Feedback on Fluorite Black Sand please

[Guillermo]

I would appreciate your comments on the new Fluorite black sand, it's about to get to Mexico and I want to give it a try. I'm very pleased with regular Fluorite but the black color would be nicer.

Thanks in advance and best regards

[Pat7676]

Anyone had any exprence on this stuff?

[Roy Deki]

I'm curious as well, I like the looks of it.

[Guillermo]

Thanks Pat & Roy for bumping this thread, I hope someone chime in. I'm using some sort of fine onyx (not Seachem's) substrate in a nano tank, but I want to switch to FBS. This product will be more expensive than the regular Fluorite (about 35 dollars per bag) in my country, so I want to read some opinions before buying it, lol.

Regards

[trenac]

I'm planning on buying this product to re-do my 55G tank with. Hopefully this will be soon, I'm waiting on my stimulus check to arrive.

[plantbrain]

I really like it, better than EC, that much is for sure.
Weighes more, so easier to plant in, smaller and two grain sizes available.
Much cheaper.

Bad: well, it still needs rinsed, but better that than paying extra $$$ for shipping and wasting gas doing that.

I'm happy with it.
In cases where you do not desire ADA AS, this is the best thing I'd say.
The color is pretty nice, blacker than EC.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[Guillermo]

Thanks for the input Tom.

Unfortunately I can't buy AS or EC here, only Azoo and Seachem's. I was told that FBS is about to be here so I want to set up a tank with it.

Regards.

P.S. Hey Trena, I hope you receive a generous check

[John N.]

Originally Posted by plantbrain

I really like it, better than EC, that much is for sure.
Weighes more, so easier to plant in, smaller and two grain sizes available.
Much cheaper.

Bad: well, it still needs rinsed, but better that than paying extra $$$ for shipping and wasting gas doing that.

Regards,
Tom Barr

Are the grain sizes similar to the original Flourite and Flourite Reds? Are they the same hard pellets/rockchips as before but just in a black coloration?

The rinsing issue is one of the reasons why I haven't gone back to Flourite. It's unfortunate to hear the issue will still exist in the new Black substrate as well.

-John N.

[trenac]

Originally Posted by Guillermo

P.S. Hey Trena, I hope you receive a generous check

I did! To my surprise it was the full amount... I bought one bag today, all the LFS had. Going to get 2-3 more bags when it comes in.

[Guillermo]

Glad to know about your check Trena! Can you share a pic of the FBS after you rinse it please ? Thanks in advence.

Cheers

[LauraLeeLLBP]

The "secret" to using Fluorite is to dry it again after rinsing. Try it- it makes a HUGE difference!

Here's a pic of my black sand:




Here's the sand next to the "regular" black Fluorite (the color differences are only from the parts that have dried, when wet it's all solid black):

[trenac]

I wish I had rinsed it first, because now I'm getting a surface film. If only I could find a surface skimmer to fit my Rena Filstar.

[Guillermo]

Laura, thanks a lot for sharing the pics of both FB's and the secret to rinse it better. I'm still waiting for the dealers to import it here.

Best Regards.

[LauraLeeLLBP]

You're very welcome

trenac- I think there are some surface skimmers on the market that work silmilar to in-tank filters so independent from other filters... IDK how expensive they might be, but you might look around?

[trenac]

Laura, come to think of it I've seen something similiar before. Thanks for jogging my memory.