Best color substrate?

[that drumin guy]

I was originally planning on going with sand, but due to the fact it might make it harder for some live plants I was thinking with going with black gravel. I would use black because I have it already from when it was originally in my tank and not paying $50 for another color. Anyways what would bring out bichirs coloration more, sand or black gravel? Thanks

 

[LTL]

Think black bakground with red gravel would bring the colouration out best... but if were to choose between black gravel and sand, I would prefer black gravel... white base substrate seems to hide the colourations of bichers...

 

[Pangong_ilong]

Black and white sand

 

[stotty]

At the end of the day you have to live with it in your house/fish room do what you like I my self hate coloured gravels but this is just my preference I would 100% go for sand I have had sand in all my big tanks its easy to clean and I have never had a problem with plants in it I do however mix 1 bag of fine gravel into every 2 bags of sand

 

[Vince]

saw a very nicely colored ornate in black sand.

 

[mcblack]

how about trying red sand, it is said to bring out their coloration and make it intense

 

[redtailfool]

how about trying red sand, it is said to bring out their coloration and make it intense

Japanese style ! hehe. Black is nice too. Or natural looking grave to keep it, au naturelle.

 

[Eagle]

red sand? i think u mean those red quartze is it? anyway red gravel or red sand will have the same effect when bringing out the colour of bichir.

 

[mcblack]

red sand? i think u mean those red quartze is it? anyway red gravel or red sand will have the same effect when bringing out the colour of bichir.

not sure what its called, mine looks like its sand and its very fine, whats the difference? haven't use mine though does the red coloration fade after awhile?

 

[Fruitbat]

I've tried a number of substrate types in my bichir tanks over the years but I always seem to come back to plain old 'natural' aquarium gravel. I do have EcoComplete (which is nearly black) in one tank and a darker gravel in another but I generally like the overall effect of 'natural' gravel the best.

-Joe