Gravel

[AJinNY]

I have a blackbackground with white gravel...I like it but since my rainbowfish are still juvies and not showing off their intense colors, the white gravel looks, eh. I also hear a darker substrate brings out the colors in all fish.

WHat color would you recommend to go with the black background? Also, I dont like the little pebbles ...I want bigger gravel. Any brands you can recommend?

Thanks!!

[BEELZEBOB]

his is a FW tank, correct?

[sasquatch]

I like Home Depots play sand but its sand so maybe to fine for you, most of the larger gravels are colored with epoxy, play sand is a nice brown that will bring up the color, anyway I see Ryan is lurking, he'll have something lol

[Dre]

I can't remember the brand but it looked beautiful in my tank. I will see if I could get you the link on where I got it.

[Dre]

Originally Posted by Dre

I can't remember the brand but it looked beautiful in my tank. I will see if I could get you the link on where I got it.

Sorry about the small picture I will look for a BIGGER picture

[AJinNY]

yes this is a freshwater tank.
You know the little pebbles used for gravel? I want bigger pieces - a little more rock-like. They do have it in stores but all plain white/off-white color. I was hoping for a light blue or green or something.

Links please.
Ryan? I hear youre lurking. lol

[Frankie]

Look for river stones. You will get all those colors in natural stones. If you lay it out right, you can use fine white sand coming out of the back round in the shape of a stream. It will look like a river in the bottom of your tank then. Check out some planted tanks. Go to TFH Magazine :: The World's Leading Aquarium Magazine for Over Half a Century and search them out. There are some great links there.

[lcstorc]

I love the stream idea. That would be awesome.

[PEMfish]

Yes, darker colors do play with light, making fish look better. River pebbles would be perfect for you. Just can't keep any burrowing critters ( Some eels, along with other stuff ). Top fin ( PetSmart ) offers some for a good price.

[AJinNY]

But those river pebbles are the regular small gravel right? I wanted something a little bigger than the regular gravel.

Right now I have white gravel and a black background which in theory is great. But with the light on bouncing off the white gravel doesnt really make the tank pop. I was thinking maybe something in the blue family, but with the black background I cant go too dark.

Any photos on here of peoples fresh water tank?

[PEMfish]

Then get a new background. I would NOT go colored at all. Natural colors only. The stuff I was talking about comes in 3 sizes; from 1/4" to 3/4".

[AJinNY]

the problem I htink is the lighting...I need something more actinic.

[Boomer]

Pebbles, someone say pebbles ? One of my favorite subjects, along with stream mechanics "The transportation, deposition and shaping of pebbles in small streams and rives."


But those river pebbles are the regular small gravel right? I wanted something a little bigger than the regular gravel.


Pebbles are 4 mm - 64 mm ( and if bigger = Cobbles, boulders start at 256 mm). Gravel is 2 - 4 mm, very coarse sand 1 - 2 mm, coarse sand 0.5 -1 mm, med sand 0.25 - 0.5 mm, fine sand 0.125 - 0.250 mm, very fine sand 0.063 - 0.125 mm and < 0.063 = silt

[RyanG]

You can get washed river stone at walmart in the pet department that are in the 1-2 inch range but they would be kinda expensive to do a whole tank I think. Jerusalem stone looks awesome when done properly they are whitish colored square and rectangle rocks that would be an option. I use Flourite in my planted tank I like the looks of that the best but its not the size you are looking for. But I have washed river stone randomly plopped in there too.

Jerusalem Stone.
25 LBS JERUSALEM STONE FISH TANK AQUARIUM NATURAL DECOR - eBay (item 300211812580 end time Apr-06-08 06:22:08 PDT)

This stuff is great for hiding places
TEXAS HOLEY ROCK aquarium fish tank coral limestone - eBay (item 190211580741 end time Apr-06-08 20:00:00 PDT)