Talk to me about your backgrounds....

[frizzlefish]

Are they really necessary or is it a purely aesthetic thing - to hide the cords and such?

Right now, my tank is backless and I'm kind of liking it that way.... I'll get a photo link up tonight so you can see what I mean. We're doing an Atlantis theme (although, my husband brought home a little sculpture and said - "Here's a statue of Zeus for the tank" I said "Zeus? Really? With a trident?" :) It was Poseidon of course)


What do you have up and why?

[wijnands]

Got a default rather neutral background. It hides the cables and the white wall behind the tank making the tank more of an eye catcher.

[crackatinny]

I am going a plain background on my new tank, either black or dark blue, I currently have a peice of dark blue giftwrap taped to the back, just to see how the colours look, at $2 for a 700mmx2m roll, it actually looks quite good, I will just leave it there untill it tatters, then I will paint the 3mm board I already have cut for it.

[Lady Hobbs]

I like the backgrounds but like the solid colors or blacks. Not into all that busy stuff altho 3 of my tanks have it! Hope to replace all the old ones. I think looking at all the stuff distracts from the looks of the tank.

[frizzlefish]

I'm planning on painting a background on some watercolor paper, laminating it and then putting it in place.

Just something plain, like a blue to dark blue fade but it might wind up a little "brushy"....

[Nautilus29]

a background helps your fish feel more secure too. So its not all for looks.

but mostly :ezpi_wink1:

[crackatinny]

I'm planning on painting a background on some watercolor paper, laminating it and then putting it in place.

Just something plain, like a blue to dark blue fade but it might wind up a little "brushy"....

If you want to avoid the brushy look, try using a sponge to apply the paint instead of a brush.

[frizzlefish]

Nah, I like the Impressionistic look.


(Art major here)

[Chrona]

Spray painted black background. Less stuff to detract from the plants/fish.

[xoolooxunny]

a tropical forest on my 10g (never took it off from my frogs) and no background on my 75g. I'm going to see what a blue background would look like, but I am also going to see what a mirror back there would do. My friend has one on his 75g cichlid tank and its neat because you can see them behind the rocks by just looking at the front of the tank

[NWMountainTroll]

Black cardboard paper on my 10g, looks good. If you want to see it I have a picture in another thread labeled "Check out my tank" or something to that effect.

[Incredulous_Ed]

I usually use black backgrounds or green foil ones. I think you should let your plants and fish put on the show, not the background. I think almost all taks can look instantly beter with a solid black background

[*Sarah*]

I'm thinking about using a textured spray paint to do the back of my 10 g, and if I like it, I'll do the same with my 40 g.

[Lady Hobbs]

a tropical forest on my 10g (never took it off from my frogs) and no background on my 75g. I'm going to see what a blue background would look like, but I am also going to see what a mirror back there would do. My friend has one on his 75g cichlid tank and its neat because you can see them behind the rocks by just looking at the front of the tank

My pic in TOTM for April is a blue background if you want an idea. It's blue foil.

[Rue]

I dunno...

...as much as I love properly decorated tanks (nothing kitch)...I'm too lazy/cheap to do too much...the 25 and 10g just have regular tank background...and on the 55g I'm going all out with BLACK!!! Should show off the goldies colours nicely...except I'm not sure what's gonna happen when I get my black moor...black fish, black gravel, black background...

...he'll be a Ghost Moor...

[Drumachine09]

I prefer dark, solid colored backgrounds. All of the plants and rocks and stuff in the back detract from what is really there.

[kimmers318]

I too like the solid color backgrounds and have also found that picture taking in a tank without a background usually doesn't create that great of pics....too much noise behind what you are trying to shoot.
Some fish are very insecure without a background, my modestus puffer went around showing his teeth at everything until he got a background and some plants to break up the sides of the glass so he wasn't seeing his reflection so much.

[Lady Hobbs]

One tip about the foil background, however. You do get flashback from the camera. Hard to find an angle you don't get it. But it does look cool. I already have black background for my next tank.

[frizzlefish]

Well I put up a dark blue, cerulean blue fade on the tank and I like it but it's just not "it" yet, if you know what I mean.


I'll try painting another one today - something lighter in value but still the same colors.

Fortunately I have access to a large scale laminating machine and it's just the exact size for my tank - right at 22" wide from the top black frame to the bottom black frame.

[jeffs99dime]

i like black backgrounds. i also like three dimensional backgrounds made of rock and such.