Black sand or white sand: Does it matter?

[Complexity]

I've noticed that most people use a light colored sand for their cichlid tanks. What about using a black colored sand? Does the color matter to the fish or is it just aesthetics to the tank owner?

[cichlid1409]

light colored sand will reflect more light and generally bring out the colors in your fish more...but most of the time its personal preference.

[aggrocichlidfan]

white relfects light black sucks it all up lol
how did the meet with my dad go?

[Complexity]

light colored sand will reflect more light and generally bring out the colors in your fish more...but most of the time its personal preference.

Is this because the fish's colors actually become brighter or because the lighting itself is brighter?

white relfects light black sucks it all up lol
how did the meet with my dad go?

Your dad is wonderful! Very nice man. Enjoyed meeting some of your brothers and your sister. Your dad had nice things to say about you.

But you didn't tell your dad that the motor had a noise. I hope he's not disappointed! I told him it was 100% fine if he wanted to change his mind as I could use the filter on my new setup. He went ahead and got it. I just hope he's not upset. He said if the noise bothered him, he'd give the filter to you.

Oh, and tell your dad that the noise does get quieter as the filter is used. It's always at its worse when I've done a good cleaning, and I cleaned it up very well for him. So the noise will be loudest when he first starts it up. It'll quieten down after a day or two.

[Matt in Houston]

light colored sand will reflect more light and generally bring out the colors in your fish more...but most of the time its personal preference.

I have heard the exact opposite...some say darker substrate will make the fish more colorful. I also read something once that the reason why certain fish like Cardinal Tetra are so bright is because of the darker blackwater rivers they live in.

I prefer the darker substrate, I think it presents a contrast to a bright and colorful fish. I think some lighter color substrates can wash colors out.

[cichlid1409]

Is this because the fish's colors actually become brighter or because the lighting itself is brighter?

Synthetic lighting can not possibly make the actual coloring of the fish brighter, it only appears brighter because of the extra light reflected off the sand.

[cichlid1409]

I have heard the exact opposite...some say darker substrate will make the fish more colorful. I also read something once that the reason why certain fish like Cardinal Tetra are so bright is because of the darker blackwater rivers they live in.

I prefer the darker substrate, I think it presents a contrast to a bright and colorful fish. I think some lighter color substrates can wash colors out.

it is alot about personal preference, but just ask algarciajr about his change in substrate.

[Complexity]

I prefer the darker substrate, I think it presents a contrast to a bright and colorful fish. I think some lighter color substrates can wash colors out.

This has always been my preference, as well, but that's with planted tanks. I'm not sure how it would look with a cichlid tank, and most tanks I'm seeing pictures of just have the white sand so it's hard to find anything for comparison.

Synthetic lighting can not possibly make the actual coloring of the fish brighter, it only appears brighter because of the extra light reflected off the sand.

Okay, I wasn't sure if it was similar to how discus get spots when in a tank with a black background or if it was just perceptual on our part.

it is alot about personal preference, but just ask algarciajr about his change in substrate.

Did he post before/after pics? I'll look through his previous posts to see if I can find anything.

[Nickintex]

I've noticed that most people use a light colored sand for their cichlid tanks. What about using a black colored sand? Does the color matter to the fish or is it just aesthetics to the tank owner?

I would mix black and white sand together for a marbled look. I've mixed 2 colors of Estes marine sand in several of my tanks and it looks FABULOUS!

[Zulaab]

Black sand.. the problem with it is anything that is not black will show up.. just like white sand.. but there is no doubt and I dont care what anyone else says, white sand will bring out the lighter and better colors of the fish.
I had Leleupi over black sand and they looked like someone had taken coal dust and sprayed it all over them. Then they got the white sand treatment and well, I was told I had some of the nicest looking Leleupi's with 0 black in their pigmentation etc..
Yellow Labs... same deal there.

[Complexity]

Black sand.. the problem with it is anything that is not black will show up..

I've been looking all over the internet at pictures of cichlid tanks with light and dark sand, and I think what you just said it the main key.

Black sand makes the rocks stand out visually. This is good with a planted tank when you want the plants to stand out, but with a cichlid tank, the show is not the rocks; it's the fish.

When you use white sand, there becomes a contrast of neutral colors versus, well, color. That makes the colors in the fish pop.

So, in a way, the contrast of black sand with rocks only serves to highlight any colors in the rocks. So a rock with a reddish hue will have that red brought out with a black substrate, and that red then competes with the red in the fish. But the white substrate seems to wash out the reddish hue in the rocks, making them appear more gray, so the red in a fish stands out better. This goes on for all the colors. Even blue which isn't in any decor (one would hope). The reddish hue in rocks will compete with the blue in a fish because the red is simply more pronounced as the color red.

What seems to be happening is the dark substrate emphasizes too many colors which then makes all those colors compete with each other, diluting the overall affect. But white substrate dulls the colors so slight tints no longer show up, which then pops out the colors of the fish.

Got all that? :ym_chatterbox:

All that is to say that I'm going to go with white sand.

[Nickintex]

Got all that? :ym_chatterbox:

All that is to say that I'm going to go with white sand.

[Rico]

white relfects light black sucks it all up lol
how did the meet with my dad go?

did your dad come to fishranch today? i think i saw him he had two boys and a girl. he got 100 ghost shrimp.

vicki,

i would try the black sand. from what i've read it makes the bright colors pop out more. specially with a black background.

[Complexity]

No, no, Rico. Don't make me think twice on which color to get!

I am so tempted to try black sand, especially if I can find the black granite rocks I'm wanting. I can see an all black scenery where the only color comes from the fish.

Too bad no one has pictures of a tank with both colors to show the difference.

[Rico]

ill get you some pics. give me a minute.