will all be gone. Rather than try to empty the entire tank. Ty for that idea I love it! I’ll take a pic when I’m home which will be very soon. Do you have any pics of the petsmart? The reason I can’t tell about the Petco from my glass tank is bc that’s a fluorescent light and do it shows coloration differently (imho) and makes the black look more grey than it would with my aqueon optibright+.

 

Excuse my dumbness (I know, not a real word), What does bdbs stand for? Yes, if you gravel vac often (like 2-3x a week) the light stuff should be gone in ~2 months. I even grow plants in it and it works just fine.

 

Excuse my dumbness (I know, not a real word), What does bdbs stand for? Yes, if you gravel vac often (like 2-3x a week) the light stuff should be gone in ~2 months. I even grow plants in it and it works just fine.

It’s not dumb! It’s black diamond blasting sand. It’s actually coal slag but people on here swear by it and I like it too besides the weight. I just washed some of the imagitarium before this post in a cup and the water filled up and spilled out of the cup without all the sand washing out. The bdbs is lighter than water and lighter than poo. It’s so thin in places even tho I’ve replaced a lot of it. But replacing it (I got a 50 lb bag) is fine but what’s not fine is how hard it is to clean.

 

It’s not dumb!

thx

It’s black diamond blasting sand. It’s actually coal slag but people on here swear by it and I like it too besides the weight.

ah, now I know. I've heard of black diamond blasting sand. but never seen that abbreviation.

But replacing it (I got a 50 lb bag) is fine but what’s not fine is how hard it is to clean.

That can get expensive. Two 25lb bags at PetSmart cost a little less than $40 (this of course depends on your location). Everything is really cheap here in AZ yet the minimum wage is $12! IDGI.

 

Amazoniantanklvr here is the sand color. Pardon the food I need to suck out now.

 

I'll get a pic of mine. Hold on a sec.

Here you go. Excuse my algae. lol

 

I'll get a pic of mine. Hold on a sec.

Here you go. Excuse my algae. lol

It’s really nice! TY!

 

I can't help with your specific question but I have stoneriver black sand - it is heavy enough that it does not vacuum up but it is true black and not brown. Vaguely I think a 50lb bag was not too bad - some folks use blasting sand but I don't have experience with it so I can't recommend a type that is coarse enough to not be vacuum up and pure enough that is safe for fishes.
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Oh you have blasting sand - it comes in different grade so you can get it coarser (and I presume therefore heavier).
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The stoneyriver black stand (it is a national brand) looks similar to amazon's stuff - might even be the same who knows - I don't know which brand of substrate petsmart rebrands....

 

Hi, I have experience with the sand you have in mind-- my sister uses it and it stay put pretty well. Maybe one or two grains but it's pretty heavy.

 

They make good stands! Was a bit painful to assemble though
Whoops thought it said stand!

 

Hi, I have experience with the sand you have in mind-- my sister uses it and it stay put pretty well. Maybe one or two grains but it's pretty heavy.

Which one does she have? TY!

I can't help with your specific question but I have stoneriver black sand - it is heavy enough that it does not vacuum up but it is true black and not brown. Vaguely I think a 50lb bag was not too bad - some folks use blasting sand but I don't have experience with it so I can't recommend a type that is coarse enough to not be vacuum up and pure enough that is safe for fishes.
--
Oh you have blasting sand - it comes in different grade so you can get it coarser (and I presume therefore heavier).
--
The stoneyriver black stand (it is a national brand) looks similar to amazon's stuff - might even be the same who knows - I don't know which brand of substrate petsmart rebrands....

Yes I’ve heard of that! Nice! And Is Stoney river sand sharp or not really? My concern with thicker BDBS is the sharpness in my acrylic tank (yes I’m a nut about it!)

