Gravel

[karahrs]

So I bought a 46 gal bow front off craigslist. The tank and everything look great, except the gravel. Its blue red green and white. Too colorful for my cichlid tank, since I want more colors from the fish not the substrate. Is there any way that I can strip the gravel of its color or some how change the color. I like the natural look of black or white. I would hate to throw away over 30lbs of gravel if I didn't have to.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Aquarium Advice mobile app

 

[Delapool]

Nothing springs to mind here. I guess paint stripper but not sure that would be safe.

 

[Alan79]

River sand from my local hardware store is usually cheap. It looks good after rinsing silt out too. I think throwing away clown puke gravel is not wasting it. You could possibly dip it in an aquariumsafe paint to change it to a color you like but it seems like a hassle. pool filter or play sand is supposed to be a cheap alternative too.

 

[Delapool]

Must admit I'm a fan of more natural colours

 

[karahrs]

I'll have to check that out. Either that I was going to try to separate the rocks in color so I could do a more subtle color combo with like a black but that's so much work ! Lol I'll check out my hardware store for sure thank you!

Sent from my SM-G900V using Aquarium Advice mobile app

 

[aqua_holic]

I would toss the gravel and do sand - your fish will be much happier, as will you be.

 

[Delapool]

I'll have to check that out. Either that I was going to try to separate the rocks in color so I could do a more subtle color combo with like a black but that's so much work ! Lol I'll check out my hardware store for sure thank you!

Sent from my SM-G900V using Aquarium Advice mobile app

I've done that with dark bluey-green gravel where I have mixed a small bag of black through and thought it looked better. Done the same with natural coloured gravel. It was hardware store type stuff but fairly smooth and fine grained.