Stonescapes Tropics Blue vs Midnight Blue – The Key Differences (With Pictures & Videos)
Stonescapes Tropics Blue and Midnight Blue are very similar interior pool finishes with a few slight differences. Both make a dark blue aesthetic, but Midnight Blue makes a darker, slightly greenish watercolor. Whereas, Tropics blue offers a teal/turquoise colour that produces more of a shine.
Midnight Blue also can create a warmer water temperature and can reduce the visibility of the floor.
Looking for a similar comparison?
See my article here on Tropics Blue vs Tahoe Blue
However, pool depth, the pool’s surroundings, and your climate (sunny or overcast) will impact the look of both finishes. So, it’s difficult to describe how the differences will look for your specific situation.
Each color is also affected by the specific blend. You’ll get a slightly different finish if you use mini pebble, regular pebble, micro pebble, Puerto Rico blend, or a Touch of Glass. You can also customize the blend with various other changes (quartz, moon rocks, etc.).
I’ll try my best to go into the aesthetic differences below and scour the web for as many pictures and videos as possible.
Water Color and Aesthetics
Both Midnight Blue and Tropics Blue produce a dark blue colour. However, Tropics does produce a light, lagoon-like shade. Whereas, Midnight produces dark, blue and greenish shades, especially when covered in shade.
Midnight blue does produce a dark, luxurious blue in my opinion – it gives me modern vibes. Whereas, Tropics Blue reminds me of a blue lagoon with the way it sparkles in the light. It also has elements of teal and turquoise.
Depending on the factors mentioned at the beginning, your colors might look a little different than the pictures below.
Want a Lighter Blue Color?
Stonescape Aqua Blue vs Aqua White (Images and Videos)
Color in Sunlight
I’ve also heard some pool owners suggest Tropics Blue has a more ‘medium’ blue tone in the middle of the day. This darkens naturally into the evening.
Color in Shade
Videos of Both Midnight Blue and Tropics Blue
Midnight Blue Video
Tropics Blue Video
How Do The Materials Differ?
The material blends are very similar with the exception of the cement pigment and shell.
- Midnight Blue: This is made from black, gold, and white pebble aggregates, midnight blue pigmented white Portland cement, and a blend of quartz highlights.
- Tropics Blue: This is made from black, gold, and white pebble aggregates, a blend of quartz highlight, dark blue pigmented white Portland cement, and abalone shell.
There really isn’t much difference in materials with the exception of the abalone shell. Be aware abalone shell can sometimes degrade or lose its shine over time. So, it might be worth taking that into consideration when deciding.
Tropics Blue also tends to be more expensive because of this addition, but I’ll go into costs later.
You Can also Alter the Color and Shine with Custom Blends
To make things more complicated, there are a million and one ways you can customize the pebble blend. Most installers are happy to accept changes and customizations – at a price of course.
I won’t go into every specific variation. I will, however, list some common additions along with pictures so you can see the differences.
Midnight and Tropics Blue with a Touch of Glass
Touch of Glass involves adding sparkling glass beads to the pebble mix. You can add a small amount or add multiple bags if you really want it to shine. From what I’ve seen and heard, a Touch of Glass can make a pool ‘pop’ when the sun decides to shine.
Here are some pictures below:
Midnight and Tropics Blue with a Puerto Rico (PR) Blend
You can also add a PR blend to your Midnight Blue or Tropics Blue pebble mix. These come in three different sizes: micro, small, and large.
Puerto Rico blends are similar to a Touch of Glass – they’re shiny glass beads. However, PR mix is iridescent, meaning the colour changes slightly when light shines at different angles. This creates a tantalising shine that amplifies the blues in these finishes.
You can also add multiple bags to customize the shimmer to your liking. I’ll show some pictures below:
The Best of Both Worlds?
I have also seen a creative move that takes Tropics Blue and makes it slightly darker by adding black bead colors into the mix. This way, you get a perfect blend of both tropical blue and deep colors. I’ll share the picture below:
Pool Floor Visibility
With Midnight Blue, it can be difficult to see the bottom of your pool in the deep end. I’ve noticed this to be a problem for owners with deep pools (9′ deep) and who live in areas with snakes and other nasty critters.
If you would rather know what’s in your pool when you go for a swim, Tropics Blue might be the better choice.
However, you can combat this issue with a color LED light. Depending on the specifics of your pool, 1 or 2 will usually do the job. ^^Add links to LED posts here^^
Water Temperature Differences
A question often asked about these two colors is about temperature. Because Midnight Blue is a bit darker, it will capture heat more efficiently. This can be a good or a bad thing depending on your situation.
However, bear in mind the difference will be a few degrees difference. So, it might not be that noticeable when you’re swimming around. Don’t forget, your climate will also determine how much heat it absorbs.
Texture Differences
The differences in texture won’t be that noticeable if you’re looking at getting the same mixture blend regardless of the finish.
Where texture will change depends on the pebble size you choose and if you decide to add any extras (glass, PR, etc.). Pebble sizes come in micro, mini, and regular.
All you really need to know is the smaller the pebbles, the smoother the surface will be.
> Know Your Pool Textures: ^^Add link to articles discussing pebble sizes^^
Price Differences and Upgrade Charges
Price is always a tough one because it will vary on your pool design, size, location, and labor costs. However, expect to pay $3000 to $6000 for these pool designs.
However, saying this, Tropics Blue tends to be more expensive. You’ll have to pay an upgrade charge anywhere from $400 to $1400.
That’s a rough range because I’ve seen wild price swings in both directions. I’ve also heard some locations offering free upgrades to Tropics Blue if the area is particularly competitive (like Florida).