Black Diamond Blasting Sand

rajkm

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I will be moving to my new house in a month or so and was looking at alternate black sand to Flourite.
Came across this which is interesting.

The following SDS information should help you know what BDBS is.

http://www.blackdiamondabrasives.com/media/1117/coal-slag-sds-rev-51.pdf

Something to note, It’s chemically stable. Marginally water soluble. Incompatible with strong acids and bases.
It is inert to a certain level, not sure in aquarium, conditions exist for it to react with anything.
It will have some CEC because of its chemical composition.
 

Phishless

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Doubt there will be any CEC benefits.
Due to the cut of the grains and the heat when produced.
 

rajkm

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Doubt there will be any CEC benefits.
Due to the cut of the grains and the heat when produced.

CEC has nothing to do with size of grain but negative ions which bind postive charged nutrients (citations)

Use it in all my tanks. and 4-5 previous ones

I know you do and you have said It’s inert and no CEC. But unlike pure sand blasting sand has other elements in it. It may also mean there might be some binding of elements happening in your tank.
The below article on coal sag says it has CEC of 7 cmol/kg which I would say is not as good as flourite but still not bad.

https://www.researchgate.net/profil...ng-Contribution-of-aerobic-biodegradation.pdf
 

Phishless

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Flourite is like .7 might as well say not.

The BDBS grains are pretty much sealed from being fired, more like glass particulate. Not porous material.