White Gravel

[angelbaby]

I bought a new tank today (yeaahhhhh) ... upgrading from a 40L to a 135L. I always thought my next tank I would have white gravel. When I mentioned this to the assistant at my LFS where I purchased my tank, I was told this would have significant affect on the PH balance, making it too acid and would be detrimental to my fish. So I ended up purchasing fruit salad mix gravel. I had never heard of this theory before, can anyone confirm or deny please!!!

 

[rvm]

From what I understand, white gravel is fine, as long as it is not the crushed coral variety which will raise your Ph. I'm not sure by how much, and obviously this would depend on your tapwater and what fish you want as to how it would affect you.
I'm sure other people will be able to explain better

 

[Nidge]

I have white gravel in two of my tanks and it didn't change the ph at all. rvm is correct about the crushed coral which raises the ph this also looks similar to white gravel so maybe the lfs guy got mixed up.

 

[FishDan]

White gravel, in and of itself is not going to do anything to your pH or water chemistry. White gravel is no different than any other color. Unless it is crushed coral or some other type of rock, and not "typical" aquarium gravel.

\Dan

 

[CFC]

Although the lfs guy is talking complete rubbish he has inadvertantly done you a huge favour, light coloured bright substrates wash out the colours of the fish and makes them nervous and shy, the increased levels of stress make the fish more prone to disease and shorterns their life spans. The majority of predatation in the wild comes from terrestial predators like birds so fish have evolved to be camoflaged against dark substrates when viewed from above and to avoid light coloured patches as it makes them more visable. Using a darker substrate makes the fish more comfortable and brings out the best in their natural colours.

 

[Tropjunky]

I know 2 things in a tank thats white coroal and white stuff coroal will effect the water chemistry but anyways my advice would be go for the natural colours and go for a more natural tank 'cos i think ur fish will thank u for it in the end.

 

[Opcn]

The lfs Dude was wrong there are infinitly many white types of gravvel that wont hurt your water and in addition to what cfc said the gravel will look bad after a while the slightest speck will show up and algea may turn it green.

 

[angelbaby]

Thanks for the input everyone. I have set the tank up today with coloured gravel, plants and a couple of decorations and feeling pretty happy about how it is coming together. Feel better knowing I have done the right thing for them fish, with regard to comments about the white gravel not being in their best interests. Thanks again!