Thanks! I posted a thread of my tank a while ago and someone suggested a black background. I was trying to find a good inexpensive one when I found a big piece of black rubber/plastic on the ground after the contracters left! Perfect timing.
Much better with the black background I painted the back of my tank with cheap black gloss and it looks great. It makes all the colours in the fish and plants really pop doesn't it?
Just wait till your plants grow in a bit, it will look awesome.
And glad ur stats are ok too. I thought sea shells would have made water a lot harder. Looks good though.