Basic questions about Onyx Sand

[PapstBenediktXVI]

Hello there,

since I am from Austria (which means that you can read this text in Schwarzenegger's voice if you like) there is no way for me to find solid information about Onyx Sand since it isnt sold anywhere. But I'm thinking about ordering it from some british mail order site since i heard so many good things about it.

So I'm planning a Walstadt kinda tank and maybe hold the water collumn dosing until i see if the plant growth suits me. Now I want to follow Barr's advice and cap some nice soil with Onyx Sand but there's some questions pondering my mind:

Isn't the sand keeping the mulm away from the soil where most of the bacteria are, or is it cool if the mulm stays on top too?

I read that the sand is -compared to other kinds of sand- a bit coarse, could it happen that the sand is gonna hurt my polka dot loaches (more like their barbels)?

Do you know any kind of substrate that is comparable to Onyx Sand and sold in europe? or if nobody knows any, do you know what onyx sand is made of or why it is better than other products? this may help me comparing the descriptions of other products available

Ill post back!

cheers
Papst

 

[Tom Barr]

If you want Arnold back, we will even pay the air fair.

The small grain size of the sand will prevent mulm /detrital matter getting down there, but it will keep the soil intact also.
Cories and loachs are fine with Onyx sand IME.

Never an issue.

You can use a similar product if you can find it in the EU, black fine sand, 2-3 mm should do nice.

 

[PapstBenediktXVI]

Hello there,

er.. this is a really nice offer but i wouldnt want him to join our politics too. Also we dont quite... miss him either.

Another question just came to my mind. Why do you promote Sand to cap the soil (or leonardite) instead of gravel? Is it because of the carbonate onyx sand adds to the water?

Cheers
Papst