Aquarium backgrounds

[Gypsum]

Not sure what sub-heading this fell under, but anyway...

Does anyone know of a UK-based website that has interesting aquarium backgrounds or one that lets you print your own stuff onto a suitably sized plastic sheet? Google has so far failed me. I found a US site with hundreds of backgrounds (some stunning.... some bizarre), but the cost of getting prints for four tanks made and shipped here is eye-watering.

 

[Colin_T]

You can print your own if you have a computer printer. Just laminate them afterwards. Lots of places do laminating and even printing. In Australia we have Officeworks but there are similar places all around the world. Find somewhere that sells office stationary and they will usually print and laminate stuff.

 

[FFGuest6357]

Otherwise, you can creative and make your own... i kind of “reverse painted” my background with my son. I really enjoy how it turned out. Acrylic arts and crafts paints, and some black paint, finish with some water based varathane. Everything I believe was already in my shop, or desk, so cost was minimal. Plus you can get as creative as you want.

 

[itiwhetu]

We always just grabbed a spray can and sprayed it blue or black. Now days I don't bother as long as the tank is against a wall just leave it and allow some algae to grow on the back. It looks way more natural.

 

[Jamesthecat]

I did used to have printed images now I use Blackboard paint. It goes on really well.

If you need an image take one to a local printer like prontaprint and they can print out a custom size. Then as the previous poster said, get it laminated

 

[Essjay]

When I bought a new plain black background recently I compared shop prices with Ebay and saw some pretty unusual backgrounds on there.

 

[Jamesthecat]

When I bought a new plain black background recently I compared shop prices with Ebay and saw some pretty unusual backgrounds on there.

Yeah theres some unusual ones on.

As I’ve moved into bigger tanks ive edged towards painting as I wanted to create a more natural environment and personally think the images look fake.

but considering I have plastic plants it’s not the strongest arguement

 

[Utar]

I had my background custom printed by UPrinting online. I emailed them an image and they printed it the size I requested on vinyl. They where very nice because twice I gave them the wrong measurements and twice they corrected this for me when I asked them to.

But the plants grew so tall that I could not really see it. So don't give the background picture that much credit for how your tank will look once it is all and running and the plants block the view of it. But if you are not doing a planted tank then the background image will play a larger part of the looks of the tank.

 

[ClownLurch]

The ones on eBay tend to lack height.
Mines a piece of black mounting board from the arts section of “The Range” costing under £5. Gaffer taped to the back of tank.