A Poll! Black or Blue?

[Europhyllia]

Have been looking at diving pictures from the Caribbean and now I don't know what kind of background I want (of course I already bought gazoodles of black! lol. But it's along term commitment so I'd rather change now than look at the wrong color for years)

My tank looks like this with overflow boxes in each corner, partially covered by my rock work. I assume the overflow boxes are black or dark gray:
8442

here's one of gazillions of Caribbean underwater pics:

http://coastcaribbeanimages.com/photographs/10657/disp_10657.jpg

Advantage blue: looks more like in the diving pictures. more 'real'
Disadvantage blue: shows corner overflow boxes more; could look too bright

Advantage black: I already got it! conceals the overflow boxes well
Disadvantage black: very dark, not as 'natural'

So what's your vote?

[Europhyllia]

just remembered I got Photoshop!
http://www.dominopads.com/disp_10657.jpg http://www.dominopads.com/blacktank.jpghttp://www.dominopads.com/tankblack.jpg
I got a new camera and want to take lots of good looking pics (in case that's a consideration too...)

[Ichthy]

BLUE!!!! it looks more natural :)

[Jarob]

Blue def. has more of a Caribbean feel for sure!!! I have blue on my background of just a mixed reef and I love it..8443

[saabtech]

black. if you want a blue you could always let the coraline grow :)

[txg8gxp]

I would normally say black, but blue would be nice with this setup...as long as you can hide your overflow, mp40's, etc.

[Europhyllia]

http://www.dominopads.com/rockscape521tank.jpg

most of the corner overflows should be covered by rocks and gorgs.
Remember on the MP40s you only have the wetside (very small) in the tank - not like I ginormous Korallia. On a 6ft tank an MP40 wetside barely shows. Motor is on the outside (and does show if you look but of course the idea is to draw the idea to the beautiful stuff inside the tank! ;) )

[Europhyllia]

Stephen I think if I had the usual wide island overflows I'd be leaning more towards black myself. But with them being off into a corner I am considering the blue more...

[txav8r]

Blue does look more natural and gives it a "deeper" look. However, I'm not sure it's going to matter much once the coraline takes over.
There are quite a few shades of blue available. I'd be glad to order what ever you like if you still plan to go vinyl.

[Europhyllia]

Lol. Thanks Jack. My problem is I don't know what I like!

[txg8gxp]

Just go blue, with the tank setup I think it would look the best. In my opinion

[BIGBIRD123]

I think blue washes out some of the prettiest corals...

[jroescher]

I agree with Steve. The colors are more intense against a black background.

[alton]

Many years ago I saw a picture in a magazine of an aquarium that had a blue back ground with a small lamp behind it that lit it up to where it seemed it went on forever?

[Europhyllia]

Yeah in photos it seems like the blue is darker towards the bottom and lightens towards the top/center.
Maybe back to gradual dark-to-blue?

[Mr Cob]

I voted black...but I would be all for blue if you kept the glass clean.....most people don't so I would normally suggest black.

Oh, my real vote is FOAM though. But you knew that.

[Kristy]

The black vs. blue background color doesn't make that much difference to me, in that either one could be pretty and both will theoretically be covered with coraline. But the main advantage to the black background that convinced me was how the overflow and MP40s totally disappear against the black. That would not happen with blue and in fact, would emphasize them more, which I think I would hate.

[RayAllen]

I have had both black and various shades of blue on various aquariums through out the years.

Ive come to the conclusion that black is the better choice. Reasoning, to me livestock simply looks better in front of black. Also, as mentioned above by others- pumps and overflows are black and would only pop out with a blue background.

[Europhyllia]

Yeah. Theoretically I would like the blue. I thought I would hate black but I ended up really liking how it looked on the temporary tank (75g) because overflow boxes and pumps just disappear.
Interesting thought:
Tropical Fish Magazine published an article a few years back describing how a painted or fused background cuts back on light reflection from the back of the glass decreasing light available in the tank. I'm sure that's the same though with blue or black...

[phippsj]

I think you should do blue with a partial rock/foam wall. I think the foam, aside from asthetic, has some great filtration benefits. Mixed with rock/eggcrate it does not float, integrates well with the rockwork, and then you can sculpt cliff.

By the way, I also did the 'blue with a lifght behind it'. I used a simpel LED fixture from Home Depot. When Halides are on, you can't see the glow. You can at morning/dusk, and night. I actually did gradient painting on an acrylic sheet, and then just placed that acrylic behind the glass (so I didn't have to pain the actual tank at all).

[Europhyllia]

I am one of the few foam haters on here. In part that's because I love urchins. The other part is Firewater's tank troubles caused by the foam.
So foam is completely out of the question for me. I could glue rubble onto the overflow boxes. Just absolutely no foam. lol

[Kristy]

+1 for anti-foam... Mike loves urchins so that would nix it but before I even knew that, I have just never really lliked the look of it.

Just wanted to add that I also did not think I would especially like a black background when we first got into the hobby and had a difficult time understanding why people liked it so much. Then we bought Ray Allen's 210g with a black painted background and learned to fully appreciate! My tastes have changed quite a bit since I was new though... there are some things that I just did not fully understand to appreciate I guess. I remember looking at that tank front and center at the old location of AD that featured all those mushrooms and just wondering why anyone would want those ugly things growing in their tank! So, who knows, maybe next year I'll discover my appreciation for foam!

[jroescher]

Compromise! Really dark blue, almost black.

