First off, let me say I was pleasantly surprised by how rich and deep the grey color of this gravel looks once it's wet. In the bag, it appears lighter, but once rinsed and submerged, it transforms into this gorgeous slate tone that makes my aquarium plants and decor really stand out.

I used this in my 20-gallon planted tank, and the size variation (1/32" to 1/8") creates such a natural look. The occasional white and brown stones mixed in add character - it doesn't look artificial like some uniform substrates do. My corydoras seem to love sifting through it too!

Now, about that dust warning - they aren't kidding. Even after multiple rinses (I did about 5 rounds), there was still some cloudiness when I first filled the tank. Pro tip: rinse in small batches using a colander, and be patient. The cloudiness settled within 24 hours for me.

The packaging was sturdy - no torn bags or spills during shipping. And I appreciate that it's real stone without any coatings or dyes that could affect water chemistry.

Would I recommend? Absolutely, especially if you're going for a natural aquascape look. Just be prepared for the rinsing process - maybe do it outside if possible!