Tropheus look washed out

[gturmindright]

I removed the plants from my tropheus duboisi maswa tank to help keep it cleaner and ever since theyve been looking washed out. They are juveniles and they look gold. Weird.

[renoguy]

Were the munching on the plants? I have lots of plants in my tank. They all munch all the time. Maybe they are missing something in their diet now?

[mikevxr]

Could it not be that their colouration is changing to adult I.e. Band coming in? Post a pic.

[brianyelick]

I'm not sure about just the color change due to the band's coming in. My guys are still super dark with the band forming. Usually washed out color means stress. They may have been used to the plants and removing them all at once can maybe make them uncomfortable. Also check all your water parameters trophs are super sensitive to rapidly changing water conditions.

[gturmindright]

Starting today with a big water change. Maybe i uprooted a lot of decaying plant matter. If they look the same tomorrow ill do another one and then by Monday Ill explore other possibilities. I already do weekly 67% water changes though. There are temporarily 46 tropheus a couple synodontis and a zebra loach in there but they are all 1-2" so shouldnt be overstocked yet. Just trying to figure out if they like plants. Im thinking they do.

[mikevxr]

What size is your tank out of curiosity?

[gturmindright]

75 gallon of course. Dont panic. So, i think I figured it out. The tank had a carpet of crypt wendtii dark burgundy/brown. Ive effectively changed my substrate from having a dark color (almost black) to white. I'm convinced that is the reason. Either way. Super healthy and active. My goal is to have minimal substrate and somehow have some pothos roots draped into the top of the tank. Looking for some sort of porous basket that fits where my lid goes that i can fill with hydroton and plant a pothos or philodendron in. BTW the 46 fish is temporary as I have a 120 on the way for 30 of the 46. They are all still small. So Id guess that a black substrate would show a black base fish better and a white substrate for a lighter yellow or red type fish? Anyone try Caribsea Zach Black? Or am i the guy?

[mikevxr]

I use coral sand in my tanks - I tried an expensive white sand and fish were very skittish and didn't seem comfortable when lights were on. Ive tried a coarser coral gravel but it seemed to go green quickly as my fish couldnt dig in it as much. I've never tried any black gravel probably for the same reason I've never had a black background - I'm frightened you won't see the fish as well. I don't experiment as much now with substrates and tank decor probably to make my life easier but I enjoy seeing what other people can do with their tanks.

[brianyelick]

I agree mike I use strictly crushed aragonite for substrate helps with the buffering for ph level my substrate is very light. I havent had any washing out of color. That being said if you made a drastic change like you said with your entire substrate being dark then go to light that could have stressed them out.

[gturmindright]

Yes, also i have a fluval 3.0 planted on it. Very bright white.