Opinion - Blue vs. Black Back

[dedex]

I thought I saw a thread on this a while back, but can't find it again. I am going to paint the back of my 75g that I am getting ready to set up. The question is blue or black...And if I try one color and hate it, how do I remove it? I am going to be using Krylon Fuison paint. Thanks all!

[shaginwagon13]

Mine is Blue but I think if I had to do it again I would do it black so it blends in with the Overflows and gives the tank the appearance of a little more depth

[dedex]

I am using 10" pvc cut in half for my overflows, so they will be painted the same color...obviously was not a reef ready tank

[Thunk]

I like blue but matching the overflows is a good call too.

You can use a razor blade to scrape the paint of assuming its a glass tank. Its makes a bleemin mess tho, ask me how I know?

[HumbleLobster]

I have black on the back of mine, but I think either one looks fine.

[kzickovich]

mine is blue it looks really good

[Shooter7]

I prefer black...I'd use regular paint instead of the fusion paint. I would think regular paint would be easier to take off later, but don't know on glass. At any rate, unless you're going to be real attentive to scraping the back glass, eventually the back will become covered with coralline algae anyway. And to me, I like the look of black peaking through coralline much better than having a bunch of blue dots sticking through. Just IMHO.

[MV_ReEfLoVer]

If ur using MH's blue is better,because with a black baground particles floating around will become more visible.IMO why dont you try using coloured styrofoam boards ,you can just stick it with tape from behind and change it when you want without any trouble!

[techigirl78]

I prefer black, but blue works well in some cases. If your showpiece fish and or corals lean towards blue or black I'd pick the opposite to contrast. In other words, I would avoid putting my blue tang in a blue background tank or my leopard wrasse in a black background tank.

[Shooter7]

Now that's one I haven't heard before. MH's make particulates in the water more visible against a black background than other lighting?

[techigirl78]

Sounds like a filter sock would be needed if you can see particulates.

[Tswifty]

I painted mine black.. I wanted the bulkheads to blend in

[dreed]

I'm putting black vinyl on mine. It's easier to take off than paint and is consistant all over. You can get it from automotive tint shops or from graphics shops. I like the idea of black better because it matches the overflow and most salt fish and corals look better against black.. Most of the blue fish are desireable and wouldn't look good against a blue backdrop as mentioned above.

Good luck
Dave

[gws76]

I can't remember where or when, but I've heard and seen where someone on here sprayed the back of thier tank with krylon fussion paint. The first coat was a dark, dark purple and then topped it off with 4 layers of black, also used black reutrns and intakes. It looked really good. Just a suggestion, it splits the debate between blue or black and puts it right in the middle with super dark purple.

[46FiatYamaha]

I had a blue 'poster' taped to the back of mine for a few years, and decided to change it to black for a change. It looks fine, but the blue seemed to give a more 'aquatic' feel than the blank space of black. That's just me though

here's a great example http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...totm/index.php

[Burbs]

i took a piece of 1/8in thick plexi glass the size of my back glass and painted one side black and used velcro to stick it to the back glass. That way it wasnt permanent or hard to get off if i changed my mind in the future or wanted to use my tank as a room divider.

[dedex]

Great ideas...lots of not so permanent options out there that I never thought of - I like your idea Burbs! Will hold up better than paper too...