Black/dark Substrate.
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mine is Unipac aquarium sand. It's more of a grey than black but it's okay. I plan to change it for jet black when I change this tank for a new one though. I prefer the black-black
I can add a photo later when photobucket is back up and running if you want to see it
I can add a photo later when photobucket is back up and running if you want to see it
yeah ... it's 'down for maintenance' at the moment. To be honest it would appear to need that maintenance!
I think JBL do one that's black-black
Ps - just call me Akasha - you can drop the 72, reminds me I'm getting old!!
I think JBL do one that's black-black
Ps - just call me Akasha - you can drop the 72, reminds me I'm getting old!!
I have a black 'ceramaquartz' sand in my home tank now. Looks fantastic and was ridiculously easy to clean (not dusty at all!) compared to most 'sands'. This is very soft stuff (I got the finest grade - "S" I think) and my cories love it - which is actually more important than how I think it looks.
I contacted the manufacturer directly (Estes - who actually makes aquarium gravel as well) and they sent me to a local distributor. 50lb bag was only $22. Had to go to a concrete supply distributor. Well worth the effort.
I contacted the manufacturer directly (Estes - who actually makes aquarium gravel as well) and they sent me to a local distributor. 50lb bag was only $22. Had to go to a concrete supply distributor. Well worth the effort.
Dark substrates are definitely better for the fish, as they are more natural. "Dark" is a subjective term, and almost anything other than true white will qualify.
One thing I noticed when I had a pure black substrate was that it was not black but dark grey once it was in the tank wet and under daylight lighting. This rather surprised me, but it shows that the colour of a substrate in air when dry is not likely the same as when it is wet and under tank lighting. Even my playsand which when dry in your hand is a very dark grey (it is a mix of grey, black, tan and white) becomes lighter under water and tank lighting. [So, Akasha, you may now have the "blackest" black you will get...].
The other thing about pure black I found was that every speck of stuff was visible. Bits of plant leaf and such. I never see this with the mixed sand or the previous fine gravel that was also a mix.
If substrate fish are intended--and this is a wide term, meaning not only the obvious like corys and loaches, but substrate feeders such as most cichlids--sand is a better substrate, but make sure it is not rough. JD seems to have found a good sand, and I use play sand which is also ideal. Many filter-type sands or construction sands can be extremely sharp to the fish, and damage mouths and gills.
Byron.
One thing I noticed when I had a pure black substrate was that it was not black but dark grey once it was in the tank wet and under daylight lighting. This rather surprised me, but it shows that the colour of a substrate in air when dry is not likely the same as when it is wet and under tank lighting. Even my playsand which when dry in your hand is a very dark grey (it is a mix of grey, black, tan and white) becomes lighter under water and tank lighting. [So, Akasha, you may now have the "blackest" black you will get...].
The other thing about pure black I found was that every speck of stuff was visible. Bits of plant leaf and such. I never see this with the mixed sand or the previous fine gravel that was also a mix.
If substrate fish are intended--and this is a wide term, meaning not only the obvious like corys and loaches, but substrate feeders such as most cichlids--sand is a better substrate, but make sure it is not rough. JD seems to have found a good sand, and I use play sand which is also ideal. Many filter-type sands or construction sands can be extremely sharp to the fish, and damage mouths and gills.
Byron.
when I got mine it looked silver in the bag. It came in black or silver and I thought at first that they'd sent me the wrong one. Once wet it was slightly darker but not by much and under the lights it just looks grey.
I've seen some tanks on here with true black sand and I think they look better. I hadn't thought about it showing all the 'bits' though. I get that, my bedroom carpet is black ... I have a dog ... yeah, they don't work well together lol
I've seen some tanks on here with true black sand and I think they look better. I hadn't thought about it showing all the 'bits' though. I get that, my bedroom carpet is black ... I have a dog ... yeah, they don't work well together lol
I used flourite black sand in a 2 foot tank I set up a while ago. Although it looks ok, I prefer the more natural colour sand. Also this stuff seems more like very fine shale. I wouldn't think it would be good for cories.
Theres a pic here if you scroll down a bit - http
/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/437503-10-gallon-planted/
Theres a pic here if you scroll down a bit - http
/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/437503-10-gallon-planted/photobucket is still down but if you schroll down to post number 11 here http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/440296-struggling-with-high-phosphates-again/ you'll see mine.
It looks slightly brown in this photo but that's cos I stain my water with redbush tea
/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/440296-struggling-with-high-phosphates-again/ you'll see mine. It looks slightly brown in this photo but that's cos I stain my water with redbush tea
I have fluorite too and chose not to have cories due to its angular nature. I got it for the nutrients though I'm fairly sure they have now expired and I'm toying with changing it for soft black sand, but haven't got up to it yet...
Munroco said:I used flourite black sand in a 2 foot tank I set up a while ago. Although it looks ok, I prefer the more natural colour sand. Also this stuff seems more like very fine shale. I wouldn't think it would be good for cories.
Theres a pic here if you scroll down a bit - http
Those photos are what I was trying to say about the "black" becoming "grey." I had Flourite black, though not the sand, the fine gravel, and it looked much as your photos in that thread.
And my corys had to be removed due to serious mouth damage in short order. I don't know if the sand is similar in roughness, but I would assume so as it is the same substance ground down.
Please make sure to see a wet sample of any "black" substrate you buy... I spent ages deciding on which to get for my first tank. Landed on small black gravel (I think the brand was Zolux) as I want something that contrasts to the green plants and the guppies I plan to have.
Well, the gravel looked black on the photos, black in the bags, was black when I rinsed it. Only when I had put it down in the tank and filled it up, I noticed it is 50/50 black gravel and pieces of gravel that can best be described as having the colour of Coke. They are see-through and look more like dirty glass. So the result is a tank that should be black but instead looks brown and dirty up close. I'll be replacing it with grey sand eventually.
Well, the gravel looked black on the photos, black in the bags, was black when I rinsed it. Only when I had put it down in the tank and filled it up, I noticed it is 50/50 black gravel and pieces of gravel that can best be described as having the colour of Coke. They are see-through and look more like dirty glass. So the result is a tank that should be black but instead looks brown and dirty up close. I'll be replacing it with grey sand eventually.
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