Light Substrate Vs. Dark Substrate

[MyraAlam]

Hi guys,


I've recently made the decision to switch to sand for my 10 and 20 gallon tanks. I'm in the process of looking up which sort of sand would be best and couldn't help wondering: does a darker substrate really make that much of a difference when it comes to your fish's colors and the overall appearance of a tank? I've used only gravel in the past and it's been "neutral" colored, or so to speak. (Not white/cream but not black either.) I'm looking into silica sand a lot, but what's all the hype with Tahitian moon sand?

There will be no live plants in either tank so I guess the choice comes down to just preference.

Personally I think lighter colored sand/substrate looks more natural than the black out there (I feel like black makes the entire tank look darker than it really is) but if a "dark" substrate will make a significant impact on my fish's colors, I'd go for it. Your thoughts are appreciated.

Stock list if it'll help you picture it better:

10 Gallon:
8 x Ember tetra
10 x Pygmy cories

20 Gallon long:
6 x lemon tetras
6 x rummynose tetras
1 x dwarf gourami
6 x skunk cories

Thank you!

 

[Truck]

darker substrate = better colours of fish, the lighter it is, the more the fish try to blend in, so they pale themselves down.

 

[snowflake311]

Light. It's more natural I think it brightenS up the whole tank. Everything pop out. Were with it dark stuff tends to blend in more. Here is my before and after.The only fish that is not as dark as before when she comes out is my clown pleco. But it is such a tiny differance only I can tell. Besides that my fish are not washed out they are the same. Stress is what washes out the color of your fish that and poor food.

It's decorateing use what will Make your fish look good. If you have light color fish then dark substrat will add contrast. It's the contrast that makes the fish colors pop.


before

after

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

It has to come down to yours and your fish's preference. I have one tank that is bright, light and the fish are very happy, their colours aren't washed out and the sand is perfect for them. In another I use light sand but low lighting with the bottom of the tank being fairly dark all the time. That's how those fish are happy. In my smallest tank it has dark substrate, reasonable lighting and again the fish are happy. Here's a pic of the largest which is the brightest, lightest tank of the three.
P.

 

[MyraAlam]

Thanks a lot, both of you. Awesome pictures.

I think I'll go with the light sand substrate, it'll look natural and will brighten up the tank as well.

 

[lilacamy931]

I have to agree with the light substrate, best of luck!

 

[fiskkeeperpro]

For me, I use a dark substrate as my tanks are planted and the fish I have are blue/red/yellow/white so they stand out much better and for me, look better with dark substrates

 

[mjzuverink]

i would also go with the the light substrate, this what i have always used. also, if you decide to go with this, pool stores are a good place to source sand for cheap and it is usually a very nice white sand. just ask of pool filter sand. it is usually prewashed with no additives and less than ten bucks for 50 pounds

 

[Mikaila31]

I prefer black substrate and black backgrounds. It makes everything stick out IMO. I have some with cheaper light colored substrate and things are much more neutral. Both of these tanks have about the same amount of light 2wpg. But IMO color temp plays just as big a role if not more when your talking about the appearance of fish. The one with black gravel has my preferred lighting on it. Poor lighting choices can make even the best fish look bad.

 

[MyraAlam]

I have to agree with the light substrate, best of luck!

Thank you! Although from later posts, now I don't know what to do!

 

[MyraAlam]

For me, I use a dark substrate as my tanks are planted and the fish I have are blue/red/yellow/white so they stand out much better and for me, look better with dark substrates

Hmm...my fish are actually those colors. Perhaps I should rethink my substrate plans.

i would also go with the the light substrate, this what i have always used. also, if you decide to go with this, pool stores are a good place to source sand for cheap and it is usually a very nice white sand. just ask of pool filter sand. it is usually prewashed with no additives and less than ten bucks for 50 pounds

Thanks a lot. Would you say pool filter sand is better than silica sand? Still wondering whether to go with light or dark though. hmm..

I prefer black substrate and black backgrounds. It makes everything stick out IMO. I have some with cheaper light colored substrate and things are much more neutral. Both of these tanks have about the same amount of light 2wpg. But IMO color temp plays just as big a role if not more when your talking about the appearance of fish. The one with black gravel has my preferred lighting on it. Poor lighting choices can make even the best fish look bad.

Your first tank looks a lot more natural, but you're right, the second tank makes everything stand out! (By the way, you have gorgeous Emperors. Completely jealous

) Your pics make me wonder whether I should switch to black sand instead. I'll be having emperors, skunk & orange laser cories, lemon tetras, rummynoses, all fish that would really stick out if a dark substrate/background was applied. Your word on lighting is duly noted too

 

[Schmill]

In my viewing of other tanks, and trying it on my own tanks it seems to come down to a fairly simple relationship:

Light Substrate = Bright Tank
Dark Substrate = Bright Fish



I do really love the look of the tanks that have the light sand substrates, and perhaps it does look more natural and the fish seem 'part' of the whole thing... but thats not why I personally bought a tank.
With a dark substrate & background I find the greens of my plants look better, and the fish look brighter.
It's more a tank, with eye catching fish & plants in it, rather that with the light substrate where it was a bright tank, but the whole scene was bright, so fish etc didn't seem to stand out.

Can't post any pictures up from here, but there are a couple of shots of my tank with dark substrate in my 300L cycling log in my sig (goto the last page-ish). I made the transition from 'natural gravel' to black fine gravel on that tank and to be honest have not looked back

 

[holidayinn]

Personal preference, dark substrate + dark background = distinct fish.

 

[karin]

Great pictures.

For me the dark draws me into the tank more. Like it would be hard to pass it up without taking a good long look.

Where does one get dark sand? Is there a cheaper source for this?

Thanks

 

[Mikaila31]

Great pictures.

For me the dark draws me into the tank more. Like it would be hard to pass it up without taking a good long look. Where does one get dark sand? Is there a cheaper source for this?

Thanks

I saw Petsmart had 20lb bags of super naturals black moon sand. They want $25 a bag, but they will price match online sites. You can get it for $12 a bag online. If you bring the web page and as them to match it they will. Other wise Petsolutions.com sells ecocomplete at a decent price.