Estes Black Gravel?

[12 Volt Man]

Hi all, I have been using Estes black gravel now for about the last two years and like it.

but I have read posts lately with black gravel (not necessarily estes brand) losing its colour over time and now I am getting a bit paranoid because I just bought 150 pounds for my new 150 gallon tank...

now, I know estes is epoxy coated overtop of the colour, so I believe thats why mine has held up.

has anyone had any problems with Estes black?

I want a black substrate, but don't really want to go with the 'planted substrates' like Eco complete etc because this tank will not have live plants (will house silver dollars among other fish) nor to I want to go with sand (never tried it and I don't want to have 150 gallons worth and find out I hate it lol)

I haven't opened the bags of estes...soooo I could still return it..

just looking to see if anyone has had any trouble specifically with the estes brand of black gravel losing its colour..

so far so good with mine, but I want to make sure the last bunch I got was the norm, not the exception

 

[msjinkzd]

I have had estes brand chip/flake/wear off after about a year of use. You could look into colorquartz black grade t. Its vaccable and a nice color and about $22 per 50 lbs if you decide to not use the estes.

 

[Mudfrog]

Agree'd.. I used to use Estes black gravel in all of my tanks but I have removed it as the coating always wore off.

 

[12 Volt Man]

hmmm..now I am not sure what I am going to do...the "black special" that I have had the last two years still looks fine...could it be a matter of quality control? some batches are fine, some are not?

I might still go with it, but I might not...I will have to see whats available at my LFS.

I would like to purchase from them since I get a discount -25% off - I used to work there..

 

[12 Volt Man]

I think I am still going to go with the estes black gravel..

I figure that even if it starts to look more 'grey' over time, it will still look good with the fish I will be putting in..

I am too relucant to try sand for the first time in a tank this big..I think if I go with sand I should do it in a 20 or a 30 first rather than filling up a 150 with it...some like sand, others don't...thats what I am afraid of...

the problem is, at my LFS, its either Estes gravel (which is all expoxy coated I believe) or sand.

there is nothing else offered any more...

 

[FSM]

I think sand looks a ton nicer than gravel. Its pricey to get black though. I wish PFS came in black.