Filling A Tubular Metal Rack?


I have a tubular metal rack which consists of four hollow cylindrical steel uprights, sixteen hollow rectangular cross supports and is coupled to a carpet over concrete floor on four threaded spikes. My components sit on MDF shelves and are coupled to these shelves with brass cones and spikes. Up until recently I have had the rack filled completely with sand. I was advised on this forum to remove the sand from the rack as sand acts as a damping device and therefore kills dynamics. With the equipment in use on the unfilled rack I have introduced a metallic ring to the sound, loosened up the bass and diminished top end detail. It was suggested to me that I use a material such as Systrum's Micro-steel Bearing fill instead. I investigated this product on Systrum's website and I quote from their website...

"Steel is positioned as a primary conductor of resonance within our science and product designs. NO SAND, NO LEAD and NO RUBBER products, as these substances come from the "absorbent materials" group. It remains a fact that sand, lead and rubber materials are a solution to treat the negative effects of resonance and vibrations. However, these materials absorb dynamics and micro-dynamics when used with audio and acoustical equipment. They literally soak up and destroy the energies that make the musical presentation exhilarating.
Maintaining and increasing Dynamics within the presentation is a primary goal of all Audio and Videophiles. This raw energy creates the overall excitement and pleasure related to human emotion while listening to a recorded process or live-presentation. If you currently own a stand that can be mass loaded or are using sand and/or lead as the primary fill material, we highly recommend replacing the absorbent material with Micro-Bearing Conductive Steel."

The problem I have is a) the Systrum products are unavailable in my country (New Zealand. b)Systrum sells this product for US$40 a quart and I require approximately 15 quarts to fill this rack. Given the exchange rate and cost of freight, importing this product would be extraordinarily expensive. Approximately NZ$900 not including freight! This is clearly an unrealistic proposition.

I am hoping that somebody may be able to suggest a more readily obtainable and cost effective alternative. Thanks in advance for your help.
unhalfbricking
Unhalfbricking, when you were using sand was your sound lacking in dynamics? If there wasn't a problem, then why not just fill it back with sand.

It also might help if you describe your room and system.
Well of course the stuff you can get for free is no good. They want you to buy their product. I have sand in the legs of my rack, and under my CD player. My system sounds great!