Effect of substrate color on fish

[fishbum]

He grew up and matured when I switched him from one tank to another,but I think black is definitely better for colorful fish.

 

[Vincentii]

i just changed my substrate to black sand and all my fish's colours got dark, especially my pearsei and argenteas. all the clown loach's colors got darker too and the oranges on its bodywas more of a brown. so i went back to sand and every thing was colourful again.
maybe black gravel is best suited to shy nocturnal fishes like catfishes.

 

[fishbum]

I have a silver angel in another tank that darkened up quite a bit when I changed from light to dark in that tank.

 

[Vincentii]

He grew up and matured when I switched him from one tank to another,but I think black is definitely better for colorful fish.

sure does look colorful. and a nice example of a healthy green terror.

 

[JK47]

He grew up and matured when I switched him from one tank to another,but I think black is definitely better for colorful fish.

Beautiful GT fishbum. I have to say the black does have an impact.

 

[yeroc1982]

He grew up and matured when I switched him from one tank to another,but I think black is definitely better for colorful fish.

Very nice!I have a 8 inch male GT in a 50g,my substrate is white and purple and his colors dont really pop. I think im goin to switch to black!!


Whats the best way to change the sub? I dont really want to take him out while i do it.

 

[JK47]

Ive noticed some of my fish are usually lighter colored when I have them in tanks with light sand and no background. I would be willing to bet that the black does darken their colors a little bit, but the main benefit is the contrast between the black background/substrate and the fish. This contrast makes their colors pop out at you.

That is a good point about it being the visual effect and not that actual colors of the fish. All my tanks have black backgrounds, tons of driftwood, no fake decor, tannin stained water and just a few hardy plants (anubias etc...) but all with tan pool filter sand.

This tank is in my dining room and the wife doesn't like the dark sand but if it's going to make my cichlids pop, I want to. I can't make up my mind for crap...

 

[JK47]

Whats the best way to change the sub? I dont really want to take him out while i do it.

Done this many times and you really should. Just put it in a 5 gallon bucket and turn off your filters. Your going to kick up quite a bit of junk and cloud the water, and need to do a few WC's. (even if you wash the sand well depending on the brand)

 

[fishbum]

Whats the best way to change the sub? I dont really want to take him out while i do it.

His tank recently went from heavily planted,to having 2 plants. The tank developed an algae problem,and he decided he did not like having plants on the left side of the tank. I also never really liked having sand for substrate,so I switched it to black gravel. I put him in a 10 gallon with tank water,and the bio wheels.Drained his 55 and took out the sand.Put the gravel in,filled it up,got the filters going and put him back in.Took about 90 minutes.
I know people do it with fish in the tank,but on a four foot tank,taking the fish out and tearing the tank down is so fast,it seems like less stress to do it that way IMO.

 

[john73738]

In a tank with white gravel. Hate the look (fake to me) but I think that my Green Terrors seem to glow. Do have one Dempsey that is always dark, but the other dempsey is always bright.

Bad pics (Phone)


IMO go with natural color. I think that natural habitat will bring out the colors rather than fake.
Just my 2 cents.

Bear