Backgrounds
- Thread starter emmag21
- Start date
tangokitty
Fish Addict
I like the backgrounds with the plants. I have a planted tank and think the back grounds with plants make the tank look deeper then it is (width wise)
I also like the black background with brightly colored fish. It makes the colors stand out better.
My tank is an acrylic tank and I hate the plain blue background on it. it makes it very clear where the tank ends. I'm trying to color it up with tall plants and a moss wall.
I really don't like backgrounds with fish on them as they really look fake!
I also like the black background with brightly colored fish. It makes the colors stand out better.
My tank is an acrylic tank and I hate the plain blue background on it. it makes it very clear where the tank ends. I'm trying to color it up with tall plants and a moss wall.
I really don't like backgrounds with fish on them as they really look fake!
waterdrop
Enthusiastic "Re-Beginner"
Ok, I've picked up a big sheet of black "foamboard" from an art shop just now and will cut this to size as a temporary background while I think about others. I discussed paints in the art shop and they said the tubes of acrylic paint should work fine as they can be painted on glass (a short nap roller will be best) and will dry and stay there but could be scraped/peeled off if I change my mind later. This of course would be on the outside back of the tank. Also, I could spraypaint my black foamboard with laquer to protect it from water they said.
It surprises me that a market has never developed for backgrounds made of real stone. The one I had years ago had real stones embedded in some sort of dark glue or something that couldn't be seen from the aquascape side but from the backside looked like it had been a liquid that set up in a cast. The background was made to fit the retangular back of a standard tank size. It had two vinyl coated thick wires embedded in it that came out the top and let you hang it over the back glass of the tank to keep it from drifting forward. It was quite heavy and used up an inch or two of the back of the tank. I've not seen these in recent years.
~~waterdrop~~
It surprises me that a market has never developed for backgrounds made of real stone. The one I had years ago had real stones embedded in some sort of dark glue or something that couldn't be seen from the aquascape side but from the backside looked like it had been a liquid that set up in a cast. The background was made to fit the retangular back of a standard tank size. It had two vinyl coated thick wires embedded in it that came out the top and let you hang it over the back glass of the tank to keep it from drifting forward. It was quite heavy and used up an inch or two of the back of the tank. I've not seen these in recent years.
~~waterdrop~~
waterdrop
Enthusiastic "Re-Beginner"
There must be a big variation in the stores. The stuff at my PetSmart all looks horribly tacky to me, makes me depressed. I did search online to see some of the 3D pictures of rocks talked about in this thread and did see some that looked great, just didn't find them easily available to me where I am in US, maybe that's it.
Sometimes the internet, with its ability to find pictures and bring you the "best of the best" can be both exciting and depressing. Right now for me its depressing. Right here on TFF there are so many gorgeous tanks and my son's plain little tank is just nowhere near that level of artful sophistication. I've got great water but a really "nothing-special" aquascape so far (those of you who know my posts wouldn't be surprised by this, lol.)
Well, I've gotta get myself off of here and go cut my black background!!
~~waterdrop~~
edit update: Wow, I can't believe how perfectly this worked. The flat black foamboard from the art shop was 3/16" thick and that turned out to be the exact thickness of the black plastic rims that fit to the top and bottom of the marineland tanks. So when I slid the foamboard along the back glass behind the filter tubes and electrical wires it then just fitted tightly between these top and bottom rims and they hold it in place without any tape or clips or anything. So now at least I have a flat back background with everything hidden outside the tank and the attention goes back to the fish and plants. The art sheet was even big enough so I cut two of them for the day when the first one gets wet. This will buy me some months to think if I want a real background like you guys have.
Sometimes the internet, with its ability to find pictures and bring you the "best of the best" can be both exciting and depressing. Right now for me its depressing. Right here on TFF there are so many gorgeous tanks and my son's plain little tank is just nowhere near that level of artful sophistication. I've got great water but a really "nothing-special" aquascape so far (those of you who know my posts wouldn't be surprised by this, lol.)
Well, I've gotta get myself off of here and go cut my black background!!
~~waterdrop~~
edit update: Wow, I can't believe how perfectly this worked. The flat black foamboard from the art shop was 3/16" thick and that turned out to be the exact thickness of the black plastic rims that fit to the top and bottom of the marineland tanks. So when I slid the foamboard along the back glass behind the filter tubes and electrical wires it then just fitted tightly between these top and bottom rims and they hold it in place without any tape or clips or anything. So now at least I have a flat back background with everything hidden outside the tank and the attention goes back to the fish and plants. The art sheet was even big enough so I cut two of them for the day when the first one gets wet. This will buy me some months to think if I want a real background like you guys have.
Ian H
Fish Herder
plain black for me, i'll never have another printed one 
Miss Wiggle
Practically perfect in every way
WD, can we see some pics of your tank soon? 
vinylman
Essentially Humanoid
Plain black for me, too. Really makes the edges of plant leaves stand out. Cardinals and Harlequins look fabulous against it. Just changed to a much darker substrate, which also helps.
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