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Unread 09/09/2018, 04:57 PM   #1
monkeysee1
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Location: MERRIMACK NH
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White sand or Black sand??

Hi again everyone!
I'm going a bit more minimalist in my tank and have a my (much simpler) rock design picked out. Fish and my inverts. NO CORALS.
I, along with the aquarium consultant at the LFS I'm hiring agree it's time to change the sand bed.
I love the Tropic Eden White Miniflake Aragonite. The fine white is beautiful. But I also think think that Black Hawaiian sand is really cool.
The guy at the LFS store is discouraging me from the black sand and says it will REALLY darken my tank too much, scratch the glass and may look initially but will look like crap over time. Is he right?
Should I stick with white??
I'm taking votes.
I'm NOT going bare bottom - it's bad for inverts. Just a bit more minimalist with my 10 fish that I love - I want to keep ALL of them, with my inverts too (snails, feather duster, emerald crabs, urchins, shrimp, etc).
SO is he right??


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Your "fair share" is not in my wallet; it's in my fish tank!!
Current tank info: 90 Gallon saltwater 10 fish with a few inverts; NO CORALS!
Tried to go reef; didn't work out so hot; FOWLR's for me!

Last edited by monkeysee1; 09/09/2018 at 05:14 PM.
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Unread 09/09/2018, 05:16 PM   #2
Pslreefer
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I like the black sand , however some of the grains in it will get magnetized to your glass algae scaper


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Unread 09/09/2018, 06:24 PM   #3
FamilyTank
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White


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Unread 09/09/2018, 07:11 PM   #4
Crooked Reef
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I have a 90 gallon reef with white sand and a biocube 29 dwarf lion tank with black. It darkens the tankeven with a powerful light. I don’t have an issue with scratching the glass, but I use a scrub pad and not a magnet on that tank. It does show detritus a lot more than you would think. When it is time to change it, I will go with white.


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Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef. Biocube 29 lionfish tank. Mantis tank.
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Unread 09/09/2018, 07:25 PM   #5
Chad_P
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White. Had white in a prior tank, went through all the trouble to switch to black and ended up not liking it.

Fluorescent colors popped but tank looked too dark and always looked dirtier than white. Never had an issue with it sticking to algae scraper, I used Tahitian moon sand which I liked the best out of all the blacks.

Sold the 93 and started up a 180 gallon. Went with all white sand


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Unread 09/09/2018, 08:14 PM   #6
laverda
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Black looks shape when new. It quickly loses that look and looks dirty. Just like a black car, every bit of dirt (detrius) stands out.


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Current Tank Info: 300g mixed reef, 50g cube
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Unread 09/11/2018, 12:08 PM   #7
Lancerman
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Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Arcadia
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go for white

I've had this dilemma but following the sage advice of those before me, opted for white sand. To me, it looks more natural, and I wont have to worry about it magnetizing. If you do decide to get black sand, look at petco, they have the live sand for ~$10 for a 10lb bag last time I checked(might have went up). But ultimately its up to your needs and preferences. Do what makes you happy!


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Unread 10/09/2018, 06:25 PM   #8
monkeysee1
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Thanks for all your advice guys!
I went with white Tropic Eden!


__________________
Your "fair share" is not in my wallet; it's in my fish tank!!
Current tank info: 90 Gallon saltwater 10 fish with a few inverts; NO CORALS!
Tried to go reef; didn't work out so hot; FOWLR's for me!
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Unread 10/11/2018, 09:24 AM   #9
Conigs
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White


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Unread 10/14/2018, 02:52 AM   #10
skulls1075
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good choice. that’s what i use.


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Unread 10/14/2018, 03:57 PM   #11
hkgar
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It is your tank. Do what you like.

Why care about we like?

Why do people ask what they should like?

Or, is your question really - what are the pros and cons of black versus white sand?


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180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx

Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels
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