Tropical Fish Keeping banner

So many gravel colors

13K views 16 replies 10 participants last post by  thistly 
#1 ·
I always do this to myself when I start a new aquarium...I pick a gravel color that I think will be perfect, set it up, then see a different color I like better. Right now I have a natural beige-ish color, wishing I had gone darker. Its such a basic element of the aquarium, yet it can create a dramatic effect. What do you think the most popular gravel color is? What do you think the most natural is? And if any colors match better with specific fish types? Tell me what you think.
 
#6 ·
My mixture was sort of an attempt to go brown, but the brand I chose also had a lot of pink in the red. Didn't realize until it was already all mixed :[ but I'll live. Black, especially black flourite because it seems to sparkle a bit would have been a great back drop to bring out my cardinal tetras.
 
#7 ·
I donno what is most popular...But I can tell you what I always used & love it for any of my tanks, its either fine dark gravel (black or dark brown) or dark sand.
I def don't like fancy colors that remind me of a text marker or unnatural one's and I truly believe many fish (Killi, Tetra etc) do MUCH better when placed in tanks with dark substrate and they actually do look better (popping colors) too.
 
#9 ·
#10 ·
Gravel color is always such a personal choice that it's hard to comment. However...

Fluorescent pink is definitely out of the question! Or any fluorescent color for that matter. Let's face it... if it aggravates your senses... it will definitely aggravate the fish's senses. I try to keep a natural/neutral color so that the fish don't feel like they're at a disco 24/7. Don't get me wrong... it's fun to dance but after an hour or so... I've had enough.

Now... I'm not one to talk because while my gravel is fairly neutral (dark gray), I have some rocky mountain decor with little houses throughout, which I'm quite certain the fish I keep have never seen in their natural environment. But I don't think those houses are nearly as disturbing as a fluorescent gravel would be.

It's a fine balance between personal taste and the fish's taste. Try asking them... ;-)

P.S. Asking the fish has not produced an answer for me yet... still working on it...
 
#12 ·
I will admit that I have had a tank with what I would call a "cotton candy mixture" (those poor fish). I do, however reason that was a kiddie tank that I had many years ago, and in the end it is really up to the individuals' taste. Though the natural colors are very important because they are a.) Natural, and b.) Timeless.
 
#13 ·
I like using the darker colours. The fishes colours really pop with the darker gravel. Also,it's easier to see if you've been overfeeding,because the residue accumulates on the bottom and you can vacuum it all up easier if you can see it!!;-) I mean,the cory's can only do so much!:shock:
The colour of my Bookcase tank is dark blue.With the lite on,it reflects lighter on the top,and darker on down to the bottom! My 55g has a black and deep red gravel,that looks fine with all the Guppies and Platys and Tetras,etc. in that tank; my 35g has med. size sand with med.size natural pebbles.on 'n on.............;-)
 
#16 ·
I switched out all my gravel for sand. I have pool filter sand in my 55 gal. tank that is a courser sand is a mixture of colors but looks tannish white. All my other tanks have black sand in them. The colorful fish show up really nice against it like glow lights, neon tetras, red cherry shrimp,yellow shrimps. My tanks are planted low-light with out co2 and the black sand has iron in it so the plants grow well. I also have a solid black background that shows off the fish and plants really well instead of those sea scape backgrounds. I will never go back to gravel after switching to sand.
 
#17 ·
I made the mistake of using white marble chip sand in my goldfish tank...
Wth the lovely brown algae, blueish stain from medication, and constant supply of poop, looks dull and gray, absolutely horrible... White was a bad choice :p
I think in any tank, silica sand looks better - bright, but not too white.
Marble chip is absolutely colourless, like salt or sugar, and tends to wash out other colours. There's just enough golden hue in silica sand to look natural and harmonious.

The black sand/gravel in the 55g tank looks velvety and nice, and the lonely minnow inhabitants have deepened their colours significantly after mere hours in there. I think it would be much better for shy fish, rather than something bright and glarey. Though, it reflects less light up into plants.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top