CaribSea · Inert sand & gravel
CaribSea Tahitian Moon Sand
United States · Deep black · grain 0.25 to 1 mm
External link to caribsea.com — opens in a new tab.
TL;DR, CaribSea Tahitian Moon Sand
Tahitian Moon Sand is a black aragonite-free sand processed specifically for aquarium use. Display planted tanks where a clean uniform black substrate is the aesthetic goal and active soil chemistry is not needed.
Full specs
- Brand
- CaribSea
- Country of origin
- United States
- Category
- Inert sand & gravel
- Colour
- Deep black
- Grain size
- 0.25 to 1 mm
- pH target
- Neutral
- pH effect
- Neutral
- KH effect
- Neutral
- Ammonia release
- None
- Nutrient content
- None
- Buffering longevity
- Permanent
- Recommended water
- Any
- Difficulty
- 1 / 5
- Shrimp-safe
- Yes
- Best for
- Aquarium-grade black sand, shrimp-safe, display tanks
How it works
Tahitian Moon Sand is a black aragonite-free sand processed specifically for aquarium use. Unlike Black Diamond, it has been tested for shrimp and fish safety and contains no heavy metals or industrial residues. The grain is finer than aquarium gravel but slightly coarser than the finest aragonite sand.
Best use cases
Display planted tanks where a clean uniform black substrate is the aesthetic goal and active soil chemistry is not needed. Shrimp tanks where the dark substrate makes the colours pop without any chemistry risk.
Common mistakes
Tahitian Moon Sand is finer than most gravels and can compact slightly if a deep layer is used. Keep the layer under 5 cm and stir gently during water changes to prevent anaerobic pockets.
Pro tips
Pairs well with white seiryu stones for a high-contrast scape. Pre-rinse to remove residual dust.
Plants that thrive in this substrate
Hand-curated pairings based on the substrate category, not a relational query.
- Anubias Barteri NanaAnubias barteri var. nanaRhizome plant attached to hardscape, never touches the substrate so sand is perfect.
- Java FernMicrosorum pteropusAnother epiphyte, ties to wood or stone above the substrate.
- Vallisneria SpiralisVallisneria spiralisTolerates pure sand if root tabs are dosed near each crown every couple of months.
- Amazon SwordEchinodorus grisebachiiHeavy root feeder, needs root tabs every 2 to 3 months to thrive in plain sand.
Sources & further reading
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