Tahitian Moon Sand

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david540i

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Has anyone experience the use of this black moon sand? I'm pretty sure its not calcium based, so will that affect the calcium or ph balance of the tank?

I've seen Reefer Madness' tank, and absolutly love it! Just dont want to harm anything for aesthetic reasons.

http://www.aquariumguys.com/moonsand.html
 
Other than chemical, the only thing I can think of is that it may increase the temperature of your water...just like a swimming pool with a darker bottom. I've walked across the black beaches of St. Lucia and they soak up the heat!
 
I'm interested in black sand, too. I was thinking of using the Arag-Alive Indo-Pacific Black (not quite as black as Tahitian Moon) for setting up my first tank.

Nature's Ocean has a black aragonite substrate, too (http://www.naturesocean.com/marine_substrates.htm). You might try one of those instead, since Tahitian Moon doesn't have any buffering capabilites, afaik.
 
I cant confirm how much heat it is adding since I have a chiller running but it has to minimal. :wink:
 
I have a five gallon bucket in my garage of it
It looks real cool when it is clean
But is shows any and all debris, it was hard for me to keep up with it
To much work in my 90
I think it would be great in a smaller tank
Easier to clean in a shallower tank

Ken
 
I wonder if anyone using the black sand has noticed an actual gain in heat. Thats very insteresting. I never thought of that.

Also, debris would have to be taken into consideration. Did you have to do more water changes?
 
I have not heard that it aids in pod population but pods have gone crazy in my display since I have added it so I would have to agree with that statement 8) . I had a good supply that were always visible in the sump but rarely saw them in the display until I added the sand..May be time to get my manderine :)
 
I have been using the Tahitian Moon sand in my 120 for about 9 months now. I can't say that theres a temp. difference. I also haven't noticed any significant pod growth. I will advise against using this sand though. It looks really gorgeous for about 3 months. After that, its no longer black. :cry: Its impossible to keep it black. Any and all detritus, rock sediment, xtra food, and other particles mix in with it. And to make matters worse, when you vacuum the sand, even just the surface, the sand is so sticky it cloggs your vacuum line! It also clogged my sink drain. I can't scientifically prove that it slows down coraline growth, but my tank is just now starting to grow some coralline. Its been running for 9 months now! (I even dose with Purple UP.) My last 2 tanks were covered in coralline withing 3 months. So maybe this sand also slows down coralline. But like I said, I can't prove it. I would really think twice before using this substrate.
 
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