What color sand?

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BCherdingthefish

Gambusia
MFK Member
Jan 6, 2012
815
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California, USA
Hi guys. So I finally have some money now that I am done saving for the fish themselves - 4 Altifron babies are doing great! :) that brings me to 6 eartheaters.

Anyways, now that I have money, I want to change around the tank. It is hideously boring right now...
Don't mind the light, or the plant that fell in the water, or the low water level...today I'm making the new egg crate top for the tank, so all that'll be back to normal soon.
ImageUploadedByMonsterAquariaNetwork1344890084.074395.jpg

The white sand makes my fish look pale.
ImageUploadedByMonsterAquariaNetwork1344890117.799537.jpg
ImageUploadedByMonsterAquariaNetwork1344890159.240432.jpg

I'm hoping that a darker color sand will bring out the colors in the my eartheaters and make my Bichirs get darker and more stripey.
I don't want to do black, because I already have a black background painted on, and I like that how it is.
I want a color sand that'll bring out the natural red/blue/green/orange of my Altifrons scales and fins. Can I have some suggestions? Also, where do you find colored sand for a good price? Needs to be fine grained so that it doesn't bother the eartheaters.
Would love some input. Thanks!


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Use 50/50 black sand and pool filter sand. Also, lighting will help bring out the color to.


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i was gonna say black too :) maybe a bit of yellow or red so it will be dark and contrast alot. like mostly black and a bit of either red or yellow.
 
Use 50/50 black sand and pool filter sand. Also, lighting will help bring out the color to.


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I have a tank that is 50/50 like that and I really don't like the look of it.
I have nice lights, I just need to save up to replace the right side, it is a 50/50 white/purple light


I was hoping for just a solid color, but don't want to do black. What about a dark burgundy/maroon color?


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Never did a maroon colored tank yet. But I'm leaning towards that color for my 350gal. (tiled tank). Dark red sand would look cool.


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I would believe so. Darker the red the better. IMO. If the gravel/sand is darker then the color of the geos red, then the red on the geos will pop. So a dark maroon is what I'm planing on doing.


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Wait till those altrifons become adults they will be gorgeous. I had 6 in a 125 with a pleco and that was a great tank. Geo Altrifons are my favorite eartheater. I miss my geo tank so enjoy yours!
 
What about a dark natural tan color sand with different size(but still small) rock that are dark in color. And I'm not sure if the white sand is affecting the color of your earth eaters. My LFS has a 480 gallon motoro stingray tank with about 10 earth eaters and they are some of the most pretty earth eaters I have even seen. The tank has a pure white substrate.


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Keep the whitish sand, Feed good food and get better lighting that will do far more, get a good setup and add an antinic salt water blue light to help bring out the colors. Works wonders for cichlids, Personally I don't think the black sand helps with color at all. Also add some rocks and plants to help, Look at my 450 L shape tank (now 600 gallon) Thread and look at the setup I just made with lots of plants and rocks and wood, great stuff

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