PlanetCatfish.com

Hello,

I am new to this site and am trying to find specific information; but, coming up short.
I have tried various search terms in "quick search," but none of my attempts have directed me to a conversation I am sure has taken place many times before.

Anyways, I am hoping to learn more specific information about the use of Black Diamond Blasting Sand as substrate in the aquarium with bottom-dwelling fish like corydoras.
I have had fish for many years ( decades- Im old ) corydoras included, and I know intuitively that coal slag is the last substrate one would choose for bottom-dwelling species. However, there is a growing amount of aquarists out there ( I am on many fish-keeping forums) that are using BDBS and encouraging it as being just as safe as any other sand substrate with corydoras.

Im sure there have been no formal, peer-reviewed studies regarding different substrates in the aquarium and safety with bottom-dwelling species. However, was hoping to read some prior conversations on this forum to hopefully give some better reasons ( beyond the obvious-- that BDBS is coal slag, sharp, and inadequate) to why natural sand or PFS are better options.

Please help me with links to conversations, much appreciated.

Hi Discusluv,
Welcome to Planet Catfish!

To help you use the site, the "quick search" is only for looking up species in the Cat eLog, not for searching the forums for prior posts about a subject. But if you use the Search>Forum Search tool, that's more helpful.

Here are all the hits I got searching for your sand:

search.php?keywords=.Black+Diamond+Blas ... mit=Search

Good luck in your search, and I hope you fins something helpful.

Cheers, Eric

Excellent- many thanks, Eric

Unfortunately, what that link provided was no more than what Ive seen on other forums.
But, thanks for the help, Eric.

Discusluv wrote: ↑29 Mar 2019, 17:32Unfortunately, what that link provided was no more than what Ive seen on other forums.
But, thanks for the help, Eric.

Sorry it wasn't more help. As far as I know, the reality is that there are no comprehensive databases, or publications for that matter, on what kinds of sands are safe/unsafe for fish. From what I've learned there's just a couple of essential rules:

1. The sand can't be sharp. We don't want to injure the mouths/snouts/barbels of fish that root into the sand to seek food.
2. The sand must be chemically inert, so it doesn't impact pH or hardness.
3. The sand can't be neon pink or iris-purple.... okay, those are just my rules.

Cheers, Eric

LOL! Thanks, Eric- Ill add #3 to my usual tips for substrate... because I, myself, needed that advice when I set up my first aquarium 30 years ago. Blue Gravel and a multi-colored castle-- oh! and dyed skirt tetras. (shrug)

Discusluv wrote: ↑29 Mar 2019, 18:04I set up my first aquarium 30 years ago. Blue Gravel and a multi-colored castle-- oh! and dyed skirt tetras. (shrug)