Does your black diamond have that needle like pieces?

**Bubba_Shrimp** · 10-19-2012, 08:34 PM

I got some black 20/40 diamond blasting abrasive and it looks good except it has quite a few pieces that look like a thin piece of wire/needle.
Is it normal for black diamond?

rrastro · 10-20-2012, 03:18 AM

mine also has them. doesn't seem to be a problem, though.

Monster Fish · 10-20-2012, 03:42 AM

I have them as well. If they bother you, just pick them out. Otherwise, they aren't really a problem.

**Bubba_Shrimp** · 10-20-2012, 11:28 AM

Picking them out of 4 bags would be a problem :-)
If you say they are fine then I'm ok with it. Thanks!

rrastro · 10-20-2012, 03:17 PM

Could be different depending on what you have stocked in your tank. I have shrimp and corydoras hastatus. Doesn't seem to affect the shrimp or the corys but these corys aren't the most aggressive substrate diggers. I can see where something that really liked to dig in could potentially injure itself.

james0816 · 10-20-2012, 03:19 PM

hmmm...wire/needle like pieces you say? I'd be a little concerned with cories and loaches with that.

Monster Fish · 10-20-2012, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by james0816

hmmm...wire/needle like pieces you say? I'd be a little concerned with cories and loaches with that.

They look like this:

I picked out whatever I could find but eventually I was like, "to hell with it!" and just left them mixed in the sand.

**Bubba_Shrimp** · 10-21-2012, 01:30 AM

Hmmm, yours must be 30/60 grit. Mine is 20/40 and has much more of those "needles" and they are thin... Still feels OK in my palm but I did poke my finger once when I squeezed hard.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monster Fish

They look like this:

I picked out whatever I could find but eventually I was like, "to hell with it!" and just left them mixed in the sand.

Monster Fish · 10-21-2012, 01:36 AM

Ah, yeah I picked out the medium grade bag since it was said to be easier to work with than the finer grained stuff.

**Bubba_Shrimp** · 10-21-2012, 08:56 PM

I wanted to have dwarf loaches but probably will stay with smaller corydoras only for now.

wheatiesl337 · 10-25-2012, 10:01 PM

The last bag of 20/40 I picked up also looked similiar. Don't remember this issue with the first bag I used. I wonder if it varies by batch.

I really like the grain size, weight and color on this stuff, but I am not sure I would use it with any vigourous substrate diggers, which is too bad.

Anyone have suggestions for alternative capping materials that are about the same in grain-size and color range?

microw · 12-13-2012, 10:10 AM

Yep.

All I know is my assassin snails love the stuff. I have about 20 and it's kinda rare to see them because they're buried deep in it. Also recently spotted a couple of babies so that's awesome!

I also have 3 oto cats that don't mind it, though I do see them resting on my plants quite a bit.

Ozone · 01-03-2013, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monster Fish

Ah, yeah I picked out the medium grade bag since it was said to be easier to work with than the finer grained stuff.

Hi Monster Fish where in NY you get your black diamond from ?

Monster Fish · 01-03-2013, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ozone

Hi Monster Fish where in NY you get your black diamond from ?

GT Rentals in Brooklyn.

dprais1 · 12-13-2012, 10:21 AM

I've always heard about people being really carefull with substrate choices and loaches/corys. I think it has been pretty well decided that lost barbs is a result of poor water quality.

Barbs are extremely sensitive and should be able to determine what is safe and what isn't before they cut them selves.

I have never actually heard of corys being harmed by any substrate.
I would love to hear at least one story!

10-19-2012, 08:34 PM	#1
Bubba_Shrimp Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (26/100%) Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 425	Does your black diamond have that needle like pieces? I got some black 20/40 diamond blasting abrasive and it looks good except it has quite a few pieces that look like a thin piece of wire/needle. Is it normal for black diamond?

10-20-2012, 03:18 AM	#2
rrastro Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: El Cerrito, CA Posts: 270	mine also has them. doesn't seem to be a problem, though. __________________ Easing my toes in the water SFBAAPS Member

10-20-2012, 03:42 AM	#3
Monster Fish Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (24/100%) Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 1,813	I have them as well. If they bother you, just pick them out. Otherwise, they aren't really a problem. __________________ 5.5 gallon grass tank\|5.5 gallon Rili tank RAOK Club #77\|*The Fraternity of Dirt #112*

10-20-2012, 03:17 PM	#5
rrastro Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: El Cerrito, CA Posts: 270	Could be different depending on what you have stocked in your tank. I have shrimp and corydoras hastatus. Doesn't seem to affect the shrimp or the corys but these corys aren't the most aggressive substrate diggers. I can see where something that really liked to dig in could potentially injure itself. __________________ Easing my toes in the water SFBAAPS Member

10-21-2012, 01:36 AM	#9
Monster Fish Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (24/100%) Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 1,813	Ah, yeah I picked out the medium grade bag since it was said to be easier to work with than the finer grained stuff. __________________ 5.5 gallon grass tank\|5.5 gallon Rili tank RAOK Club #77\|*The Fraternity of Dirt #112*

10-20-2012, 11:28 AM	#4
Bubba_Shrimp Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (26/100%) Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 425	Picking them out of 4 bags would be a problem :-) If you say they are fine then I'm ok with it. Thanks!

10-20-2012, 03:19 PM	#6
james0816 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (60/100%) Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: VA Posts: 2,014	hmmm...wire/needle like pieces you say? I'd be a little concerned with cories and loaches with that.

10-21-2012, 08:56 PM	#10
Bubba_Shrimp Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (26/100%) Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 425	I wanted to have dwarf loaches but probably will stay with smaller corydoras only for now.

10-25-2012, 10:01 PM	#11
wheatiesl337 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Davis, CA Posts: 148	The last bag of 20/40 I picked up also looked similiar. Don't remember this issue with the first bag I used. I wonder if it varies by batch. I really like the grain size, weight and color on this stuff, but I am not sure I would use it with any vigourous substrate diggers, which is too bad. Anyone have suggestions for alternative capping materials that are about the same in grain-size and color range?

12-13-2012, 10:10 AM	#12
microw Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Moore, OK Posts: 92	Yep. All I know is my assassin snails love the stuff. I have about 20 and it's kinda rare to see them because they're buried deep in it. Also recently spotted a couple of babies so that's awesome! I also have 3 oto cats that don't mind it, though I do see them resting on my plants quite a bit. __________________ I hate worms. - My 10 gallon tanks

12-13-2012, 10:21 AM	#15
dprais1 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: mt prospect Posts: 475	I've always heard about people being really carefull with substrate choices and loaches/corys. I think it has been pretty well decided that lost barbs is a result of poor water quality. Barbs are extremely sensitive and should be able to determine what is safe and what isn't before they cut them selves. I have never actually heard of corys being harmed by any substrate. I would love to hear at least one story!

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