Best color substrate to use?

[DanG13]

I use to only have 3M colorquartz "T" grade (black) in my tanks but have since started using smaller sized river rock from Home Depot. It has a great combo of natural dark & light colored rocks. I switched due to the fact that the river rock was under $4 bag, can't beat that .

"pic with the river rock"

 

[eatingleg4peanut]

I prefer natural small round riverrock gravel or white/earth colored sand, as my tanks are all setup to be natural looking.

 

[Tsc123]

Alright, it looks like I might try some lighter colored sand...but how does the substrate color affect the fishes coloring?

 

[PostalPenguin]

If you go with light colored sand, paint the back of the tank black. My 55g has regular play sand and before I painted it the fish were paler and colors less noticeable. Once I painted it black the fish darkened up considerably so now their colors stand out, especially against the lighter sand.

 

[Bigtdotcom]

I usually mix TMS & PFS and use a black background. I like the way TMS looks but it's so lite that any digging or sudden movement blows the stuff right up into the filter intake. I found mixed is the best way to use it. I have also mixed PFS with natural gravel and that's a good look too. If you go with the TMS I do about 30% black with 70% light.

do you have any pics Aquanero? would love to see the combo?

I been asking myself the same question about my new tank i will be setting up soon.
i wat to paint the back black but i'm thinking about a dark substrate aswell but worried it might be to dark?? I could go with black background and lighter sand or brown 3d rock back ground and black sand still deciding myself....some pics might help me decide a bit easier.
What colour is pool filter sand?

 

[Tsc123]

Yea I agree, let's get some pics

 

[m1ste2tea]

It depends also on how strong your lighting is. If its weak, id suggest using white/light colored sand as it is the main reflecting surface facing perpendicularly to your lighing system, it will help the fish stand out. If you have a powerfull light then go with a black/dark substrate. it will not grow as much algae and will make for a more dramatic look for your fish

 

[fg4608]

Where do you guys get the 3M Color quartz? I've been looking since I'd like to compare it to TMS...

 

[Tsc123]

Where do you guys get the 3M Color quartz? I've been looking since I'd like to compare it to TMS...

I am pretty sure that you have to be located near a 3M supplier of some sort, or find the rare shop that has some. Unfortunatly there are not a ton of suppliers around, but you should be able to find there locations by calling or going to there websites. And please, someone correct me if I am wrong about this.

 

[Aisle17AorE]

I like Schultz's Plant Soil, which is just a lighter baked ceramic "Eco-complete" as near as I can tell; it ups the bio factor and keeps the water clearer, and is that sandstone rust color (colour up here!) that contrasts with your fish colors. And it's 20% of the price of Eco-complete (here we get it at Rona, an American owned builders supply) (British Columbia)