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Blasting Grit for Sand Substrate?

Discussion in 'Aquarium Equipment & Decor' started by MOD_Dawn, Sep 15, 2011.

  1. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Thread Starter Active Member

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    At tractor supply company I can get a 50Lb bag of Little Fury Fine Blend (30-60) Blasting Grit for $7.99

    Wondering if this is do-able in an aquarium? From what I've read it's compared to Tahitian Moon Sand (which is what I have in the 20gL), but there's not much on the web (at least nothing I came across) that said if it was okay in the aquarium, caused any parameter shifts, or damaged any inhabitants.

    Link to it here--> Little Fury Fine Blend (30-60) Blasting Grit, 50 lb
     
    MOD_Dawn, Sep 15, 2011
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  2. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Thread Starter Active Member

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    I've also come across 3m ColorQuartz which apparently is no longer in production, and SpectraQuartz which has come in place of it. These are typically for "pools"--> http://www.spectraquartz.com/
     
    MOD_Dawn, Sep 15, 2011
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  3. WhiteGloveAquatics

    WhiteGloveAquatics New Member

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    you can buy it and return it, just get a little out and see what it does to a cup of distilled water.
     
    WhiteGloveAquatics, Sep 16, 2011
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  4. susankat

    susankat Member

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    I've used the fine grade black blasting sand in a couple of tanks and have had no problem with it. It does contain iron so it will help plants that need the extra iron.
     
    susankat, Sep 16, 2011
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  5. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Thread Starter Active Member

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    Thanks for the confirmation, now I need to know if it's sharp or whether you've kept any bottom dwellers on it with any type of negative effect?
    Just want to make sure the cory's, loaches, and bristles will be happy ;)
     
    MOD_Dawn, Sep 16, 2011
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  6. susankat

    susankat Member

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    I've got it in my 220 and there is about 75 cories and 5 clown loaches in there. there is also a bunch of bristlnoses in there.
     
    susankat, Sep 16, 2011
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  7. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Thread Starter Active Member

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    By chance any photos? I'd love to see how it looks..and is it as close to Tahitian Moon Sand as it appears?

    Looks like the next substrate is gonna be Little Fury Fine Blend (30-60) Blasting Grit, 50 lb x2 as I've just learned the inside of the house is going to be repainted...which means at some point the tank will have to come down and what better time to switch things up!
     
    MOD_Dawn, Sep 17, 2011
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  8. susankat

    susankat Member

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    Here is the tank after it has grown in

    ai49.photobucket.com_albums_f283_susankat55_DSC00323.jpg

    right after filling it
    ai49.photobucket.com_albums_f283_susankat55_DSC05679.jpg

    ai49.photobucket.com_albums_f283_susankat55_DSC05523.jpg

    while putting wet sand in.
    ai49.photobucket.com_albums_f283_susankat55_DSC05484.jpg

    The bags I bought were 80 lb bags for $12.00
     
    susankat, Sep 17, 2011
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  9. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    I would have thought something that fine would have clouded the water like crazy.
     
    Anthony, Sep 17, 2011
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  10. susankat

    susankat Member

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    It takes a lot of rinsing. I would use a smaller bucket and only fill about 1/2 way.
     
    susankat, Sep 17, 2011
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  11. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Thread Starter Active Member

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    Thanks so much for the photos, looks finer than the tahitian moon sand and not quite as "crystal" black.
    Your plants look great, and for the price of this stuff you just can't really beat it at only a bit more than the pool filter sand.
     
    MOD_Dawn, Sep 17, 2011
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  12. susankat

    susankat Member

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    I paid $12.00 for an 80lb bag.
     
    susankat, Sep 17, 2011
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