GloFish Aquarium Gravel, Solid Black

Curated from 102 real Reddit conversations

Refreshed on: December 15, 2024

GloFish Aquarium Gravel, Solid Black

Brand: GloFish
Price: $4
Snoop Score:
8.4
Sentiment
5.0
Popularity
9.7
Technical
9.0

Snoop's Take

GloFish Aquarium Gravel, Solid Black, is a 5-pound bag of aquatic substrate designed to create an eye‐catching base for your fish tank. It’s engineered to work as both a substrate and decorative accent, especially when paired with blue LED lighting for a fluorescent glow. Consumers are divided on this product. Some enthusiasts, like one who said, "I saw the multicolored glofish gravel and it jumped out at me so I ordered 7 bags from chewy," appreciate its unique, non-neon aesthetic and sleek simplicity. Others express serious concerns about potential toxicity, as reflected by comments about fish dying shortly after use. The debate is lively, with a mix of admiration for its design and alarm over safety issues. Ultimately, while the product delivers on style for themed aquariums and accent lighting, the consistent chatter about toxicity means it’s a recommendation only for those who prioritize aesthetics over uncompromised fish safety. Buyers should weigh the vibrant look against the risk of adverse effects before committing.

Not for you? Check out our other rated Gravel

I saw the multicolored glofish gravel and it jumped out at me so I ordered 7 bags from chewy. 😁

Positive Feedback

has anyone had experience with glofish brand gravel killing fish?

Negative Feedback
Product
8.4
GloFish Aquarium Gravel, Solid Black
Enhance Aquarium Aesthetics
9 / 10
Accent for LED Setups
9 / 10
Creating Themed Aquariums
10 / 10
Complementing Aquatic Decor
10 / 10
See how this compares to all Gravel

What it does well!

Key strengths users can’t stop talking about.
Vibrant color variety attracts buyers
I saw the multicolored glofish gravel and it jumped out at me so I ordered 7 bags from chewy. 😁
Subtle non‐neon appearance is appreciated
This may be the first time I've ever seen Glofish without neon gravel. 👍
I think they are prettier without all the lights and neon shit.
No visible toxicity or adverse effects observed
I haven’t witnessed or been convinced that it does anything horrible yet.
My shrimp, neons and cory started dying within a day.

Where it needs some work!

Areas to watch—feedback on possible improvements.
Concerns over potential toxicity leading to fish deaths
has anyone had experience with glofish brand gravel killing fish?
I used a black and white Glo fish gravel and it definitely was toxic and killed two fish.

Compare On All Talked About Dimensions

Product NameImagePriceScoreCompareSee DetailsBuy Now
GloFish Aquarium Gravel, Solid BlackGloFish Aquarium Gravel, Solid Black$4
8.4
DetailsBuy
GloFish Aquarium Gravel, Pink/Green/Blue MixGloFish Aquarium Gravel, Pink/Green/Blue Mix$4
7.7
DetailsBuy
GloFish Aquarium Gravel 5 Pounds, PearlescentGloFish Aquarium Gravel 5 Pounds, Pearlescent$7
7.5
DetailsBuy
GloFish Aquarium Gravel, Fish Tank Gravel, Black With Fluorescent Accents, 5 lb BagGloFish Aquarium Gravel, Fish Tank Gravel, Black With Fluorescent Accents, 5 lb Bag$4
5.7
DetailsBuy
GloFish Aquarium Gravel, Black with White Fluorescent 5-Pound BagGloFish Aquarium Gravel, Black with White Fluorescent 5-Pound Bag$4
5.2
DetailsBuy
YISZM 5lbs Aquarium GravelYISZM 5lbs Aquarium Gravel$13
3.7
DetailsBuy
FANTIAN 5lbs Aquarium GravelFANTIAN 5lbs Aquarium Gravel$14
0.9
DetailsBuy

Buyer’s Cheat Sheet

What to check before you click ‘Add to Cart.’
Sand vs gravel substrate debate on maintenance and fish safety
In my experience sand is much better. It is no maintenance, much more natural, stays much cleaner, and better for the fish.
Sand is worth the effort but is more work IMO.
If others are using other types of sand with smaller grain sizes... they may have the problems mentioned above.
I still prefer sand for the look but it's more work in my experience.
Live plant recommendations for GloFish tanks
Put some real plants.
My glofish love live plants.
Get at least a dozen plants in there.
General tank equipment recommendations for GloFish tanks
Gravel stones, hardscaping rocks and or wood, plants.
um that’s just the bare minimum lol i have boxes of fish stufff.
Just. Wow.
Pet store experiences and fish care advice
The guilt and shame I felt after this was truly immeasurable.
I used to wish that I knew what was required when I made the purchase VS not knowing because I would have done it right the first time.
I could have cried for that poor betta.
There’s only so much you can do reasonably and you did it.
Tank setup and water cycling myths
What a gorgeous boi!
local pet stores are notorious for having no clue what they're talking about.
It’s not dirty. It’s cycled and has healthy bacteria that prevents fin rot.
The dirty water cycling trick is an old wives tale.

Cautionary Callouts

Know the pitfalls before they catch you off guard.
Gravel color durability concerns
a common complaint is that the colors chip off.
I like it’s small and smooth enough for the bottom dwellers to safely shuffle around in it but heavy enough to not get sucked into the gravel vac.
Aquarium substrate choices affect fish behavior and safety
But if you can afford it, keeping most fish on black gravel is my preference (just an opinion), their color is best on a dark substrate in my experience.
The sand gill thing sounds fascinating, and for their benefit I think I will have to add sand or replace the gravel entirely.
I've had my one for over 5 years so they can't dislike it too much.
My tanks are a mix of black sand and rounded river pebbles can't keep them separate due to various loaches and plecos.
Concerns over pet store fish care and maintenance
It’s terrible.
I’m glad my local PetCo stopped selling them.
Typically this Petsmart is better with betta care, but this was rough to see.
They often develop health issues that drastically shorten their lifespan.
Risks of colored gravel including paint chipping and potential stress
But it ultimately depends on a few factors, including the betta's temperament/personality.
The only bad thing about bright coloured gravel is that it's usually cheaply made, and the paint can flake off, which may have ill effects for the fish.
I also worry about changing the gravel because the tank is cycled and she has been here for a few months.
The paint can chip and leach into the water column over time.
Fish health and behavior issues observed in purchased fish
He was sooo aggressive and would freak out and flare so much he’d made himself stress sick and his gills would swell.
Gravel substrates may not support healthy plant growth
Not all plants thrive in just gravel.
Plants do so much better in baked clay vs just gravel.
Gravel has a tough time containing the nutrients.
Tank has been cycled 25% two weeks in a row due to massive nitrate levels.
Uncertainty and confounding factors in tank maintenance affecting fish health
Yeah that's a loaded question because you have no idea water quality or what fish were out together.
Yea I was thinking they might have scooped out the old, added new and crashed it then blamed the gravel.
Advisory to monitor for potential color leeching or flaking
keep an eye out for colors leeching, flaking, or anything wonky.

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