Re: sand

[Mike & Diane Wise <apistowise@bewellnet.com>]

Mike,

You're right about it being a byproduct of coal mining. It is called "canal coal
(sand)" by us old geologists. In many coal seams there is a layer of fine sand
laying above and below the coal proper. It is blackened by bitumens and other
coalified organics - and inorganics - that come from the coal. I would never use
this product until I've tested it for sulfide contents. You see, a lot of the
inorganic component is extremely fine grained pyrite (Fe2S) which can decompose
in a tank to form Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S), that rotten egg gas that is poisonous
to almost everything. I once collected some black argillite and used it in a
tank. After about a month the pyrite that made it black broke down, releasing H2S
into the tank. I lost a tankful of Florida Flag fish that way. Canal coal sands
can vary in their amount of pyrite. Those from low-sulfur coal beds will have
less pyrite than those Midwestern high-sulfur coals. Like I said, test it for a
month or two on some sacrificial fish first and check every day for that rotten
egg smell. But if you have poor tank maintenance habits, I guess it will be hard
to tell one way or the other.

Mike Wise

Mike wrote:

> I use BB in almost all my tanks.  I have not had any problems in the past 3
> years using it.  My understanding of the product, is it is a byproduct of
> coal production, but that may be a myth.
> Mike
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "David Sanchez" <apistogrammasetc@yahoo.com>
> To: <apisto@listbox.com>
> Sent: Sunday, February 18, 2001 12:28 PM
> Subject: Re: sand
>
> > Yes Randy that is the name, Black beauty couldn't think of it. I have bags
> > of it laying around it is so cheap. I have used it for years like Randy
> said
> > with zero problems. I have used it with all sorts of Apistos and spawned
> > tons of them and I am yet to have any problems from my supplier. I have
> > tested for changes in pH and conductivity and haven't seen any changes.
> >
> >
> > David Sanchez
> > Orlando, FL
> > www.geocities.com/barbax2
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Merce" <M.LIEBANES@terra.es>
> > To: <apisto@listbox.com>
> > Sent: Sunday, February 18, 2001 12:00 PM
> > Subject: Re: sand
> >
> >
> > > I think that the name "Black Beauty" is used more as a generic name than
> > > as one for a specific product, I've heard of it in many parts of the USA
> > > and I can't believe that it's all the same stuff,  especially when I
> > > read on thekrib.com about people who have had problems with BB. I think
> > > that anyone would be wise to check their BB before adding it to an
> > > aquarium.
> > > C:-)lin
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Randy Carey <carey@spacestar.net>
> > > To: apisto@listbox.com <apisto@listbox.com>
> > > Date: Sunday, February 18, 2001 2:34 PM
> > > Subject: Re: sand
> > >
> > >
> > > >I've gone to a sand blasting supply company.  In my area (Minnesota) I
> > > can get
> > > >red flint gravel in many different sizes.  You can get it so small that
> > > it might
> > > >be too fine for an undergravel filter.  For black "sand," they have one
> > > product
> > > >called "black beauty."  (Someone once questioned its mineral content,
> > > but it
> > > >appears to be inert.  I have had black beauty in some tanks for years
> > > and with no
> > > >problems.)
> > > >
> > > >The sand blasting supply company is where several aquarium stores
> > > (around here)
> > > >get their natural-colored gravel that they use and resell.  I think it
> > > cost me
> > > >something like $6 or $8 per 100-pound bag for red flint.  And they have
> > > other
> > > >types of "gravel" available on display.  Just look in the yellow pages
> > > (or on the
> > > >'Net) under "sand blasting."
> > > >
> > > >--Randy
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >Brian Berggoetz wrote:
> > > >
> > > >> I'm looking for a darker substrate than the silica sand I have now.
> > > >> Good stuff but too bright.  Is there a pea gravel that is fine enough
> > > >> for the apistos too still dig in it?  Is there another alternative?
> > > I'd
> > > >> like to keep it more natural than the bare bottom tank.  I'm
> > > interested
> > > >> in natural behavior.
> > > >> bb
> > > >>
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