White or Black Sand Please show me your tanks!!!!!

[beerad555]

Man I am having a really hard time on choosing either white or black sand to replace my colored gravel. I just recently placed black background on my 125 and it really lets the colors stand out on all my fish, so I am leaning towards black. Tell me what you all think and Please show me your tanks to help me make a decision. Thanks for your help

 

[monsterkeeper87]

I find that dark substrate brings out the colours better but I have been using PFS for almost a year and so far so good


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[monsterkeeper87]

Only other thing I forgot to mention is that lighter sand shows every bit of poop! That's the only thing I don't like about it, especially because I have 2 large pleco's


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[Jc1119]

Pfs in the 300. Pfs and ecco-complete in the 135.

 

[rgonzales]

old pic but this is of my last tank. pfs and black sand mixed

 

[Anchovie]

View attachment 882710
Dark gravel is my preference. Pfs is easier though. Depends if you're looking for ease of maintenance, coloring up of fish, or doing a biotope.


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[beerad555]

Only other thing I forgot to mention is that lighter sand shows every bit of poop! That's the only thing I don't like about it, especially because I have 2 large pleco's


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Yes that is one main reason I am leaning towards black sand because of the poop. Even though I am cleaning once a week w 50% water changes.

 

[beerad555]

View attachment 882710
Dark gravel is my preference. Pfs is easier though. Depends if you're looking for ease of maintenance, coloring up of fish, or doing a biotope.


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What is biotope?

 

[Vanimal]

I have black in my 220 and I'm very happy with it. But I also like the look of them mixed.


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[ryansmith83]

It depends on the fish. IMO things like severums, chocolate cichlids, acara-types, and discus will keep darker bodies and show their stress bars more when they are over a dark substrate. I've had the best luck with a black painted background and pool filter sand which is light tan (not quite white). Their colors lighten up a bit over the light sand but pop against the black background.

Of course this will not affect albinos or fish like super red severums, midas/red devils, or fish that don't have a ton of dark pigment.