Opinions on back of the tank Painting or Background

[austinaquaman]

I am setting up a 75 Gallon tank and am trying to decide on using a background or painting it. What are your opinions of each?

If I use a background it will probably something simple, I don't want anything fake looking.

Thanks for the input.

[Texreefer]

I have a black trashbag taped to mine

[allan]

i painted mine black. Not sure if I will do black on my next tank, or blue... but I much prefer the solid color backdrop over a picture of a underwater scene or clear where all the hardware is visible.

[Captain Jack]

I think most reefers paint the back. But in last month's Tropical Fish Hobbyist magazine, they published an article where they demonstrated that a non painted back glass reflects more light back into the tank, where painted absorbs more. Non painted background had about 30% more light in the back half of the tank.

[zerreissen]

I think most reefers paint the back. But in last month's Tropical Fish Hobbyist magazine, they published an article where they demonstrated that a non painted back glass reflects more light back into the tank, where painted absorbs more. Non painted background had about 30% more light in the back half of the tank.

What about a mirrored back then? :)

Such as this one:

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa229/prjct92eh2/aquarium/aquarium027.jpg

[austinaquaman]

A mirrored background might be cool, except for having yourself in every tank picture like the guy above :).

Anyone have an idea how to make a mirrored background in a safe way for a reef tank? I guess you could use aluminum foil, although it does tend to tear easy. I saw a mirrored background online but the price was $45.

[coraline79]

paint it hands down. i have had mirror backs, blue taped backs, black taped backs, and black painted. The best by far is the painted black. The mirror back has made some of my fish freak out.

[jc]

I recommend painting the back with krylon fusion. They have it at wal-mart.

[austinaquaman]

Has anyone tried painting using a metallic paint? If so does it have a cool affect?

[AustinReefClub]

I painted mine blue last week with a can of Glidden Gloss latex from Lowe's. About $5, and I love how it brightens the aquarium while hiding everything in back. It's much easier than having the edges of a backdrop get wet or curl up. Just make sure to paint it while it's empty. It's much easier to turn the back side up and paint it than trying to paint it as a vertical surface.

[Gseclipse02]

A mirrored background might be cool, except for having yourself in every tank picture like the guy above :).

Anyone have an idea how to make a mirrored background in a safe way for a reef tank? I guess you could use aluminum foil, although it does tend to tear easy. I saw a mirrored background online but the price was $45.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j11/gseclipse02/CIMG1188.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j11/gseclipse02/CIMG1185.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j11/gseclipse02/CIMG1187.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j11/gseclipse02/CIMG1186.jpg

[austinaquaman]

Gseclipse02, what kind of background is that? Looks like it might be a bag or foil.

[Gseclipse02]

foil

[wesheltonj]

Bluelife black or blue tint.

[austinaquaman]

Just bought some Navy spray paint. I like the darkness of black, but wanted some blue in there as well. I'll put up some picks when I am done if anyone is interested.

[vman181]

I painted mine blue last week with a can of Glidden Gloss latex from Lowe's. About $5, and I love how it brightens the aquarium while hiding everything in back. It's much easier than having the edges of a backdrop get wet or curl up. Just make sure to paint it while it's empty. It's much easier to turn the back side up and paint it than trying to paint it as a vertical surface.



A lot easier said then done when you have a bow front :-D

[AustinReefClub]

LOL, yeah, if it's a bowfront just stick a shoe under each side to keep it from wobbling.

On a similar note, anyone found a nice simple way to hide wires to power heads, heater, etc?

[vman181]

I just keep my PH up top so you can't see the wire. If I need one down low then I use rock work to help hide them. Other than that I don't think there is much else you can do. I always run a RR so there is no need to worry about heaters and such.

[ansonluna]

I just got a 180. I used 5% window tint. I double layered it and when against the wall looks completely black. Tint is really cheap at Autozone.

[vman181]

I was going to paint mine black when I painted my stand. I tried using the roller I used for the stand but it didn’t come out right. I scraped it off and went with no backing. I might paint it a midnight blue whenever I move. If you do paint make sure you use the spray paint and not can paint. It just works better.

[JKLUSAF]

Ok, so i've went through this thread looking over all the suggestions for my tank. Painting, looks like the way to go. My question to ya'll is; do i paint my 150 Black or Blue? And if blue what type and how hard is it to spray paint gl*****

Justin

[tebstan]

Using a roller didn't give a smooth texture and sometimes bubbled, but that may have been the roller I was using. The best effect came from using an airbrush gun, if you have access to a compressor. Even without much skill or practice, you can get some neat looking texture.