[FireWater]

Blue w/ live rock rubble siliconed to the overflows is my vote.

[tony]

blue on top fading to black about halfway is my preference

[hobogato]

alton already mentioned it, but a 4" shadow box with dark blue transparent acrylic lit from the top with a fluorescent tube will give an interesting look. you could even paint some distant rocks out of black near the bottom to give it more of a 3d effect if you are feeling really artistic. i wish i could find the link to one that was done that way, it was really cool.

[tebstan]

I love my background, it gives depth to my young tank until it is developed enough to have its own natural look.

8516

However... all the comments about black backgrounds has me considering making a change. Besides, I didn't do a great job with the seaview adhesive gel and the air bubbles really irk me.

[txg8gxp]

8517

[Europhyllia]

A, what went wrong with the seaview? I am still considering it
If anybody is considering black self adhesive vinyl contact me -I got plenty at a great price. ;)

[tebstan]

A, what went wrong with the seaview? I am still considering it
If anybody is considering black self adhesive vinyl contact me -I got plenty at a great price. ;)

haha... I went wrong. I'm not real 'crafty' or 'coordinated.'

It actually went on pretty well. It makes a *huge* difference on the look of the background, its brighter and won't peel.

My problem is too many pets in the house. A few bits of cat hair worked their way onto the background and I didn't notice before pasting it to the tank. I tried peeling it off before it was completely dry, hoping it would re-adhere the same. It didn't. I got most of the air bubbles out before it dried, but there are a two tiny ones that my gaze focuses on. I'm a little OCD.

[Europhyllia]

Interesting. So the sea view does dry? I thought it was some kind of mineral oil concoction that stayed liquid. Is it more like glue?
Good tip on the cat hair. I'll have to get some lint free anti-static cloth to wipe down the tank.

I already have on hand:
self adhesive black vinyl
Penn Plax Deep Blue gradiant paper background and seaview gel
http://www.thatpetplace.com/images/presentation/P11340.jpg

[tebstan]

The seaview adhesive is great stuff. Polly's has a tank set up with a background half with the seaview, half without. The difference is shocking! I tried to find a pic online that showed the same thing but wasn't able to find one.

You're right... mineral oil is a better description than glue. It certainly thickened after a little while, but its not as adhesive or permanent as glue. I could easily rip off the background I have and clean the tank for a new one. But, if I start to peel at a corner of it, air bubbles will make their way in and never come out the same. So you do have to be careful getting it right the first time.

I took the tank into a room that is never opened to the pets, totally sealed off, not even ac vents hooked up anymore... and still got hair on it! So that anti-static spray is a wonderful idea.

The black adhesive vinyl sounds like a great idea... but how permanent is it?

[Europhyllia]

have been searching on RC for that shadow box thing but the best I could find was this:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1843724&highlight=shadow+box
That does look fantastic!
Got to search some more. I think it would take it to a whole new level

[hobogato]

yep, that is the exact one i was thinking of. those shadows of rocks really add to the depth

[Europhyllia]

I really want to see some more on this shadow box thing. I'm intrigued. This looks good!
what else could they call it?
Free acan frag to whomever finds a link to the DIY for this thing. Seriously!

[kkiel02]

I voted black but it will be coated in coraline in no time I'm sure.

[Europhyllia]

I wish I could find that TFH article:

Several months ago TFH ran an article by James Fatherree than showed how a painted back glass panel will actually lessen the amount of overall light which reaches down into the tank. In a nutshell, the glass absorbs more of the light than in reflects off of its back plane when painted. A non-painted glass will in turn reflect approximately 30% more light back into the tank. This was noted on the purpose of maximizing lighting when keeping reef tanks. He also pointed out the removal of coraline algae and the like from the glass to further aid in its usefulness.

[Europhyllia]

cheapo option:
http://williamaquascaping.blogspot.com/2008/12/using-colored-posters-as-lighted.html

[hobogato]

you could find a reef picture and blow it up to size (or several since your tank will be long) and put them on the back of the shadow box. then get some clear acrylic and lightly spray it with blue plastic paint so it wasnt completely opaque for the screen in the front of the shadow box that is right against the back glass. then, add the actinic fluorescent light above and the image would show through the screen but it would be blurred to look like it was distant. if i didnt have a 4 side viewable tank, i would definitely try this!

[Europhyllia]

does the light have to be long enough for the whole 72" or a shorter centered light?
What is plastic paint?

[Europhyllia]

would the box be larger than the tank (viewing at an angle)? or the same size?

[Europhyllia]

was just thinking: a frosted acrylic/plexiglass might make a good viewing panel for that box:
http://frosted-acrylic.com/

I wonder if frosted is available locally in a wider sheet?

[hobogato]

krylon fusion is one type of paint formulated for plastic - i think there are a couple of different kinds. you may also be able to buy blue transparent acrylic and lightly sand it to make it frosted. i think it is up to you about how long you make the light, you could try a short one id a couple of different places first.

[Europhyllia]

I think I am going to do it!
I sort of felt ho-hum about all the other options. This idea feels just right.
Especially now that I know that painting or bonding paper to the tank would eliminate so much light. This option might even add some extra light! I like it :)
Got to see if it's cost prohibitive...

[txav8r]

I can get frosted transparent vinyl if you can't find it in acrylic. I'll have to check on the price in the morning to see of it's even worth it. Just throwing out options.
This sounds like it might be pretty cool!

[Europhyllia]

I think it will be very cool. Was actually just perusing frosted vinyl! lol