I'm shopping for a new (used) tank and I'm trying to decide what color I want for the back side. I like the flat back hex acrylic tanks but I think the more common blue background won't look too good with the Sunfish I'll be keeping. Any thoughts?
Aquarium background preferences - clear/black/blue
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, Mar 27 2008 10:32 AM
19 replies to this topic
#2
Guest_Newt_*
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Posted 27 March 2008 - 10:41 AM
Black is always good. Neutral olive or brown can also work. I'm not a big fan of blue in freshwater tanks, though it can look nice in reef tanks.
#3
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Posted 27 March 2008 - 10:43 AM
My favorite background I ever did (other than the collages when I was a kid) was spray painted about 2/3 black with dark "camo" spray paint covering the rest. I've always thought spraypainted backgrounds look sharper that tape-on ones.
#4
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Posted 27 March 2008 - 11:32 AM
I experimented with a straw beach mat (from a dollar store) as a background one one of my tanks a while back. I didn't implement it very well, but I think the idea had some promise. I like the idea of getting some texture behind the tank.
straw_beach_mat.jpg 15.81KB
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I *despise* the typical photographic aquarium background you buy off of rolls at the pet store. I also don't really like the flat painted backs -- they kill the feeling of depth for me (and really tough to remove if you ever change your mind).
My tanks all currently have just transparent backs, because I haven't found anything I really like. -Jase
straw_beach_mat.jpg 15.81KB
0 downloadsI *despise* the typical photographic aquarium background you buy off of rolls at the pet store. I also don't really like the flat painted backs -- they kill the feeling of depth for me (and really tough to remove if you ever change your mind).
My tanks all currently have just transparent backs, because I haven't found anything I really like. -Jase
#5
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Posted 27 March 2008 - 11:46 AM
I once used shelf lining as a backing - without the back peeled off. I found a nice black marbled one that was reminiscent of water. I attached it with double sided tape. Removal was a snap.
FWIW, paint is easily removed with a razor blade scraper.
FWIW, paint is easily removed with a razor blade scraper.
#6
Michael Wolfe
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Posted 27 March 2008 - 11:52 AM
I bought my 75 from a guy who had put window film (like you would use to black out car windows) on the back and both sides of the tank... I thought it looked weird at first, but I really like the look of a totally enclosed space... I mean we are after all trying to create a little piece of the stream in a glass box... and in a way it makes the aquarium look bigger... becasue you never see the back corners when you are looking into it...
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin
#7
Guest_nativeplanter_*
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Posted 27 March 2008 - 12:04 PM
Just remembered this - a LFS in my area uses mirrors on the back of their tanks. Looks exceptionally nice.
#8
Guest_jase_*
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Posted 27 March 2008 - 12:08 PM
That's good to know.FWIW, paint is easily removed with a razor blade scraper.
#9
Guest_dafrimpster_*
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Posted 27 March 2008 - 01:30 PM
Large black garbage bags make good backgrounds. You can tape them on an leave them loose for a textured look or use a bit of water, dishwashing detergent and a credit card to squeegee out the air bubbles.
#10
Guest_troutperch beeman_*
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Posted 27 March 2008 - 01:32 PM
I like the black. I have used thick black garbage bags cut to fit the outside of the tank. Looks nice and is cheap. I have also spray painted the back and bottoms of some of my tanks black without much hassle.
Herschel
Herschel
#11
Guest_BullHeadsrdfish_*
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Posted 27 March 2008 - 02:37 PM
Black Backgrounds look the best IMO.
#12
Guest_fish for brains_*
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Posted 27 March 2008 - 03:01 PM
I found an acrylic flat back hex tank but the back is blue. It seems most of the acrylic tanks I've been seeing have the back colored from the factory. I'm hoping to find a black back one.
#13
Guest_Irate Mormon_*
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Posted 27 March 2008 - 10:13 PM
I forget what you call it - a diorama or something like that - but building a true 3-dimensional background is tough to beat. You can grow terrestrial plants in it, for example.
#14
Guest_BTDarters_*
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Posted 28 March 2008 - 02:33 AM
My favorite background is black, but I do also like and use blue OceanVisions backgrounds, too.
#15
Guest_fish for brains_*
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Posted 28 March 2008 - 07:08 AM
I forget what you call it - a diorama or something like that - but building a true 3-dimensional background is tough to beat. You can grow terrestrial plants in it, for example.
I wonder if anyone has done a tank behind a tank. The front tank would have fish and maybe a plant or two, and the rear tank would be heavily planted and have no fish. That way you could provide different conditions for each.
Just a thought. Sometimes I ramble.
#16
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Posted 28 March 2008 - 07:43 AM
Good call, Irate. When I finally get around to setting up a sump system, I've got plans to build a small gravel-filled trough behind my 75g for this purpose. I'd plan to plant it heavily with "lucky bamboo" (Dracaena), which would then create both a really nice backdrop AND remove a lot of nitrates from the system. Dracaena can handle pretty low light, so I think it'd be fine with whatever light escapes the back glass of the aquarium. It's normally grown in gravel and water, so obviously the roots can handle constant submersion.I forget what you call it - a diorama or something like that - but building a true 3-dimensional background is tough to beat. You can grow terrestrial plants in it, for example.
dracaena_lucky_bamboo.jpg 16.84KB
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Edited by jase, 28 March 2008 - 07:44 AM.
#17
Guest_nativeplanter_*
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Posted 28 March 2008 - 09:06 AM
The lucky bamboo is a neat idea. I'd like to see a photo when you get it set up.
I've seen pet stores with this plant for sale completely submerged. I feel bad for the people who buy it thinking they can keep it that way. I've seen a lot of terrarium plants sold that way (submerged palms...). And people then think that planted tanks are really hard.
I've seen pet stores with this plant for sale completely submerged. I feel bad for the people who buy it thinking they can keep it that way. I've seen a lot of terrarium plants sold that way (submerged palms...). And people then think that planted tanks are really hard.
#18
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Posted 28 March 2008 - 08:47 PM
I often use a dark navy-blue giftwrapping paper cut to size for a background. You can find this in a variety of colors and it's cheap!
Rick
Rick
#19
Guest_fish for brains_*
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Posted 28 March 2008 - 09:04 PM
What about a nice healthy growth of algae on the back glass? Maybe you could coat the back with something to encourage the growth.
#20
Guest_jase_*
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Posted 28 March 2008 - 09:08 PM
I usually let the algae grow wild on the back glass of my tanks. It gives the snails something to eat, and I figure it reduces the amount of nutrients available for algae to grow on the other 3 sides.What about a nice healthy growth of algae on the back glass? Maybe you could coat the back with something to encourage the growth.
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