Sand and Gravel
Flourite® Black Sand is a specially fracted stable porous clay gravel for the natural planted aquarium. Its appearance is best suited to planted aquaria, but may be used in any freshwater aquarium environment. Flourite® Black Sand is most effective when used alone as an integral substrate bed, but it may be mixed with other gravels. Gravel modifiers such as laterite are not necessary. Flourite® Black Sand is not chemically coated or treated and will not alter the pH of the water. Flourite® Black Sand is good for the life of the aquarium and need not be replaced.
Flourite® Black Sand Mineral Composition
Units=mg/kg, source: Plasma Emission Spectrometer, EPA Method 6010, Univ. of Georgia Chemical Analysis Lab
| Al | Ba | Ca | Co | Cr | Cu | Fe | K | Mg | Mn | Na | Ni | V | Zn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33,150 | 19 | 29,950 | 4 | 7 | 17 | 4,338 | 374 | 1,868 | 51 | 5,484 | 9 | 11 | 9 |
Set-up
Although it is pre-washed, because Flourite® Black Sand is a natural product, it may become dusty in transit and require rinsing before use to remove any residual dust.
When adding water to aquarium, fill slowly to avoid disturbing Flourite® Black Sand substrate bed. Place a bowl in the aquarium and add water directly to the bowl, allowing water to overflow softly on to the gravel bed. Initial cloudiness is normal. To remove cloudiness, use mechanical filtration (such as filter floss). Use Clarity™ to accelerate clearing.
Project Calculator
Use the Project Calculator to determine the number bags needed for your project.
A: Depending on how dense the growth or how dense you wish it to be, the use of Flourish™,(foliar feeding), Flourish Tabs™ (root feeding) and Flourish Iron™ can be useful and helpful, but are not necessities.
A: Yes
A: Flourite® substrates will work fine with an UGF. Flourite® substrates will not soften or decompose to an unsuitable state. In addition, Flourite® substrates have an attractive, natural appearance.
A: It is possible to experience an excess of particles/dust from this product due to frictional action in packaging and shipping. Flourite® substrates are ores with a rich mineral composition and are not chemically coated. Even though some small particles washed away, the product is completely viable and will still offer the same benefit. A better way to add this to an established aquarium is to add small amounts at a time a half day to 24 hours apart making sure these small amounts are rinsed thoroughly. You can also use a water clarifier like our Clarity to clump any small free floating particles together making it easier for your mechanical filter to catch. Your cartridges/floss will tend to clog from all the particles being trapped and will need rinsing or replacing regularly.
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