Dilema Regarding my New Frontosa Tank - Please Help

[nagukush]

Hi Friends !

I have finally bought some Black Colored Sand from local shop here. I'm planning to sprinkle a little on my already white Sand. I'm really not sure if it will look good or should I just leave it as it is. Is there anything like white substrate will make the tank look larger or something ?

I request you to kindly have a look at the following link to see my tank and please let me know if a sprinkle of black will look good in it.

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1987774#post1987774

Another option which I'm considering is to put a 1" layer of Black sand on my already white sand. This is because I think black sand will make the fronts show better colors as they seem to have a little washed out colors on the white sand.

Will be a great-great help if you can kindly guide me here...
Thanks a lot !
Regards and Care
Kush

[nagukush]

Friends please guide me...

[nagukush]

Friends, I guess what I have is not actually Black Sand - it is very-very fine shippings of some Black Rock. Its so fine that I can crush it to smaller bits by pressing a grain under my nails and a table - Please guide me if it will be ok to use this. I had a hard time cleaning it because it seems to disintegrate when I swirl it inside a bucket - Should I use it ?

[Pittbull]

I did the same thing to my 20gal longs but i initially did this at setup couldn't tell you if it would work or not but i can say this if you do not place enough in the tank it will not look right i mixed a 5 LB bag of black reef sand in with a 20 LB bag of aragonite for 2 20gal longs and i wish i just bought the mix sand first..

If you do you may want to see if it will float first and then go from there once it is in the tank its not coming out unless you completely take out all of the sand..


1. sand i mixed in with black reef sand it seems to me the black sand i mixed in settles at the bottom and the white sand stays on top..
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2. Caribsea live aragonite sand black and white mix stays true to the form..
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[Pittbull]

Usually not a good ideal with mixing small cichlids with huge cichlids like Frontosa but i say never because what works for you may not work for me, if you do go the small cichlid with huge cichlid route make sure to feed at least twice a day to keep hunger in check and it may work out for you.. or not..

[AfroCichlid]

I have always thought that those kribs would never make it once those other fish got big. Can kribs actually be put with larger cichlids?

If you're referring to the fish in PB's pics those are shelldwellers. I don't think I would try Kribs with rift lake species, as they are not from the rift lakes and require different water conditions. They can be aggressive but can't match an Mbuna or most Tanganyikans.

[AfroCichlid]

Hi Kush. I would try the sand if it's what you're looking for. I agree it will bring the Fronts color out more. That's the case for most fish. I used black Tahitian moon sand, it mixed well and holds it's position mixed with white pool filter sand.

[Pittbull]

And to stem off of afros comment when i finally did switch over to sand my cichlids began to breed left and right sorta like a light bulb went off for them..

[nagukush]

Hi Pittbull and Afro,

Thanks a lot for the kind replies and for guiding me. I have actually taken out all the White sand that I had and I've replaced it with a 1.5" Layer of Black Sand-like-fine-chippings. The tank looks better and the Fronts's colors have improved aswell (IMO)

Will update the pics soon. Thanks again Friends...
Regards and Care to all !
Kush

[Pittbull]

No problem Kush hope all is well in your neck of the woods my friend..