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View Full Version : Blue or Back background to an aquarium?


blakesreefbruz
11/14/2007, 04:07 PM
What do you guys have and think looks the best?

Also should you paint the back of the aquarium (external glass) or use contact (will it peel?)

Thanks

sir_dudeguy
11/14/2007, 04:21 PM
I always suggest using krylon fusion paint. Those background sheets from the stores suck. They never stick right and you'll always have a bubble or it will be uneven or get water stains behind it. The paint is also very easy to get off should you wish to change colors... Just use a large blade and it scrapes right off.

As for which color...blue brings out coral colors and fish colors and stuff, whereas black adds depth but certain colors dont stand out as much against it.

oct2274
11/14/2007, 04:27 PM
black - start a new thread with a poll to allow users to vote though

acrouse
11/14/2007, 04:30 PM
black-personal preference-look at some of the threads with pictures of tanks and see which color you prefer the most!The (Large Reef Forum) usually has lots of tank pictures to look at.
jolene

natejonesis
11/14/2007, 04:37 PM
It's really a preference. SirDude is right in that blue brings out color but Black adds depth. I have some nanos and a large tank and I think smaller tanks look better in blue, larger in black.

On the flipside, either one is going to end up purple unless you're a coralline scraping clean freak

demonsp
11/14/2007, 04:51 PM
I painted mine pacific blue and looked good at first. But with the coraline and xenia growing on my back glass the bule is gone.
Any backround frop would be replaced by algea coraline and other in time.

weaselslucks
11/14/2007, 05:09 PM
i fusion sprayed a separate piece of acrylic and stuck it onto the tank with industrial velcro so i can have blue one month and black the next

mg426
11/14/2007, 05:17 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11183369#post11183369 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by weaselslucks
i fusion sprayed a separate piece of acrylic and stuck it onto the tank with industrial velcro so i can have blue one month and black the next



I did the same thing. LOL

weaselslucks
11/14/2007, 05:49 PM
i just could not decide which color i wanted

AZDesertRat
11/14/2007, 06:11 PM
Black, blue looks like H E double hockey sticks once corraline starts to grow or it gets a little bio film on it. With black you don't even notice it.

markandkristen
11/14/2007, 06:19 PM
i agree black is the best in my opinion. i used to do the blue but you have to keep it clean continually. my rockwork goes up to the top of my tank so it doesnt really matter in my case.

InLimbo87
11/14/2007, 06:21 PM
Black all the way!

Chilli Powder
11/14/2007, 06:31 PM
Do you guys use the acrylic fake rocky backgrounds? :)

Wett Hands
11/14/2007, 07:55 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11183951#post11183951 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chilli Powder
Do you guys use the acrylic fake rocky backgrounds? :) YUKK! :lolspin:
Careful partner, thems fightin wordz 'round these parts...
To me it seems like the people around here are pretty serious about the love they have for this hobby. To put as much blood, sweat, and tears (and dollars) into creating something thriving and beautiful- only to put one of those things on is an... is 'abomination' too strong a word. LOL If that makes me sound snobbish, I bet i'm in good company.:beer:

That being said, "To each their own" :D

carlos_fb
11/14/2007, 08:02 PM
I prefer blue. Don't paint it just in case you change your mind later on. I used 1/8" acrylic sheets and it worked out great but be aware that in glass tanks the background looks different with the lights on. In my case I had to install the acrylic sheets inside the tank so that it would look even with my overflow.

Here's a picture of my tank:
http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/1451/new1dn3.jpg

Chilli Powder
11/14/2007, 08:04 PM
:rollface: fair enough. I used it for my cichlid tank and I thought it would be great for the algae to grow on. Also, I was going to lean some LR on this creating like an open cave for fish to swim through at the back. :) All my other tanks have blue painted backgrounds.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v650/ChilliPowder16/Arj-6ft.jpg

Here's a close up.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v650/ChilliPowder16/IMG_8757.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v650/ChilliPowder16/Full-Tank-Shot-4.jpg

Kryptikhan
11/14/2007, 08:17 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11183951#post11183951 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chilli Powder
Do you guys use the acrylic fake rocky backgrounds? :)

Bright pink here lol. Nah I could not decide so went Midnight Blue, sometimes it looks blue, sometimes it looks black lol. Have blue on my fw's. Used tint on background and it came out flawless....also have a painted tank and one with straight up poster board, and honestly, they all look the same if done properly.

SoGoneRG
11/14/2007, 08:30 PM
Blue brightens everything in the tank...

Black darkens and enhances all the shawdow spots...in some cases make photos look better with that effect.

SoGoneRG
11/14/2007, 08:33 PM
just spray paint half the tank blue and the other half black...! Put all your live rock and corals on one side (black) and fish only on the over side...(BLUE) =D

my next project I'm actually gonna spray my tank (Pearly white) doesn't matter anyways because the live rock will cover everthing in the back of my tank...lol

DrBegalke
11/14/2007, 08:35 PM
i like black.

i was considering taking a flake of coralline algae to home depot and having them color match it, paint the back of the tank that color... on my next one.

heyfredyourhat
11/14/2007, 09:22 PM
I used midnite pearl by house of kolor. It is a very very dark blue with a bright blue pearl in it. I thought it would look cool under some nice lights, but it just looks very black unless the light actually hits the pearl which is not likely to happen uinless i angle my lights towards it

I think in retrospect i would have gone with a light blue.

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff157/heyfredyourhat/IMG_1146.jpg
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff157/heyfredyourhat/IMG_1145.jpg

Burbs
11/14/2007, 11:33 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11183369#post11183369 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by weaselslucks
i fusion sprayed a separate piece of acrylic and stuck it onto the tank with industrial velcro so i can have blue one month and black the next


thats what i did, looks great!