Does the color of gravel influence fish coloration?

[jewelstar]

Hi,

I'm curious about how gravel color affects fish coloration. I've got a mix of white and colored gravel in my 75g tank, but the overall look is pretty light. Would switching to all brown or darker gravel make a difference? I've got a Synspilum, Peaches, who's about 4-5 inches long now, and while her black areas are nice and vivid, the other colors - pink, gold, blue - seem washed out.

I've been thinking of changing the gravel to bring out her colors more. Does anyone know if that'd work? Also, are there any special lighting options that can enhance fish colors?

[reefguy]

Honestly, I don't think the gravel color makes a huge difference. I've had my Synspilum, Peaches, in this 75g with white and natuflake colored gravel, and I was worried the light color would affect her coloring, but I've read that it's more about the overall lighting in the tank. I'd love to hear from others, but I'm not convinced changing to all brown or darker gravel would make a significant difference.

[eaglevow]

I'm curious to know what you're currently feeding Peaches. I've had great results with Wardley's color-enhancing flake food for my cichlids. It really made a difference for my buttikoferi - the blue on his finnage and mouth is stunning.

As for lighting, there are color-enhancing bulbs available, and the price varies depending on the type of bulb you're using.

I have to respectfully disagree with reeferguy, though - blue gravel can actually bring out the colors in fish, and a darker background can also help.

[storme]

I made the switch from white to black gravel when I upgraded from a 10 to a 20-gallon tank, and the difference was huge. My neons, in particular, seemed to brighten up significantly - I'd say at least 150%. I'm convinced that a darker background and gravel really help bring out the colors, or at the very least, create that illusion.

[darkguard]

To really make the colors pop, I think you need some contrast going on. A dark or black background would be a great start. I've found that a white light neon tube can also help. And instead of gravel, maybe consider using white sand - it can reflect some light and really make the colors of the fish stand out against it. My own setup has a blue background, but I've seen this combo work wonders for others.

[tursio]

Hi jewelstar,

The color of your gravel does indeed impact the color of your fish. Lighter tanks tend to wash out their colors. Conversely, a darker tank really brings out the full spectrum of colors in your fish.

[aquaguru]

Medium color background, dark substrate does the trick. That's all you need to know.

[jewelstar]

Thanks for all the input, I really appreciate it. I've come to the conclusion that changing to a darker gravel will be my next step.

[cavallo]

Definitely go with black substrate - I learned the hard way with my last aquarium. I picked up Seachem's "Dark" thinking it would do the trick, but it's really just dark brown and looks awful against my fish's colors. If I ever have to tear down the tank, I'll be switching to black for sure - it makes the fish's colors pop. I've also got black backgrounds in my other tanks, and the result is the same: you see the fish, not the substrate and background. Just a heads up, make sure to rinse your black substrate thoroughly or you'll be dealing with cloudiness for a while. I had a nightmare with the Seachem brown - it took around 10 rinses to get clear water.

[SeaBidder]

My cherry shrimp's color popped big time when I switched from light blue to dark blue gravel. They seemed to redden up a good deal after the move to the larger tank.