Estes Ceramaquartz

[DB junkie]

I guess I've never tried white without the big black pebbles? May very well wash all Marbles out. Mine have colored up quite a bit with a change in lighting. Substrate staying the same. Seems like you can get changes with either light or subtrate.

What exactly are you using for lighting?

I added orange sand to my pup tank and it's taken several months but I can say they are darkening... Light remaining constant.

I've seen really good results with tan/natural as well, but personally never tried it very long.

 

[AOmonsta]

Love the sand.

 

[ShadowStryder]

I guess I've never tried white without the big black pebbles? May very well wash all Marbles out. Mine have colored up quite a bit with a change in lighting. Substrate staying the same. Seems like you can get changes with either light or subtrate.

What exactly are you using for lighting?

I added orange sand to my pup tank and it's taken several months but I can say they are darkening... Light remaining constant.

I've seen really good results with tan/natural as well, but personally never tried it very long.

I have a single 150 watt halide giving a spot light effect in center of tank. This gives rays a chance to move in and out of the light.
I have use tan before but never been able to maintain it long as it isnt astetically pleasing to my eyes.
As for as darkening, my marbles may eventually darken but that is a chance I am willing to take as I want my flower to darken up and eventually I am adding my three blackies to the setup. And that is what I want as a substrate for them.

 

[DB junkie]

I have a single 150 watt halide giving a spot light effect in center of tank. This gives rays a chance to move in and out of the light.
I have use tan before but never been able to maintain it long as it isnt astetically pleasing to my eyes.
As for as darkening, my marbles may eventually darken but that is a chance I am willing to take as I want my flower to darken up and eventually I am adding my three blackies to the setup. And that is what I want as a substrate for them.

That's the same thing I've been running, a single 150 in the middle. The light I have has 3 150s in it, but barely use anything but the center and moonlights.

Just sharing what I've found with them..... I understand dark being the choice as it seems popular with the dark rays.

My girl's haggling me to try blue.

 

[FishDog]

I put a high intensity bulb on my tank and did not like it at all. I think it was 15K flourescent but the light was blue white and it made everything look horrible. I like the gravel in your tank, you will probably notice your rays a little more active. My marble girls never swam around much but since I put them on sand they swim all the time now.

 

[DB junkie]

I put a high intensity bulb on my tank and did not like it at all. I think it was 15K flourescent but the light was blue white and it made everything look horrible. I like the gravel in your tank, you will probably notice your rays a little more active. My marble girls never swam around much but since I put them on sand they swim all the time now.

15K may be a little high. I've used 10Ks and really liked them.

Try a halide...... Pretty hard to look at them under anything else once you've seen that shimmering effect halides are so good at giving.

 

[ShadowStryder]

15K may be a little high. I've used 10Ks and really liked them.

Try a halide...... Pretty hard to look at them under anything else once you've seen that shimmering effect halides are so good at giving.

Totally agree with the shimmering effect of halides. I put flourescents on my setup and it lasted a week. Went back to the halide.

Blue? Thats why they shouldnt be allowed those decisions.

 

[DB junkie]

Totally agree with the shimmering effect of halides. I put flourescents on my setup and it lasted a week. Went back to the halide.

Blue? Thats why they shouldnt be allowed those decisions.

Now IF only you could get that shimmering effect from something halfway efficient like LEDs or even compacts.

She did well in picking out the non Marble, and a phenominal job on picking out eels, but substrate is definetly where her decision making ends. First suggestion was red. I think she's best left tending to the saltwater as long as she doesn't try to feed them alone.

This ceramaquartz sand..... How much different is it then the Ultra reef stuff?

 

[ShadowStryder]

Now IF only you could get that shimmering effect from something halfway efficient like LEDs or even compacts.

She did well in picking out the non Marble, and a phenominal job on picking out eels, but substrate is definetly where her decision making ends. First suggestion was red. I think she's best left tending to the saltwater as long as she doesn't try to feed them alone.

This ceramaquartz sand..... How much different is it then the Ultra reef stuff?

Quite a bit larger and sinks much faster. I had the ultra reef and it tends to float, sucked into filtration and sticks to the rays very easy.
Thats why I have a 100 pounds of the Ultra reef black sitting in buckets.

Here is a pic for comparison Al.
Ceramaquartz is on the left and is more of a dark charcoal grey color. (Appx 1/16 of an inch)
Ultra Reef is on the right and is shiny black.