Silica sand as substrate-Does it wash out colors

[jumpin joe fish]

I heard cichlids like to sand sift. Does sand make the cichlids feel more
comfortable and enhance cichlid coloration or does it wash out their colors
as some are saying. I have silica sand in a 90G and 125G.
The 90G contains an Oscar, Salvini, JD, Firemouth, Pleco, Striped Rapheal
The 125G contains a Green and Gold Severums, 2 Nicaraguenis, 9 Silver Dollars, Jupari and Krib

 

[fsubulldogs]

i had sand in my 55g and had FM's and JD's it didnt effect the JD's but i noticed that the FM's were almost completely white and washed out. so i went to black gravel and the color on the FM's was outstanding.

 

[albyoscar]

my severums lighten up over my sand but i think they look cool my doesnt do much to my jd or juaparis

 

[TheOscarGuy]

I heard cichlids like to sand sift. Does sand make the cichlids feel more comfortable and enhance cichlid coloration

I was happy with switching over to sand. Earlier I had gravel for a while and my trimacs would have a dark coloration (which I do not like at all) almost all the time. With sand however, they show nice green/yellow coloration, and their deep red throat.