Tank Background

[Zante]

I have decided to build a background for my tank, and decided it's going to be tiles, to fake a submerged wall.
It's going to be very light to white in colour.
I haven't decided yet, but I might stick strands of moss between the tiles.

Problem is I don't want chemicals leaching in the water, especially anything that may raise the hardness.

Does anyone have suggestions on how to choose the tile material?

I know no marble or travertine, but what else?

Porcelain?
Terracotta? (nice, but a bit dark)
Granite? (not sure I like it as a background, though)
Quartz? (same as granite)

I know the vinegar test, but I can't go to B&Q and start dribbling vinegar on their tiles, can I?

Any ideas?

 

[Peter C]

this is a good idea actually,

given me some ideas on my second tank

but in answer to your questions, avnt a clue sorry!

 

[Bugdozer]

Quartz is a silicate mineral and will not affect your water at all.

 

[Zante]

Quartz is a silicate mineral and will not affect your water at all.

Yeah, but I'm not really convinced about the quartz tiles I've seen so far...
Same goes for the granite ones I've seen: yeah, pretty, but not quite sure it's what I want in my tank.

They are floor tiles, and I want the background to look very much like a wall.

Anyone know what goes in the "normal" wall tiles?

 

[Peter C]

Anyone clued up on this? I reckon a terra cotta backdrop would look really smart

 

[Zante]

I found a shop that specialises in tiles next to my office where the tank is, and they've been kind enough to give me some samples. I will test them at home and see if they are usable.

If they're any good I will start the build and post the result once I've finished.

 

[BlueDragon]

How about those long thinner ones people have for their kitchens? They look like shinny tile bricks in a way and I can imagine would look really nice as a Fishy background : )

Like these:
http/theglassfactory.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/blue-tile-backsplash-kitchens-2.jpg
http/www.designhomeonline.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/How_Subway_Kitchen_England_photography4.jpg

Or there's cork tiles and planks. Non toxic and eco friendly.

Or slate tiles. They come in some really nice colours and textures.

 

[Zante]

The second link you posted is actually quite similar to what I'm planning, the tiles are closer together, they aren't rounded and have a kind-of marble pattern on them. I have tested them and they are vinegar-proof. Unfortunately the shop will close for four weeks, so I'll have to wait.

In this time I'll keep exploring, maybe I'll find something I like even better...

 

[Lufbramatt]

Quarry tiles are terracotta and people use terracotta plant pots in tanks all the time.

A tiled wall would look like the fish are in a swimming pool though.

 

[Zante]

I've also seen some glass tiles that look very promising. They are approximately 1 inch by 1 inch and can be arranged in several interesting patterns, with a mosaic effect.

Being glass they are inert, and to be honest I like the effect of looking like one of those expensive pools that have these small mosaic tiles...

Will be time consuming to stick them all though!

 

[pacman]

Most modern floor tiles are manufactured from porcelain and would be quite safe to use in an aquarium. Many of the latest porcelain tiles are almost indistinguishable from real, natural stone and would make a very convincing natural background. But like anything being used as tank decoration, just make sure that it is clean & well rinsed before you put it into the tank. I used slate as a tank background and now two years later have moss and plants growing over the surface of most of it.

 

[BlueDragon]

Quarry tiles are terracotta and people use terracotta plant pots in tanks all the time.

A tiled wall would look like the fish are in a swimming pool though.

Not nessaseraly true. If you used ones like the blue ones I posted then, yeah, maybe. But I think if you used more natural looking ones then it could even look like the Fish were swimming through the sunken Atlantis : )