Looking for new substrate ideas

[RyanM]

I have used PFS for years and generally love it, but starting to get a little tired of the same look in every tank. Would like something that is a little darker in color, but doesn't cost an arm and leg.

Any ideas? Suggestions? Pictures?

 

[Tristren]

In several of my tanks I use a medium grain black blasting sand. If cleaned well, it looks pretty cool. The only downside to a dark substrate is it can cause fish colors to darken. If very light colored fish, this isn't an issue. If dark colored fish, it can cause them to all but disappear into the sand. I bought a Cuban cichlid to go in one of my blasting sand substrate tanks and I regret the color because he is so hard to see sometimes. But with my lighter colored fish such as blood parrots, it makes the orange just POP!

 

[deeda]

I use Estes' PermaColor Quartz in most of my tanks and it is finer that standard pool filter sand but it does come in a lot of colors.

I use the Trowel-Rite size which is 20-40 mesh and a combination of black, brown, white and sometimes a blue. I don't remember how much I paid but slightly more expensive than pool filter sand.

I got it at N.T. Ruddock in Oakwood Village (Cleveland) and they have a show room so you can see the colors. Technically it is an architectural floor or pool product but works great for aquariums.

 

[bbortko]

I like red flint water filtration sand. Maybe a little finer than pfs but much heavier.

 

[Itsadeepbluesea]

In several of my tanks I use a medium grain black blasting sand. If cleaned well, it looks pretty cool. The only downside to a dark substrate is it can cause fish colors to darken. If very light colored fish, this isn't an issue. If dark colored fish, it can cause them to all but disappear into the sand. I bought a Cuban cichlid to go in one of my blasting sand substrate tanks and I regret the color because he is so hard to see sometimes. But with my lighter colored fish such as blood parrots, it makes the orange just POP!

I agree the blasting and is cheap and looks pretty cool. The one problem I find with it, is if your not careful it can scratch the glass up pretty bad.

 

[Fish Tank Travis]

I run Black Diamond blasting sand from Tractor Supply.

 

[twentyleagues]

I like red flint water filtration sand. Maybe a little finer than pfs but much heavier.

View attachment 1298332

I just checked out that web site good stuff. Hope I can get it here in my area.

 

[jbrig98]

In a couple of my larger tanks i use tiles

 

[dr exum]

ttt - looking for 750#'s or so for new tanks.... OP what did you end up with?

 

[Egon]

I painted the bottom of my acrylic tank with this stuff. I use two cans with different brown pigment to give the bottom variety and some depth. The main objective was to keep the silver styrofoam base from showing through the bottom when the fish move the gravel around. My next setup I’m going with just this painted bottom for ease of clean up.