Tahitian Moon Or Eco Complete

[190MPH]

OK, following up on my previous post, and what seems like a million researched threads on sand substrates , I have tried to find the Estes sand that I have seen written about. I cannot find it anywhere locally nor a search online. One LFS owner told me they dicontinued it. He recommended Eco complete, but I am not doing any live plants, and he said it may alter my pH and hardness, which I do not want to do. I want to have cories and a plec eventually. I like the tahitian moon sand. Is that a good alternative for the non planted tank and similar to the Estes?

 

[fish.com1]

OK, following up on my previous post, and what seems like a million researched threads on sand substrates , I have tried to find the Estes sand that I have seen written about. I cannot find it anywhere locally nor a search online. One LFS owner told me they dicontinued it. He recommended Eco complete, but I am not doing any live plants, and he said it may alter my pH and hardness, which I do not want to do. I want to have cories and a plec eventually. I like the tahitian moon sand. Is that a good alternative for the non planted tank and similar to the Estes?

Hi,

Eco-complete won't affect your Ph or any of your water chemistry. If the tank is not going to be planted then there is not much poinmt in getting eco-complete as it is designed for plants, and i think it is more expensive than the tahitan black moon sand so i'd say go for the sand.

 

[rdd1952]

They are petty close to the same price. As stated, EC is for planted tanks. It is much more coarse so if you plan to have bottom feeders like corys, I would not recommend it. TMS is very fine sand and just from an aesthetics, I think is much better ookingas it is pure black where as EC is more of a deep gray. Another plus to TMS if you want sand is that it really requires almost no washing. It has very little trash in it and needs only a light rinse. It will settle almost immediately to the bottom and doesn't cloud when you move it around but settles right back down.

 

[Schmill]

Appologies for the semi-hijack, but how much TMS would be needed for a 4ft / 120cm tank to give a reasonable depth for live plants? It seems to be sold in 20LB bags.

For the OP, this seems to be about the cheapest place I've seen it so far if you choose to take that route
Peticious.com

 

[Schmill]

or maybe not, just realised I think that would have to ship from the US and shipping prices don't seem friendly! - Sry!

 

[loachman]

If you are in the US, go with THIS. I don't believe they sell it in the UK.

I've had the smaller black grade in my tank for 2 years with a planted tank (swords, vals, crypts, java ferns). It needs a good washing, but has a very tight size and shape and is 1/2 the price of Tahitian Moon Sand.

 

[Goodygumdrops]

Scmill,they sell Tahitian Moonsand at Aqua Essentials,think it's about £16 a bag and I guess you'd probably need about 4 bags,maybe 5,and postage is free above £50.
Fot the op,as already said,if you're not planting,there is absolutely no need foe Eco Complete.It's quite coarse and gritty,so for cories etc,I'm sure they'd prefer sand but folks keep bottom dwellers fine with Eco Complete too.
As an example,I'm planning my planted tank with an open foreground and I want cories,so I will build up the back with Eco Complete and have a Moonsand foreground.
That said,you could still grow plants in Moonsand if you change your mind,just use ferts and root tabs.

 

[190MPH]

After doing hours of research on Tahitian moon, Estes sand, and 3M CQ, I ordered both the the TM and Estes and I will do my own comparison. And I've also found a dealer for the 3M stuff too @ $38 for 50 lbs. I may be spending a little extra, but I'm going to find out for myself if this or that is good or bad, or if it is all a bunch of hullabaloo. One thing I have decided on is that the opinions on various forums that I've read are about as predictable and varied as the weather !

 

[Schmill]

I look forward to hearing back your reports then

Personally I've been told by the wife that we are sticking with gravel for now - lol

 

[190MPH]

Well I've gotten the TMS and the 3M CQ and the CQ is definately smoother to the touch and much finer than the TMS. I am waiting for some Estes black sand to compare that also.