substrate color preference

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
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Candiru
MFK Member
Mar 9, 2006
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What color substrate do you prefer for your pikes? I use tan pool filter sand in most of my cichlid tanks, but have a couple of planted tanks that use a black substrate (Eco-complete for the planted tank). I'm converting a 180 from Africans to a combo of acutirostris (1 so far) + Hoplarchus psittacus (group of 6 not-yet-big ones). Along the same lines, I have a female marmorata that will be getting a tank upgrade this summer, and a smaller one that's either a marmorata or a lent (I'll post up some pics as soon as I get some that are high-res enough to show what he really looks like :D) that will be getting an upgrade, so I'll be setting up several new pike tanks. Do any of you have a personal preference, based on how the pikes show up on a particular color?

Thanks!:thumbsup:
 
Beige, tan colored sand looks best...not too light, but not to dark. If you do dark sand, like black their colors aren't as intense...:(....too white and they look washed out...;)
 
Peanut_Power said:
Beige, tan colored sand looks best...not too light, but not to dark. If you do dark sand, like black their colors aren't as intense...:(....too white and they look washed out...;)
Click to expand...

Good point :thumbsup: Yes, notice the color is not as intense with black substrate. Think I'll switch to something lighter
 
I use quartz pool filter sand mixed with tahitian moon (black) in a 1:2 ratio. Not too dark, and not too bright.
 
Ok, when you guys use sand, how deep to you make it? And are there any problems with sustrate cleaning? How about compaction and hydrogen sulfide release????????? IK in the Marine tank you should use either under 2, or over 6. I am still rather uneducated as it comes to tropical FW.
 
I personally follow the "under 2 inches" rule in my tanks: if my cichlids aren't digging it up, I can easily make sure it gets churned during water changes to avoid bad pockets forming. Most debris settles on top of the sand, and is easy to python out. The pool filter sand that I use doesn't show any noticeable compaction...not sure how play sand would be. I've also mixed Tahitian Moon to get a grey look :D ...wish they made a dark brown version. :thumbsup:
 
You can also solve the problem by gettin fish that sift the sand, like Geophagus, Satanoperca, and a couple of other fish...;)

Malaysian trumpet snails are another route, but they can become a nuisence quickly!
 
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