Before vs After moba pics

[blkg35]

Last week I bought the Tahitian black moon sand for my Moba tank. I put the black sand in and my mobas turned black. The black sand DID NOT bring out the blues in my mobas. I got frustrated so a few days ago I changed the substrate again. This time I went with gray playsand from Home Depot. Here's a before and after pic:
BEFORE w/Black sand

AFTER w/gray sand

 

[ewok]

much nicer... dark substrate really kills the coloration in fish

 

[fishfobia]

yep colored up nice if you wanted the black to work you gotta and more aquascape alrighty

 

[fishfobia]

also depends on the lighting like for example if you had a o3 blue light that helps
you did a good job though lookin nice

 

[blkg35]

Thanks guys, im much happier with the new substrate. I used blue lights before, it just washes out the blue in the fronts body and fins. I just did the sand swap yesterday so its gonna be a few days before they settle back in and color up.....

 

[Will Hayward]

I have mine over white sand now. I use only a very low wattage actinic light over these WC moba frontosa, as it helps keep them calm. I have been wanting to see them over black sand for quite some time now though. However yours look so much nice over the grey than the black. All your subs look dark like the grumpy alpha male.

Where they in with the black substrate long enough to calm down?

 

[blkg35]

I have mine over white sand now. I use only a very low wattage actinic light over these WC moba frontosa, as it helps keep them calm. I have been wanting to see them over black sand for quite some time now though. However yours look so much nice over the grey than the black. All your subs look dark like the grumpy alpha male.

Where they in with the black substrate long enough to calm down?

They were in the black sand for 1 week. All my nice females and alpha male turned completely black. I think its because my back and side of the tank is black. Then the substrate was black too so they tried to blend into the surroundings. Black sand might be nice if the back of the tank was blue or clear.
I also run a 4ft 48watt PowerGlo light on that tank. The tank is a 6ft 180gal. Just one bulb is enough lighting for the fishes.

 

[Red Devil]

Alot better at least with these fish... looks good..

 

[orbit]

Amazing how much the gravel/sand can make a difference with the coloration! Looks great!

 

[uncwnells]

its amazing how big of a difference that made!