Blasting sand for loaches?

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gulogulo
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Blasting sand for loaches?

Post by gulogulo » Fri Feb 26, 2016 10:32 am

I have a question for the group. I just got some Black Diamond medium grade black blasting sand as a substrate for freshwater shrimp. Does anyone have experience using this with loaches (specifically Pangio species)? I have heard reports that some blasting sand can be too coarse but this brand and grade was recommended to be safe for freshwater shrimp so I thought it might be OK for loaches. Any advice would be appreciated. And for the record the shrimp and loaches are in different tanks.
Current loach residents- 14 Pangio semicincta, 2 P. doriae, 4 P. myersi, 1 P. shelfordi, 5 P. anguilaris, 6 P. oblonga, 8 P. cuneovirgata 5 Chromobotia macracantha, 3 Gastromyzon ctenocephalus, 3 Gastromyzon species unknown

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atmichaels
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Re: Blasting sand for loaches?

Post by atmichaels » Fri Feb 26, 2016 8:02 pm

Put some in a bucket with water and then swish your hand around in it for a couple minutes. You should be able to tell from that whether you want your loaches digging in it. That's what I do for my scaleless cats.
Currently keeping: gastromyzon spp., hypergastromyzon humilis, pseudogastromyzon sp., sewellia spp., ambastaia sidthimunki, homaloptera spp., serpenticobitis octozona, Yaoshania pachychilus. As well as various catfish, loricarids, livebearers and tetras.

NancyD
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Re: Blasting sand for loaches?

Post by NancyD » Mon Feb 29, 2016 9:03 pm

Yeah, that's pretty much how I judge too. I rub it gently in my hand to see if it feels sharp. I haven't try blasting sand but I do like the black color.
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redshark1
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Re: Blasting sand for loaches?

Post by redshark1 » Tue Mar 01, 2016 2:10 pm

It sounds as though it is designed to be abrasive.
6 x Clown Loaches all 30 years of age on 01.01.2024, largest 11.5", 2 large females, 4 smaller males, aquarium 6' x 18" x 18" 400 ltr/90 uk gal/110 US gal. approx.

Diana
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Re: Blasting sand for loaches?

Post by Diana » Wed Mar 02, 2016 9:12 am

The sample I have seen of Black Diamond from Tractor Supply was more angular than pool filter sand, but not actually sharp. Part of what makes it 'blasting' sand is the machine that blows it at the target at high speed.
38 tanks, 2 ponds over 4000 liters of water to keep clean and fresh.

Happy fish keeping!

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redshark1
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Re: Blasting sand for loaches?

Post by redshark1 » Wed Mar 02, 2016 2:36 pm

Best not employ that for aquarium use as it might erode the epidermis.
6 x Clown Loaches all 30 years of age on 01.01.2024, largest 11.5", 2 large females, 4 smaller males, aquarium 6' x 18" x 18" 400 ltr/90 uk gal/110 US gal. approx.

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