ANYBODY HAVE EXP WITH THIS SAND AND HAVE A SAND SIFTING GOBY ? IS IT OK FOR THEM OR WILL THEY EVEN SIFT THROUGH IT?
:feedback: THANKS FOR LOOKING

I am looking for info on this sand as well. We were thinking of using it in my wifes nano.

I have it in my tank and it is ok. Definatly not sand sifting goby safe though. There are quite a few large rocks in there.

It didn't hurt my goby but he wouldn't sift it.

http://caribsea.com/pages/products/aragalive.html

You can find all the info on all the Arag-Alive products here.

Jenn

I can't tell you how appropriate it is for sand sifters, but as a substrate I like CaribSea Hawaiian Black and use it in all three of my reef tanks. I think it makes the colors of the corals really pop.

Some have said it gets dirty on the surface after a while, but I have not experienced this any more than with white aragonite substrate. I think the amount of flow in your tank makes a big difference as to how clean your substrate is.

99% of its makeup is pieces from fine sugar size granules to medium (crushed coral) size pieces. There are a few larger chunks you will find now and then, anything from the diameter of a dime up to a quarter. But these are few and far between. I pick them out when I see them.

Be aware that there is another brand of live black aragonite substrate made by Nature's Ocean. I bought some and it has magnetic particles in it, which can be bad (scratches) for glass and acrylic tank panels, especially if you use magnetic algae scrapers. Some have stated they have used this brand and it is not magnetic, so it may have been a batch that had some ferous materials in it. Just something to be aware of.

Caribsea (makes Hawaiian Black) also makes a sugar fine black sand called Tahitian Moon, which is silica based. It is chemically inert, but has been rumored to cause diatom blooms in reef tanks because of the silica. This may be true or false, and I cannot say either way.

Dave

thanks guys Ill def stick with the Agra-Alive brand still on the fence with this sand really love my sand sifting gobys 'they make me laugh" however I agree the coral looks amazing in the tank with black hmmmm... any other pros and cons?

CaribSea brand I ment

Hawaiian Black is Sand Sifter safe according to CaribSea's website.

Jenn

thanks Jenn says its sifter safe not burrower friendly? does that include the leopard wrasse and other fish/ pistol shrimp/ watchman goby that go under sand to sleep?

Hawaiian Black is Sand Sifter safe according to CaribSea's website.

Jenn

I assume "sand sifter safe" means the physical size of the media, right?

Large sand sifting goby will prob have no prob, w/ larger pieces

Acro, when you touch the sand is it like a charcoal left behind on your fingers? black?

Acro, when you touch the sand is it like a charcoal left behind on your fingers? black?

Never. The substrate is inert. It does not break down. More inert that crushed coral. You know how crushed coral can leave that pasty residue on your hands if you scoop it out manually. This does not.

reminds me of carbon and a clean water look well yours did any ways

reminds me of carbon and a clean water look well yours did any ways

That is good approximation of the size of most of the Hawaiian Black , that of Granular Activated Carbon or crushed coral.

Hehe, never thought of GAC as a substrate!:D

ok i will give it a try need 12- 14 bags of this

ok i will give it a try need 12- 14 bags of this

Can't remember if I told you how much I used in my 150 DD tank (36x36) when you were a the house yesterday.

I used 12 bags (20# size) to get an approximate 2" depth in the tank. 12-14 bags is a good figure to start with for 40 x 40 tank.

I'd also tell you to build your base rock structure on the glass and then add the substrate. Then you can finish the aquascape with a solid foundation.

I was going to first put down egg crate then put down base rock then put down sand and finish with rest of rock what are your thought on egg crate? To keep rock off glass? I forget where I saw this. Layer bottom completely with crate

I ask this question because my frag rack in my display omits a foggy hue when halide hits it ( made from white egg crate) and it's ugly is this toxic or something? Fish are fine I guess .

Shouldn't be a problem with egg crate on the bottom. People have used it in reefs or years. Although I don't know why you'd want to use it other than raising the rock up a bit so it doesn't get so buried in the sand? I guess it could spread the rock weight out to avoid pressure points on the bottom glass as well.

Yeah keep from cracking glass

I assume "sand sifter safe" means the physical size of the media, right?

That's how I interpret that too, David.

Not sure I like the idea of eggcrate on the bottom - too many places for junk to accumulate.

We always put the rock directly on the glass, then add the sand. We recommend 3/4" to 1" (unless you are doing a DSB, which I don't suggest).

2" is "in between"... too deep to be shallow, to shallow to be deep. A DSB is 4-6".

Placing rock on the glass first reduces the risk for sand-shifting creatures to cause a landslide due to burrowing.

Haven't seen a tank break yet because the rock was on the bare glass.

Jenn

Alot of live rock is a bit lighter than what you would find at a landscape supply place. I used eggcrate under the lace rock I have, then added some live rock later. If I was to do it again, I'd use all live rock and skip the eggcrate.