Anyone know a GREAT BACKGROUND to use

[lennon]

Hi everyone. I am getting an in wall tank. I do not have much to work with . It is just 6 1/2 inches front to back. So I was wondering what background I can use to get the effect that it goes way back.

Thank in advance for any help.:)

[Sea~Horse~Whisperer]

plain blue backgrounds tend to give the tank more depth.

[lReef lKeeper]

i agree with Angie, i had the back of my 55gal painted with aquatic bule paint. it looked great, here is a pic ...

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and here is the nano with a black background ...

2310

these are the only 2 colors i use !!

[dakar]

Having tanks painted both black and different colors of blue we've found a new favorite.... mirror finish window tint. It adds some really interesting dimension to a tank.

[mummra]

i have seen colored acryllic panels made to slip over the back of tye tank look nice.

[Sea~Horse~Whisperer]

I too like the mirror effect, but it tends to stress some of the fish. I had it on my 55 years ago, and 2 of the fish in the tank seemed to try to fight with their reflections. ( ha, ha so who wins that one ?? )

[Whoyah]

Maybe I am just lazy but my back panel is so covered in coraline algae that it could be orange and you couldn't see it. I have a hard enough time worrying about the front much less the back.

[jerryc]

Maybe I am just lazy but my back panel is so covered in coraline algae that it could be orange and you couldn't see it. I have a hard enough time worrying about the front much less the back.

Total thank your right i panted the back black but its all purple.
So in the long run unless your going to clean the back don't see a difference

[Sweetpea]

Total thank your right i panted the back black but its all purple. So in the long run unless your going to clean the back don't see a difference

I agree here... I have black backgrounds on both of my tanks. I gave up on cleaning the back wall a long time ago, so they will both eventually be purple! ;)

[Whoyah]

One thing I have seen once or twice on a different sight, was folks using black molding foam to cover the back wall of the tank. I guess the foam is used in the pond industry to fill gaps and create features. You spray it on the back wall and form little shelves and caves. Once the coraline covers it you can't tell it from LR. I would like to try it sometime on a used tank just to see the results.

[Whoyah]

Here is a link for the foam.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=9232&Ntt=foam&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&pc=1&N=62728&Nty=1

[Sweetpea]

Wow, Shad, that's very interesting! Thanks for sharing! :D

[ramoth41]

I want to do a pond sumthin' fierce! But Ron says the only way we can have a pond if it's a saltwater pond!! :thumbleft: an outdoor grow out tank! To bad it snows here for 6 flipping months!! :confused:

[mummra]

some one has to try that foam idea. does anybody have links to pics of it done?

[Whoyah]

Ask and you shall receive. It is amazing tank. Something to aspire to. Check out page 2, 25 and 29 for some pictures of the tank. The guy takes some awesome pictures.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/printthread.php?threadid=522988&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

[Sweetpea]

WOW! That is absolutely gorgeous! You are right; that is definitely something to aspire to! The back wall looks fabulous... Thanks again for sharing this!!!

[lennon]

Do you think it can be used for FW tanks??

Thanks for sharing:)

[Reef_Angel]

I believe that stores like WalMart carry the "tinted glass" that you put on car windows so you can't see inside, but you can see out. It's like having a mirrored wall on the back of your tank that just accents the back side for you also! We have it on our tanks. Because the background is a mirror, it really extends the depth of your tank instead of someone else's. Other benefits...fish & seahorses love to look at the other fish out in the distance. Of course they can't figure out how to get there, or that they are looking at themselves, but it's awesome to watch. Another plus with this type of background is that you can see whats going on in the back of your tank just by looking into the mirrored back. I have clear on mine, so you see exactly what your tanks environment is like all around. I believe there are a variety of colors to choose from. My lawnmower blenny used to love picking fights with (the other blenny) himself in the glass too! Just another idea for you. Share a picture of what you decide upon. Have fun! ....Angel :angel1:

[mutts]

ahhh.... i love that foam stuff!!!

[Whoyah]

I thought I would post this link for the foam stuff as well. I am going to using the foam on my backwall on my new 38. I will post pics.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=911880

[playa0069u]

yes it can be used in freshwater...

[seahorsedreams]

Maybe I am just lazy but my back panel is so covered in coraline algae that it could be orange and you couldn't see it. I have a hard enough time worrying about the front much less the back.

LOL, that made me laugh.

I have black backs.

[Whoyah]

:) Mine is black too, I think, or is it orange ;)

[seahorsedreams]

We are planning on a mirror back for an upcoming Garden Eel tank. You get 10 eels and it looks like 20 :-)

[Reef_Angel]

I swear by the mirrored backgrounds. It's awsome to watch the Seahorses & the fish look at themselves and think there's more in the great beyond. If you've ever had a lawnmower blenny, you'll know that there are not to be 2 of them in one tank as they will fight to the death. I've watched our lawnmower blenny have it out with himself in the mirror. It's kind of funny to watch. Nothing like having a sparing partner that knows your every move! ...:angel1:

[seahorsedreams]

Nothing like having a sparing partner that knows your every move! ...:angel1:

BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!