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Re: Copper slag
Alfred writes:
> I know that copper is bad for any tanks with plants or fish, but I have a
> question about copper slag. It's a by product from smelting copper. It's
> like black crystals and is used for marine sand blasting (I think). I
> thought it would look really cool to have a tank with black substrate, peat
> filtered water and cardinals. Does anyone know what this is and is it is
> safe to use in tanks?
There are usually all kinds of heavy metals in the ore that copper is mined
and refined from. I would be nervous about this. Sandblasting supply houses
can obtain silicon carbide sand. It is black and chemically neutral in
water, but it is probably going to run about a buck a pound including
shipping. If you are anywhere near Texas you can probably find Tex-blast,
sometimes marketed as Blast-Tex from sandblasting houses or swimming pool
stores, where it is sold as a filter medium. Also black, and much cheaper.
Bob Dixon