 

The stoney river is not sharp. I have kuhlI on it and they do well - and plants are growing great. The loaches don't burrow in it like they do powder sand but there barbels are fine. I guess you need something really soft and light for them to burrow but then it will vacuum right up when you do a water change.
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I'll put it like this - I will never use the powder stuff again but I would gladly use stoney river again - over eco complete. The only catch is that it is more expensive than pool sand or blasting sand.

Which one does she have? TY!


Yes I’ve heard of that! Nice! And Is Stoney river sand sharp or not really? My concern with thicker BDBS is the sharpness in my acrylic tank (yes I’m a nut about it!)

 

The stoney river is not sharp. I have kuhlI on it and they do well - and plants are growing great. The loaches don't burrow in it like they do powder sand but there barbels are fine. I guess you need something really soft and light for them to burrow but then it will vacuum right up when you do a water change.
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I'll put it like this - I will never use the powder stuff again but I would gladly use stoney river again - over eco complete. The only catch is that it is more expensive than pool sand or blasting sand.

Wow TY!!!!! Well the BDBS is inexpensive to purchase, yet if I have to keep replacing it, it will wind up as more money spent! I don’t have bottom feeders and I have some krib babies who do like to sift sand through their mouths but I don’t think it should create issues, based on your descriptions. You got it on Amazon?! Also l want black sand which limits the options bc as far as I know there isn’t any black pfs and the other very black one I did find was on a site where it was used for decorations (I was advised not to use it earlier by others).
Also for plants—you have plants buried in Stoney river?! I haven’t looked it up yet so perhaps it’s for plants, yet I haven’t tried any rooted plants as of now bc of the sand. I have plants that came on logs or trees and I have moss balls but no rooted plants yet. I am planning on some amazing suggestions of non rooted from angelcraze, However I would love to be able to plant in my tank without having to empty it and restart with soil.

 

No - I purchased it at the lfs. the 'amazon' comment in my original post was meant to be 'topfin' - I sometime get distracted and throw the wrong word here and there.
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Some of the one line places will have it and if you are patient it will go on sale with free shipping. I picked up some caribsea 10lb bags from some where for $12 shipped (not the stoney river substrate we are talking about but an example).
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Amazon has the 5lb bags but you'd probably want a 50lb bag.

Wow TY!!!!! Well the BDBS is inexpensive to purchase, yet if I have to keep replacing it, it will wind up as more money spent! I don’t have bottom feeders and I have some krib babies who do like to sift sand through their mouths but I don’t think it should create issues, based on your descriptions. You got it on Amazon?! Also l want black sand which limits the options bc as far as I know there isn’t any black pfs and the other very black one I did find was on a site where it was used for decorations (I was advised not to use it earlier by others).
Also for plants—you have plants buried in Stoney river?! I haven’t looked it up yet so perhaps it’s for plants yet I haven’t tried any rooted plants yet bc of the sand. I have plants that came on logs or trees and moss balls but no rooted plants yet. I am planning on some amazing suggestions of non rooted from angelcraze, yet I would love to be able to plant in my tank without having to empty it and restart with soil.

 

I grow plants just fine in my sand (with root tabs).

 

Which one does she have? TY!

Imaginarium black sand. Though it has a plasticky texture though.

 

Imaginarium black sand. Though it has a plasticky texture though.

That’s an interesting way to describe it. I like that!

 

The Petco sand works just fine. I have plants growing in it, and whenever I decide to move them around I find quite healthy root networks beneath the surface. That said, I'm not talking about high tech. I have Anubias, Java Fern, some pinkish Crypts, and some (what I think is) Vals. I don't use root tabs, just Excel and Flourish. Still trying to find the right mix of fertilizers to keep me from growing BBA, like many of us, but my plants throw out new leaves every couple of days.

The color of the sand is more charcoal than black in the water. My Corys are, by the way, doing well with it, with healthy barbels, and I do enjoy watching them bury their faces in it and dig around, spitting it out through their gills, so it is the right size and texture IMHO.

