Tahitian Moon Sand
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Tahitian Moon Sand
This is absolutely a fantastic forum, such great info! Anyway, just need to know whether or not TMS is good for clown loaches as I plan to change out my 55 gal from gravel to TMS. Experts, please give your opinion, thanks. Di
- Gary Stanton
- Posts: 1412
- Joined: Sun Jan 21, 2007 7:31 pm
- Location: Lake Tahoe, CA
- Gary Stanton
- Posts: 1412
- Joined: Sun Jan 21, 2007 7:31 pm
- Location: Lake Tahoe, CA
Seachem Flourite Black Sand
http://www.seachem.com/Products/product ... kSand.html
Comments on it.
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aquariu ... hp?t=18262
http://www.seachem.com/Products/product ... kSand.html
Comments on it.
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aquariu ... hp?t=18262
"Beware of the fish people, they are the true enemy."
-- Frank Zappa, speech to a pro-choice rally in Los Angeles around 1989-90
-- Frank Zappa, speech to a pro-choice rally in Los Angeles around 1989-90
- palaeodave
- Posts: 1370
- Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2006 5:25 am
- Location: London/York
I had a look around online and the only negative thing I could find about Tahitian moon sand is that it's extremely fine. Doesn't sound like it's sharp at all. And what is wrong with SiO2?
"Science is a lot like sex. Sometimes something useful comes of it, but that’s not the reason we’re doing it" ー R Feynman
Tahitian moon is really fine, like dust! I wanted to use it too as I've always been partial to black substrate but it's just too fine. I decided to use torpedo beach, also from caribsea. It's off white, not black, but it's the right size and texture that I wanted. You can vacuum it and it doesn't end up in my filters. I really like it and it's actually a lot more natural to the fish. I've never seen a river with jet black sand. Most of the rivers in S.E. Asia are either mucky or have lighter colored bottoms.
If you're set on black also have a look at 3M colorquartz. I think it's similar to TM but much cheaper. Something like $25. for a 50lb bag. Google 3M to view product info and see if there's a dealer in your area.
If you're set on black also have a look at 3M colorquartz. I think it's similar to TM but much cheaper. Something like $25. for a 50lb bag. Google 3M to view product info and see if there's a dealer in your area.
I use pool filter sand, which to my knowledge is silica sand, with my weather loaches and goldies. All seems fine with it, but it's a creamy white colour - not sure if it's what you're looking for. It was dead cheap though.
The dojos bury in it and sift it through their gills and the goldies rummage around in it - seems all fine. I too read the stuff about it being sharp, but I know some loach keepers here use it which is why I tried it.
The dojos bury in it and sift it through their gills and the goldies rummage around in it - seems all fine. I too read the stuff about it being sharp, but I know some loach keepers here use it which is why I tried it.
Where are you located DI?
If you're anywhere near lake superior there are lovely red sandy beaches there.
If you're anywhere near lake superior there are lovely red sandy beaches there.
books. gotta love em!
http://www.Apaperbackexchange.com
http://www.Apaperbackexchange.com
I have TMS in one tank and it is hard to properly clean because it is so fine. I need to vacuum it very slowly, and be ready to shut off the water flow so the sand will drop back down into the tank. It does not feel coarse, sharp or gritty to me.
I have 3m Colorquartz in another tank. This is almost the same as far as cleaning, but is a little coarser. Still looks like sand, though. THis one also feels like it is rounded pieces, not sharp.
For plants I have Soil Master Select. Turface is about the same. Not quite black, bet very close. Also hard to clean because it is lighter than sand and also rises up in the vacuum.
I have Loaches and other bottom fish in the SMS and Turface tanks, but not the TMS or 3M tanks.
I have 3m Colorquartz in another tank. This is almost the same as far as cleaning, but is a little coarser. Still looks like sand, though. THis one also feels like it is rounded pieces, not sharp.
For plants I have Soil Master Select. Turface is about the same. Not quite black, bet very close. Also hard to clean because it is lighter than sand and also rises up in the vacuum.
I have Loaches and other bottom fish in the SMS and Turface tanks, but not the TMS or 3M tanks.
38 tanks, 2 ponds over 4000 liters of water to keep clean and fresh.
Happy fish keeping!
Happy fish keeping!
- helen nightingale
- Posts: 4717
- Joined: Mon Mar 27, 2006 7:23 am
- Location: London, UK
i cant remember the brand name, but i bought my black sand from Emma from her Maidenhead Aquatics shop. its fine for fish like loaches and cories. its not black black, rather sort of grey/black, and its easy to keep clean becausethe dirt settles on top, and doesnt get into the filters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anwy2MPT ... 1&index=11 spam spam spam
Thanks for all the feedback! Apparently, I still have lots to learn. Does anyone know the brand name of the black sand that is sold in Emma's shop or what it would be called in the US? The LFS gives different advice every time I ask. I saw the TMS in a 120gal set-up, the owner had cories etc & had this sand for years, maybe fish just tolerate the TMS, but would prefer a softer one. I do not want to harm the clowns. So, I will search for the correct type of sand.
- Emma Turner
- Posts: 8901
- Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2005 5:07 pm
- Location: Peterborough, UK
- Contact:
Hi Di, we were originally selling a black coated silica sand from D-Pac/Unipac (which I have in several of my loach tanks), but then they bought out a range of natural sands and we now stock the Limpopo black sand instead.
http://www.unipacpet.com/
Not sure that they supply anywhere other than the UK though.
Emma
http://www.unipacpet.com/
Not sure that they supply anywhere other than the UK though.
Emma
East of the Sun, West of the Moon.
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