Switched the substrate in the Dovii tank..

[VMike]

He looks good on either substrate Mudfrog. I've used black sand in some of my tanks before and I always end up going back to the light sand. Just a personal preference. I just set up another tank a few days ago and tried some multi colored(mainly brown) Arizona river gravel that I got from a landscape supply yard that I really like.Not too dark and not too light.Price was right too...$6 for two full 5 gal buckets. Mike

 

[nmadsen4]

I was wondering, how do you get the black background? Is it paper or do you paint it black?

 

[Mudfrog]

He looks good on either substrate Mudfrog. I've used black sand in some of my tanks before and I always end up going back to the light sand. Just a personal preference. I just set up another tank a few days ago and tried some multi colored(mainly brown) Arizona river gravel that I got from a landscape supply yard that I really like.Not too dark and not too light.Price was right too...$6 for two full 5 gal buckets. Mike

Really? I'll have to check that out. Black is too dark and sand is too lite. I need a happy medium.

 

[Mudfrog]

I was wondering, how do you get the black background? Is it paper or do you paint it black?

You can do either. I paint the back of all of my tanks black.

 

[D-Train]

I was wondering, how do you get the black background? Is it paper or do you paint it black?

Your local lfs should have a black background and its not expensive. Painting it is more permanent and looks a little better but you can remove the plastic sheet stuff which I like because then I can see in behind my stump where a lot of action goes down haha

 

[Flexxx]

Mudfrog, your fish gets more awesome each time I see him. I have white sand with a black background in my tank. My male F1 nicaraguan from Rapps is about 5" and his color has just started to really come out. I was just about to change to black gravel, but as soon as he reached 5" his color and his attitude changed. I want to show him off, but he is hard to photograph also, plus I need a better camara. He is really amazing.As soon as I get some good pics, I will post them. Keep us posted with pics of yours, he is beautiful.

 

[danncon]

Cool dovii i have a pair i don't no where it came from i gat it from two of the member.

 

[Mudfrog]

I switched the tank back to sand for two reasons. One being that it is much easier to do maintenance. The second being the tank was so dark with black on black that I could not get any decent pics nor could I see him well from across the room when the tank is dimely lit.

 

[volcomstone]

I switched the tank back to sand for two reasons. One being that it is much easier to do maintenance. The second being the tank was so dark with black on black that I could not get any decent pics nor could I see him well from across the room when the tank is dimely lit.

I'm going thru the same debate as you. I'm currently using black gravel but want to change to regular sand...

did you by any chance change the substrate with your dovii still in the tank? I always wondered if people change substrate with their fishes still in the tank.

Oh by the way....loving the colors of your DOVII!!!

 

[darthodo]

I'm thinking I'm gonna go back to pool filter sand with the next two tanks I set up. I have Lowe's landscaping pebble gravel in a couple of tanks, the black and white African cichlid substrate in one, and pool filter sand in another. Sand is easier to clean IMO, but I gotta use those pre-filter sponges on the intakes when I use sand. Always some price to pay.