Black Diamond Blasting Sand is amazing!!!

I’ve been wanting to switch the substrate in my 29 gallon since the second month of having the tank up and running. I started it off with some blue gravel I got from pet smart. You can see it in a media bag in the picture. After watching so many videos and seeing so many pictures of aquariums with sand I knew I’d switch one day. Well yesterday I did it and I couldn’t be more happy! After doing a ton of research I decided to use Black Diamond Blasting Sand as I knew I wanted black sand but wasn’t going to pay 20 bucks for 20 pounds of sand. I paid $10 for a 50 pound bag of the BDBS and it was more than enough for my 29 gallon which is perfect if I want to do something with my 10 gallon quarantine tank. If you are curious how I did the switch while keeping all my beneficial bacteria alive in both my filters, just ask. Anyways, my fish love it, my corys couldn’t be happier, and my girlfriend and kids spend more time looking at the tank which I love. My fish are all way more active. My cardinal tetras have been a little shy since I added my gouramis, but now they are all over the tank. I don’t know if the black sand gives them more of a since of security but I love it. If you want black sand I couldn’t recommend this stuff more. It even has little specs in it that sparkle under the light. I don’t know why this sand isn’t talked about much on YouTube. All I hear about there is pool filter sand and play sand. Maybe I’m just watching the wrong people.
I forgot to add that this sand is only cost effective if you have a farm and fleet or tractor supply near you. I got mine at farm and fleet. You can always search your hardware stores if you don’t have either store. These are just the only two stores I know of that sell it. And I don’t know if tractor supply or farm and fleet/fleet farm are nationwide or if it’s only a Midwest thing

 

Looking good! I love the crocodile eating the ship, made me smile!

 

Oh wow, pretty much every substrate recommendation video I’ve seen on YouTube mentions blasting sand. From what I’ve heard it’s a fantastic cheap substrate but can be hit or miss. Apparently some batches can have an oily residue that takes a while to rinse off, and some have specks of metal or rust.

 

I’m sooooo glad I did BDBS…it’s in my big tank and my little shrimp tank. It’s NOT in my betta tank and that’s the setup I like least. LOL.

 

I gotta remember this. I really like the looks of that.

 

Are you folks using this as your only substrate? Are you layering it on something, adding fertilizer capsules/powders or anything for plants?

 

I use it as my only substrate and just add root tabs once a quarter. Plants are going crazy!

 

I use it as my only substrate and just add root tabs once a quarter. Plants are going crazy!

Thank you.
I've got a 10g cube due here any time today. I think I will use this as my only substrate in it.
It just stinks I have to buy 50lbs of it...
Although I do have a small sandblaster... but I use glass beads in it

 

Thank you.
I've got a 10g cube due here any time today. I think I will use this as my only substrate in it.
It just stinks I have to buy 50lbs of it...
Although I do have a small sandblaster... but I use glass beads in it

Guess that means that you need to get more tanks!!! (always looking for an excuse to get more )

 

Looking good! I love the crocodile eating the ship, made me smile!

Thank you! I was going for a Bermuda Triangle/ shipwreck theme. It looks so much better since I switched out the light/dark blue gravel with this sand

Oh wow, pretty much every substrate recommendation video I’ve seen on YouTube mentions blasting sand. From what I’ve heard it’s a fantastic cheap substrate but can be hit or miss. Apparently some batches can have an oily residue that takes a while to rinse off, and some have specks of metal or rust.

Maybe I’m watching the wrong channels lol. Who are some people you watch? My favorite is king of diy. I also like prime time aquatics. I used to like KGTropicals when I first started in the hobby but I don’t like their style of videos lately

 

I’ve been wanting to switch the substrate in my 29 gallon since the second month of having the tank up and running. I started it off with some blue gravel I got from pet smart. You can see it in a media bag in the picture. After watching so many videos and seeing so many pictures of aquariums with sand I knew I’d switch one day. Well yesterday I did it and I couldn’t be more happy! After doing a ton of research I decided to use Black Diamond Blasting Sand as I knew I wanted black sand but wasn’t going to pay 20 bucks for 20 pounds of sand. I paid $10 for a 50 pound bag of the BDBS and it was more than enough for my 29 gallon which is perfect if I want to do something with my 10 gallon quarantine tank. If you are curious how I did the switch while keeping all my beneficial bacteria alive in both my filters, just ask. Anyways, my fish love it, my corys couldn’t be happier, and my girlfriend and kids spend more time looking at the tank which I love. My fish are all way more active. My cardinal tetras have been a little shy since I added my gouramis, but now they are all over the tank. I don’t know if the black sand gives them more of a since of security but I love it. If you want black sand I couldn’t recommend this stuff more. It even has little specs in it that sparkle under the light. I don’t know why this sand isn’t talked about much on YouTube. All I hear about there is pool filter sand and play sand. Maybe I’m just watching the wrong people.
I forgot to add that this sand is only cost effective if you have a farm and fleet or tractor supply near you. I got mine at farm and fleet. You can always search your hardware stores if you don’t have either store. These are just the only two stores I know of that sell it. And I don’t know if tractor supply or farm and fleet/fleet farm are nationwide or if it’s only a Midwest

StLouisCardinalTetras I have been looking to make the switch from black gravel to black sand because I'm getting loaches soon. How did you keep BB alive? And what brand of BDBS did you end up getting?