Best Substrate Color

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hghlndr85

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Oct 27, 2009
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thinking of changing my substrate for my pbass tank. i have apianted black background and pool filter sand now but the sand is kinda pale in color. was thinking maybe flourite or black sand/gravle or natural stone
i want the fish to be set off by the tank not become the background
 
Black sand. Or I will just get the bottom of the tank painted black as well.
 
agreed black sand/gravel..
 
any pics?
 
I have to disagree with most everyone that has posted. I find that Cichla take on a hue similar to their surroundings. You put them in a black backed tank with black sand/gravel and they naturally darken up. They simply will not be as bright as they possibly could be. Some of this can be overcome with brighter than normal lighting.

Conversely, if placed in a tank with a light background and light substrate they become pale and washed out.

I have found that ideally a natural substrate tending towards medium/dark brown coupled with a dark blue background works best. It's not so dark that the fish lose their intensity but dark enough that the bright colors really pop out.
 
Scatocephalus;3773616; said:
I have to disagree with most everyone that has posted. I find that Cichla take on a hue similar to their surroundings. You put them in a black backed tank with black sand/gravel and they naturally darken up. They simply will not be as bright as they possibly could be. Some of this can be overcome with brighter than normal lighting.

Conversely, if placed in a tank with a light background and light substrate they become pale and washed out.

I have found that ideally a natural substrate tending towards medium/dark brown coupled with a dark blue background works best. It's not so dark that the fish lose their intensity but dark enough that the bright colors really pop out.
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I also agree on the black substrate/background will make your Pbass look darker. In his previous thread I showed the OP a picture of my black on black and my Pbass's looking darker because of it. Black/black may look good but for full colors to come out from Pbass it's not the right choice. For my upcoming next tank I won't go black/black anymore especially for Pbass, either bare tank or blue background.
 
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