Gravel?

[ECCO_]

This is a really old pic of my tank, its decor has been re-done now. I need help picking out a nice color of gravel. Im looking for something with nice coloration. Eany suggustions.

 

[OohFeeshy]

Playsand...

 

[ECCO_]

Playsand...

Nah, Im looking for a nice gravel color. Also, one that would look good with my fish and derorations.

 

[Gatorbait]

Black gravel has always been my favorite. It really brings out the colors in fish and makes plants and decorations appear more colorful.

 

[ECCO_]

Black gravel has always been my favorite. It really brings out the colors in fish and makes plants and decorations appear more colorful.

I like that Idea, At my wal-mart they have Black and purple. mixed up, most of its black though.

 

[OohFeeshy]

If you insist on gravel, natural, small grained is best.

 

[ECCO_]

When I went to my Lfs they had the color above, orange, red, and a funky neon rainbow color.

 

[InaneCathode]

Black gravel for the win!

 

[n3ont3tra]

Why don't you just get sand, though? I don't think there's a fish in the world that would rather have gravel than sand.

 

[Tolak]

Why don't you just get sand, though? I don't think there's a fish in the world that would rather have gravel than sand.

Many cichlids prefer gravel.

 

[n3ont3tra]

Catfish, gobies, soles, spiny eels, and cichlids are all examples of fish that manipulate the substrate. With sand, these fish can dig or 'earth-eat' without any risk or damage. Gravel wears down the barbels of catfish, and with spiny eels especially, skin wounds become a site for bacterial infections. In fact, I'd go far to say that sand is mandatory for spiny eels and 'freshwater' soles/flatfish.

Why would they prefer gravel? I know they sometimes suck it up and spit it back out, but couldn't they just do the same thing with sand?

 

[ECCO_]

The reason I dont get sand is cause its going to be a decorated tank.
I do plain to get sand when I get my 15gallon though.

 

[hjkaga]

y cant u decorate the tank with sand in it?

 

[n3ont3tra]

It'll draw more attention to the decorations.

 

[Fishkrazy1]

Ok I'll recommend either black gravel or a lighter substrate... much like sand but it is gravl... Go to a petsmart and look at the gravel section you should pic it out no problem it's a light color almost like a tan color... works great in my 75 gallon with my african cichlids! They love to dig it up and mess up my plants but ahh well I love the little bumps!