What about Flourite Black Sand? Many have found that useful. I am considering a Seachem sand for my next tank.

 

The Petco sand works just fine. I have plants growing in it, and whenever I decide to move them around I find quite healthy root networks beneath the surface. That said, I'm not talking about high tech. I have Anubias, Java Fern, some pinkish Crypts, and some (what I think is) Vals. I don't use root tabs, just Excel and Flourish. Still trying to find the right mix of fertilizers to keep me from growing BBA, like many of us, but my plants throw out new leaves every couple of days.

The color of the sand is more charcoal than black in the water. My Corys are, by the way, doing well with it, with healthy barbels, and I do enjoy watching them bury their faces in it and dig around, spitting it out through their gills, so it is the right size and texture IMHO.

What about Flourite Black Sand? Many have found that useful. I am considering a Seachem sand for my next tank.

I have heard that’s a mess but I thought I read that on here so if anybody agrees or disagrees let me know! But I agree about the charcoal. I’m interested in the Stoney river but can only only only only find five pound bags On Amazon and would much prefer twenty

 

I don't think it comes in 20lb bags; 5lb or 25lb. Maybe 50lb not sure.

I have heard that’s a mess but I thought I read that on here so if anybody agrees or disagrees let me know! But I agree about the charcoal. I’m interested in the Stoney river but can only only only only find five pound bags On Amazon and would much prefer twenty

 

I don't think it comes in 20lb bags; 5lb or 25lb. Maybe 50lb not sure.

I wonder where you can get the larger bags. I bet they are less $$$$ than many small bags. Perhaps I’m incorrect! But I am excited to get new sand. My upstairs tank takes legit 10 min to clean with PetCo sand and downstairs takes seriously hours bc one time suctioniong isn’t enough.

 

So I have what I think is gorgeous black ( but really it’s color is more earthy brown black) BDBS 20/40. I love it. It’s in my show tank. However it’s lighter than water and so I suck up a ton every time I do a water change. To the point where it broke my python after 3 months. And I dread small things like sucking out food (like I will have to today) after a VERY long water change the other day. The other tank I have with imagitarium (Petco brand) black sand is a breeze to clean. With the bdbs I tried the figure 8 motion above the sand and it helped but I also sucked up two tetras (they’re fine!). So I am trying to decide between imagitarium black sand and BDBS medium grade. Tank is acrylic and I’m paranoid about scratches but sand is sand, right? I put a little imag. sand in there to test the color and it’s blacker than bdbs but not as pretty.
A.) is medium bdbs also the gorgeous earthy brown tone of the finer grades or is it darker?
B.) if you’ve had experience with either imagitarium black sand or bdbs 30/60 or 20/40 did you find any of them to be heavier or lighter than others? I def want black sand or would try PFS. I have a feeling 30/60 bdbs is what I need tho it looks sharp in pics. Just before I make a very long drive to get it I wanted to ask!

I bought a bag of imagitarium white sand and the moment I opened it I knew I’d never use it. It reeked of plastic chemicals. I get that not all ‘sand’ in aquariums is truly that, but this was offensive. Not knowing what it leeches in to the tank I skipped it.

edit: Seachem fluorite is great once you get past the dust.

 

My lfs sells them. A few places you can mail-order but that only makes sense if you can find one having a free shipping special. If you have an lfs and they carry stoney river you can request they order it for you.

I wonder where you can get the larger bags. I bet they are less $$$$ than many small bags. Perhaps I’m incorrect! But I am excited to get new sand. My upstairs tank takes legit 10 min to clean with PetCo sand and downstairs takes seriously hours bc one time suctioniong isn’t enough.

 

I prefer imagitarium sand to blasting and seachem flourite sand. Always felt that the granules where too small, which is what I think caused my carpeting plant not to spread. It's also heavy enough that you can gravel vac without having sand flying up the tube.

 

I use the sand with plants too and I love it! It's worked out great so far.