I think most reefers paint the back. But in last month's Tropical Fish Hobbyist magazine, they published an article where they demonstrated that a non painted back glass reflects more light back into the tank, where painted absorbs more. Non painted background had about 30% more light in the back half of the tank.

This quote really caught my eye, and no one else commented on it... I've painted FW tanks to avoid a peeling background, but now that I'm doing a larger/reef tank I might try the background.

[AustinReefClub]

Here's some pics of mine painted blue:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Rml_bE8J3vw/SgNH0ByDctI/AAAAAAAAAOI/iDYRBVhFUT4/s320/DSC03317.JPG

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Rml_bE8J3vw/SgNH08KsvmI/AAAAAAAAAOY/TYxbZNUd9x4/s320/DSC03324.JPG

[sampsonndelila]

I like the look of mine; it is black acrylic, not painted. I think you could easily have Ace remove the back glass and replace it with black acrylic. That would give you the glossy even black color you are looking for. They might even make it in different colors. Maybe you could get red if you corals are mostly red, just a thought?

[JKLUSAF]

I'm sure Ace could there "Sammy"

Justin

[msmith619]

If you use a printed background, the coraline algae will just cover it up unless you scrape the back wall of the tank. I don't paint mine, it gets covered by algae over time.
Mike

[sampsonndelila]

If you use a printed background, the coraline algae will just cover it up unless you scrape the back wall of the tank. I don't paint mine, it gets covered by algae over time.
Mike

Agreed!

[JKLUSAF]

I believe i'm just going to put a black sheet on the back of it

[hobogato]

not a good idea - acrylic doesnt bond well to silicone, so you could not build a tank with glass and acrylic. you could cut a piece of black acrylic to fit inside on the back and silicone it to back (since it will not be structural, it should hold.


I...I think you could easily have Ace remove the back glass and replace it with black acrylic....

[Texreefer]

Or have a thin sheet of black acrylic cut to fit the back and just velcro it to the back of the tank, then you can still remove it anytime for tank cleaning

[Kyle46N]

Like mentioned above, I prefer the purple coralline look on the back of my glass.

[JLiu]

If your willing to keep the back glass clean

http://glassbox-design.com/2008/the-illusion-of-depth-uwe-breuers-reef/

[JKLUSAF]

sampsonndelila was joking with ya. fortunatly he works behind me

Justin



not a good idea - acrylic doesnt bond well to silicone, so you could not build a tank with glass and acrylic. you could cut a piece of black acrylic to fit inside on the back and silicone it to back (since it will not be structural, it should hold.

[sampsonndelila]

Justin, unfortunately does have a unique view point to my humor because of our proxmity. He is privy to the sound bites as well. We sit and laugh about the responses I type to him because I could turn around and say it. It is more fun to type it. I was just trying to tell him, tank paint, color, type otherwise is mainly personal preference. As far as I know the only advantage is aesthetic. We don’t normally like to see the plumbing through the tank. Although I saw some really cool plumbing on the tank tour I would not really mind showing in my tank... lol. Some of my sarcasm is lost in the medium here. I think I am hilarious. I was suggesting the replacement of back glass, because it’s funny, he probably thought of that idea already.

[JKLUSAF]

he's basicly a idiot....to much sargasum:)


Justin, unfortunately does have a unique view point to my humor because of our proxmity. He is privy to the sound bites as well. We sit and laugh about the responses I type to him because I could turn around and say it. It is more fun to type it. I was just trying to tell him, tank paint, color, type otherwise is mainly personal preference. As far as I know the only advantage is aesthetic. We don’t normally like to see the plumbing through the tank. Although I saw some really cool plumbing on the tank tour I would not really mind showing in my tank... lol. Some of my sarcasm is lost in the medium here. I think I am hilarious. I was suggesting the replacement of back glass, because it’s funny, he probably thought of that idea already.

[rabadanmarco]

i read this before settin up my aquarium, so i decided to paint my aquarium

went to walmart
spent like 2.99 on gloss blue krylon
and .99 on masking tape
took like 2 minutes to spray and
20 minutes to dry
http://maast.org/forums/showthread.php?t=51258