Caribsea Tahitian Moon sand - Every bag is different

[fishmamma]

I just realized this today.

First let me say, Jeff (aclockworkorange), have had a disagreement about this same subject... like forever. A nice disagreement, but I finally understand where his point of view is coming from..


I was looking to add some of this said sand to my 125, so I go to pick up a couple bags.. as I'm paying, I notice that the granules looked so much larger and sharper than what I was familiar with...

I used it for the first time back in Feb, I added 40lbs of it into my 40b... that sand (same exact brand) that is currently in there, almost has the feel of mud when wet.. and is great for my eartheaters... So it puzzled me that the same brand sand in two different cases had different sized granuels..

I was on a mission now, so I went down to Petsmart, found the sand, and the granuels were much smaller.. just like the sand I first bought for my 40b..

Basically I concluded that every batch/bag is different even though it's the same brand.

For those of you who currently use, or plan on using this sand.. make sure to evaluate it well, if I had purchased the larger granuels.. I could have really jacked up my Brochis or any of my bottom dwellers...

 

[Dan F]

Interesting. The larger granule stuff would be nice if it wasn't sharp...

I have bought 14 bags (280 pounds) of the CaribSea Sunset Gold in three batches (11 bags from Pet Solutions in two orders and two bags from PetSmart) and it seems quite uniform, so it must be the Tahitian Moon Sand in particular that has this issue.

 

[fishmamma]

Interesting. The larger granule stuff would be nice if it wasn't sharp...

I have bought 14 bags (280 pounds) of the CaribSea Sunset Gold in three batches (11 bags from Pet Solutions in two orders and two bags from PetSmart) and it seems quite uniform, so it must be the Tahitian Moon Sand in particular that has this issue.

That's what I'm hoping we can find out, I'm only familiar with using the TMS more than once..

I've only used the Sunset Gold once.. nothing to compare.. Besides these two and PFS I'm not familiar with any other sand..

 

[aclockworkorange]

So this thread should basically be titled "Jeff was right." ..?

 

[fishmamma]

So this thread should basically be titled "Jeff was right." ..?

Hell no! We are both right!!!

 

[aclockworkorange]

Even if only half the bags out there have the bigger sharper grains, I still wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I think caribsea has some QC issues.

 

[fishmamma]

Even if only half the bags out there have the bigger sharper grains, I still wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I think caribsea has some QC issues.

Well that's obvious with the TMS, but do you have some other comparisons.. ?

 

[aclockworkorange]

Comparisons to other sand? I usually use blasting sand, which I've found to be very uniform (it should be, as it's graded for specific purposes and you buy by the grade on the bag, every grain should be the same size).

 

[fishmamma]

Comparisons to other sand? I usually use blasting sand, which I've found to be very uniform (it should be, as it's graded for specific purposes and you buy by the grade on the bag, every grain should be the same size).

First, I want to say that more people should have more of an intrest in this, mainly because I have lots of people here ask me what kind of sand I used in my 40.. Not to included the 5 million threads started on TMS.. it's important because it has to do with the welfare of your fish.. if you happen to get a larger, sharper TMS.. someone in your tank is likely to get jacked!.. with some sensative, scaleless bottom dwellers it's very liable that it won't end well.. .just sayin..


Ok, yes that's what I meant.. The only blasting sand I've experienced was really sharp.. and I really wish it wasn't because it's only $15 for 100lbs.. but it was a medium grade that I felt, the fine grade might be perfect..

Another thing I noticed with this new bag of TSM, is that I hardly had any crap to wash off of it.. When last time it took me about 45min to get 20lbs cleaned, this bag literally took me 5-10 min.. the clouding in the tank was very minimal...

 

[shellies215]

I think it just comes down to the fact that it's a natural product and some variation is to be expected, but I do agree the QC could be better, there was pieces of a corona beer bottle in the last bag I got, and I cut my finger on it when I was washing it in a bucket.