FH substrate

[bitey fish lover]

Just picked up a flowerhorn today and had been reading that they prefer a lighter colour environment to display their colours..... thing is i just bought some new gravel on the weekend which is very dark, almost black to replace my existing substrate in the hopes that coupled with the black background of the tank it would make the colours of the fish stand out.
is this a bad idea and do the folour horns realy look that much better in lighter tanks? I would have thought a light background and substrate would give a washed out appearance?
cheers

 

[fishluvr12]

Put the dark in it will bring out the color better

 

[bitey fish lover]

bugger lol somehow i have to find the time to clean a tonne of gravel when i get home tonight and get this fish in the tank...... if i give the gravel a good clean do you think it will be ok to put the fish in the tank after i replace the gravel? I know it will be murky as anything but worried it would hurt the fish..

 

[danz]

I paint the back and bottom of my flowerhorn tanks blue and use pink aquarium lights and its a nice combo. Each fish is diffrent but also water quality plays a part. Some flowerhorns like a higher pH. Each fish is different so be prepared to experiment to bring out the best.

 

[bitey fish lover]

what about swapping over the gravel and getting the fish in the tank tongiht? will it hurt the little guy?

 

[bigspizz]

Don't rush...Take your time...You will be more happy for longer in the long run Good luck...