I've got black gravel with a black background and it looks great, even if I do say so myself You can really see the fish, and it looks very natural with driftwood and rocks. Plus I found that it's a little more difficult to see the mechanics of the tank, the heater and the filter intake unless I get right up close, but even then, only because I know where to look
yeah i know what you mean, one of my filters are black and my air pump hoseing are black for the bubble wall cant see, but my heater and my other filter happen to be clear...sucks, cant see a thing untill you get upclose tho or at a angle with light glare..
Heres a pic of my 10gal.
The light glare on the left is a blue nightlite (actualy makes the platns glow green) for the neons that goes crazy when i turn of all lights.