Pool filter sand washes fish out?

[Aparker2005]

Hey everyone I've noticed that since I moved from eco complete in my 55g to pool filter sand in my 125, most of my fish except for my discus and Angelicus loaches have nearly completely washed out in color.

Julii cories, and my rummy nose are almost always pale. I'm wonder if it's the sand, or is it because the tank is mostly open still as I'm having to slowly build my plants back up and my new large driftwood is still soaking up top?

I know fish will usually try and blend in, but hopefully once more hiding spots get added they'll return to their vibrant colors they were? Thanks!

 

[Aparker2005]

I got to looking when we started our tanks back up and we originally started out with white gravel. Our rummy nose were as dark as they were on the black eco complete, but they had a ton of places to hide. Maybe that's all it is.

 

[duanes]

If you don't have darker areas for fish escape into, and only light colored, open expanses, it is normal for the fish to blend with the light colored sand.

 

[predatorkeeper87]

My fish where the same in my PFS tanks. I had a pair of native pumpkinseeds and a grass pickerel in a 40B with PFS and not much top cover, and they were pale as could be. Moved them to my 310 native setup, which has darker natural play sand and plenty of places to hide in corners and under driftwood and they are as vibrant as can be.

 

[Woefulrelic]

I found similar with the first few days of adding sand. I think the dust in the water causes them to lighten significantly to try and blend in, but I didn't pre wash my sand at all. I think once the mech pulls all the dust out you'll find similar colors as before.

 

[fishnatics]

I used to use pfs with my silver dollars, pictus cats and jaguar cichlid. Didn't really notice any color changes. Only switched the sand out cause it was really fine and the filter would suck up tons of sand.