SeachemFluorite Black Sand Substrate, 7.7lb

I bought this black sand for my aquarium, and wow—my tank went from basic to breathtaking! It’s like my fish are swimming in a sleek, underwater penthouse.Why it’s awesome:Stunning Aesthetic: The deep black color makes everything in my tank pop—plants look greener, fish look brighter, and even my snails seem fancier.Soft & Fish-Friendly: The texture is smooth and safe, perfect for bottom-dwellers who like to sift through it. No sharp edges here!Easy to Clean: I expected a mess, but it rinsed surprisingly well and didn’t cloud my water. (Pro tip: rinse thoroughly, and you’ll be good to go!)No Fading: After weeks in my tank, it’s still as jet-black as day one.If you’re looking to elevate your aquarium’s look, this black sand is a game-changer.

I’ve been using this in my 5.5 gal aquarium with two plants, and I love it! I only needed one bag, and it was plenty to fill the bottom and cover my plant roots. My plants have been thriving for years. I do have 5 fish the size of tetras and snails that live with them. I do get some of it sucked up when I do my cleaning, but that’s bound to happen when you’re doing regular cleaning. I read that a lot of people have this for the life of the aquarium, so it’s a great, quality Investment.

Not sure what people are upset about. I washed this sand and then put it in my tank. It wasn't cloudy at all, but I added Seachem Clarity to settle anything left over, which makes the water cloudy for a few hours or a day. It's super black until the light is on it, then it has some reflective specs, but it's all black. I think it looks really nice! I am sprouting some plants to grow in the sand.One bag was perfect for my Fluval Flex 9. I only use Seachem products, definitely quality like everything else Seachem has.

I had second thoughts about adding this sand to my aquarium after reading the reviews and seeing firsthand how long it takes to rinse. I used the ‘bucket method’, meaning I dumped the contents of the bag into my aquarium bucket and stuck the hose in it, tipping the dark dirty water out very carefully, over and over and over…It never did rinse clean but I grew weary so I poured the water off one final time and left the bucket by the aquarium to rest for two days.Once the gorgeous new rocks arrived from Amazon, I did a 50% water change, along with tank maintenance.Using a small mesh strainer received with a rock tumbler, I added the sand. That turned out to be the perfect device for dropping the sand where I wanted. I slowly lowered the strainer into the water, positioned it, and gently tipped the contents.The way this sand moves in water is absolutely amazing and a beautiful sight. It spreads quickly and there was little cloudy residue in the water afterward.I used about half the sand, and plan to use the remainder when the new plants arrive.Definitely worth the time and effort it took to clean, but wish it wasn’t necessary. One rinse sure, but this sand is work.Update: The plants seem to like the combination of sand and root tabs, so I have purchased another three bags for our other aquariums. Yes, I am a glutton for punishment apparently.Another Update: 4 times I have purchased this sand. This last time it messed the water up.I have since discovered I can buy something similar at the pet store nearby that is already clean and ready to go straight in the tank. That is the future plan. 😵‍💫

Yes, cleaning this is an undertaking. But if you want the beauty/benefits of high quality sand for your planted tank, that shouldn’t matter.The way I did this, and to minimize lost substrate, is throw everything in a large bowl. Then, beneath the bowl, place a cookie sheet or two of various sizes, nested within each other. Works best if the sheets have a dimpled/ribbed pattern.As you drain the water from the bowl, the cookie sheet(s) will act similarly to a gold catcher/sleuth. The heavier particles will collect in the ridges as the dirty water flows over and out. This will save a lot of the sand that spills over by nature. Simply collect it and return to the tank once water runs clear (while actively churning the sand).

I’ve been looking for a black sand, but also something to help plants grow. Hopefully this turns out well! I don’t think this bag would have been quite enough to cover my 9.1 gallon long, but I had other sand and some Fluval Stratum to add some elevation in the back and more fertilizer.I’ve seen many mixed reviews, many people not cleaning it properly or cleaning it too much. I used the pillow case method and then the overflow bucket method. The first few rinses yielded a dull brown muddy water, what you want to get rid of. When dumping the water out after the first rinses I noticed dark particulates flowing out and realized it’s just like Fluval Stratum. The more you agitate the substrate, the more fertile dust gets released. This is the stuff that you want to keep!Many people end up washing away all the fine dust and end up with gray sand. Just rinse it until you can fill up the bucket and end up with clean water when sitting still. I had it sitting in the bucket for a few hours before my tank was ready. I had a very small amount of water at the bottom of the tank when scooping in the sand. With this kind of “fertilized” substrate, you don’t want to fill the tank right away. Take your time and play around with the scape with 1/3 inch of water. And then of course use a bowl or plate to disperse the water to prevent any agitation.Taking your time is key with this stuff, but you don’t have to over clean it! Just let the sand sit at the bottom of the tank, without filling it right away.

Much easier to rinse in batches than the whole bag in a bucket.Use a garden hose to gently agitate the sand and dump out the fine particles that float to the surface.Looks great in the tank but it is a little pricey.