Dark Sand-like Substrate?

For the new tank I am setting up, I would like to use sand substrate but in dark color. The only sand substrate I saw at the local pet store was the beige sand. Anything darker than that is gravel or stones. Anybody have an idea where to get sand-like substrate that's dark?

 

You can buy it online. I like drfostersandsmith, amazon, or eBay.

If you want another dark substate, I recommend EcoComplete or Fluval Stratum.

 

You can try black diamond blasting sand, it is black (under led it can have little flecks of orange or silver), very cheap per bag (8-10$ a 50lbs bag). You can get it at tractor supply.

 

would cichlid sand work?

 

I use the BDBS also in just about all my tanks, like Mcasella said its cheap looks great and its harder for the vacuum syphon to pick up.

 

Thanks for the replies. I will try Amazon or another online store. The closest tractor supply store is 20 miles away.

 

For the new tank I am setting up, I would like to use sand substrate but in dark color. The only sand substrate I saw at the local pet store was the beige sand. Anything darker than that is gravel or stones. Anybody have an idea where to get sand-like substrate that's dark?

I use black moon sand in my 45. Here's the link.

 

I use black moon sand in my 45. Here's the link.

$28 with free shipping. Not bad. Thanks for the link.

 

I use flourite sand for my planted 75G tank, it works but I needed like 6 bags for the substrate as my plants had already had their roots set in my old 55 with a 4" substrate

It is a fine black sand(gravel) type of substrate as well

 

Wow, so many choices. I am going to go for easy to care plants (java moss, anubias) so I do not think they will need to be planted into the substrate.

 

Wow, so many choices. I am going to go for easy to care plants (java moss, anubias) so I do not think they will need to be planted into the substrate.

Java Moss ( balls ) are pretty much just you put anywhere and they will grow, anubus plants will need to be put into a substrate, so their roots can take hold and not have the plant float away, but if you want easy plant care substrate, Flourite sand is what worked best for my anubus,bamboo, and dragon leaf plantz

 

$28 with free shipping. Not bad. Thanks for the link.

If you need more than 20lbs, this will get expensive very expensive. I wanted it so bad, but I would need about 65-75lbs. That would be almost a hundred dollars just for sand.....Ummm..no thank you.
I went with the Black Diamond Blasting Sand(extra fine), and couldn't be happier. I bought 100 lbs for 20 bucks.

 

It would be for a 10 gallon tank so I think one bag should be sufficient.

 

Petsmart sells the National Geographic Black Aquarium Sand Substrate....

 

Petsmart sells the National Geographic Black Aquarium Sand Substrate....

Perfect. Thank you.

I just have to figure out how many lbs I need for a 10 gallon tank.

 

I just have to figure out how many lbs I need for a 10 gallon tank.

I suggest that you buy a 20 lb bag to start with.

 

Perfect. Thank you.

I just have to figure out how many lbs I need for a 10 gallon tank.

I have the National Geographic black sand in my main tank and I love it. Nothing like live sand/crushed coral, which I do love the look but no matter what if you disturb it in the slightest, it's everywhere, on the glass ect.. The black sand I vacuum top layer and it goes straight back to the bottom, no clouding, nothing. Just be careful cause they have a few different textures and it's easy to get confused with the fine and sand. For a 10 gallon tank about 15 lbs.

 

The general rule I've been told is to have your substrate 2-4 inches deep to allow plants to take root easily

Perfect. Thank you.

I just have to figure out how many lbs I need for a 10 gallon tank.

 

I just purchased 10 lbs of the National Geographic black sand. That's all they had in my local Petsmart. Hopefully, it will do. If not, I will have to hunt for another bag and add it later.

 

The general rule I've been told is to have your substrate 2-4 inches deep to allow plants to take root easily

There are some decent calculators,out there.



For sand the conventional wisdom is around 2 inches deep, exceeding 3 is theoretically increasing risk of gas pocket formation.

Personally, my BDBS is at 3 inches but I have a lot of plant roots and MTS to sift my sand.

You may want to mix light and dark sands, I've seen photos online that look pretty nice!

 

I've tried to mix them in my 55 before but with how high my water current was, it didn't stay to one side to well

 

I've tried to mix them in my 55 before but with how high my water current was, it didn't stay to one side to well

Oh, I meant literally stirred together. The effect is sort of a textural (heathered) charcoal gray. Nothing shows on it! And while most fish really pop on a dark substrate I tend to loose my sterbaI Cory cats.

 

Thanks for the link to the calculator. I was thinking of just 1" of sand since I do not really like the look of a thick sand layer. The plants I am planning on putting do not need to be planted into the substrate but affixed to the driftwood or other decorations (java fern, anubias - the easy ones).