Ricardo_NY1

I have never found a bag of gravel that matches the colors I like...........instead, I always have to buy an extra bag or two because I always end up taking out pieces that are too light or contrast too much with the rest. I like the colors of my gravel to be dark and uniform. For certain tanks, it doesn't matter much, but for the one I'm putting together in the next few days it does. I've got a full size bucket of gravel to go through to cover a top layer on a 30 gallon.

Photo of the insanity attached. On the left is the lighter stuff and in the 2.5 gallon tank, the dark gravel as I prefer it. I'm pretty sure my family thinks I've lost it at times as they walk by and watch me separate gravel handfuls at a time!

Attached Images

Gravel.jpg (328.4 KB, 46 views)

Shawnie

oh my !! now that is organized LOL!! I can say ive never picked apart the gravel...bet your tanks are meticulous!

TFA101

OCD?

jkjk

You are one determined human being to be able to do that without losing patience

Lucy

Wow, that's amazing. I've never done that either.
I guess if you know exactly what you want, then go for it

CHoffman

I'm sooo impressed..I'm bad but I don't even do this..lol..I get it though. The dark rock is stunning and a whole tank of that would be BEAUTIFUL..sooo you'll have to get us pics right.

FL CommunityFans

I do something similar with the sand for my tanks. Hard to find certain shades one wants, so buy a few bags of different colored sand and mix them together to get the color wanted.. kinda like mixing paint.

Ricardo_NY1

I'll definitely update this thread with photos. There's two things that are good about picking the gravel apart like this........first you get the exact color/shade that you want. I keep neons, cardinals & glowlights, so dark is better, but not to the point that I want black gravel or sand.

Second, you can use the lighter shade or shades of gravel as a second or first layer to get that "Layers of gravel" look at the front of the glass that I've seen in some aquariums. I'm shooting for both in this next 30 gallon setup I'll be working on.

What I really do not like BTW is tan/dark gravel with white or pearl like gravel bits. They stick out like a sore thumb.

Lifesabeach

WOW... Good luck with the selection process! That's driving me crazy just thinking about it! I look forward to the end result. Are you a Virgo BTW?

Beth1965

Great, thanks for adding something else to my OCD habits!!!
Beth

TedsTank

omg....you missed one!!!!...look to left of your hand..1/2 covered by another piece LOL

I understand what you are doing. I hate buying gravel, they try to give you a mix of colors. You are an artist painting an aquatic picture!..and nice color...

agabr123

lol, wow! i would have given up after about...30 seconds

navyscuba

OMG I probably kill myself before I do that I don't have patience.

Alasse

I've done the gravel thing *LOL* Takes AGES to pick apart 20+kg of gravel