Why is blue and black the only BG color used?

xenon · 01/13/2007, 11:23 PM

I am looking for pics of tanks with different color BG that is not blue or black.

I was thinking about going dark purple due to the coraline that will be growing.

sir_dudeguy · 01/13/2007, 11:52 PM

For one its not the only one used. I've seen tanks (ugly ones at that

) that have used pink, green, etc. And then you got the ones with pictures on the background. Like some of those ones with like pics of say a river from underwater.

But mostly blue and black are used because black adds depth to the tank, and blue's make the colors stand out more. IMO purple does not do either really, but you're welcome to try it of course

Peter Eichler · 01/13/2007, 11:58 PM

I've always used black because it hides things like cords and powerheads better... I've seen some tanks with lots of other colored backgrounds, if you ever see them you'll understand why blue and black are by far the popular color choices.

xenon · 01/14/2007, 12:04 AM

Ok so the happy medium between blue and black is navy blue.

Sold!

drummereef · 01/14/2007, 12:19 AM

The worst is mirrors. No, I'm sorry, the worst is tin foil. Awful, imo.

corals b 4 bills · 01/14/2007, 12:29 AM

Drummereef you have got to be the funniest person here, you bust me up all the time.

ACBlinky · 01/14/2007, 12:37 AM

There are other possibilities, they're just not seen often. I've seen pictures of tanks with lighter backgrounds -- aqua or seafoam, not sure of the exact colour name -- that looked fantastic. With bright lighting, shimmer lines and a tank that's deep front to back it gives a wonderful effect. If the aquascape allows for lots of open sand, this type of BG can make a tank look like shallow water that goes on and on (though to achieve the look you need to eliminate all visible equipment -- a single PH would draw the eye and ruin the effect).

Most of us seem to go back to black time and time again because it adds depth, hides equipment and makes fish and coral colours really pop.

IMO purple/pink would make the tank look smaller and take away from the other colours. White (tried it, yuck) makes everything look washed out, and the wrong blue can look too much like a store display. drummerreef's right though, there's just about nothing worse than mirrors or tinfoil -- my very first tank was a FW 'community' tank with a hodgepodge of fish, red gravel and *gasp* a crinkled, cherry-red tinfoil background. *Shudder* I have no idea what I was thinking, but then again I was just a kid

01/13/2007, 11:23 PM	#1
xenon Owner of Canada Corals Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mississauga, Canada Posts: 3,148	Why is blue and black the only BG color used? I am looking for pics of tanks with different color BG that is not blue or black. I was thinking about going dark purple due to the coraline that will be growing.

01/13/2007, 11:52 PM	#2
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	For one its not the only one used. I've seen tanks (ugly ones at that ) that have used pink, green, etc. And then you got the ones with pictures on the background. Like some of those ones with like pics of say a river from underwater. But mostly blue and black are used because black adds depth to the tank, and blue's make the colors stand out more. IMO purple does not do either really, but you're welcome to try it of course __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

01/13/2007, 11:58 PM	#3
Peter Eichler Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 6,081	I've always used black because it hides things like cords and powerheads better... I've seen some tanks with lots of other colored backgrounds, if you ever see them you'll understand why blue and black are by far the popular color choices. __________________ April 2015 TOTM

01/14/2007, 12:19 AM	#5
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	The worst is mirrors. No, I'm sorry, the worst is tin foil. Awful, imo. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

01/14/2007, 12:29 AM	#6
corals b 4 bills Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Francisco Bay Area (Belmont). Posts: 2,381	Drummereef you have got to be the funniest person here, you bust me up all the time. __________________ Reefkeeper - (ref-ke-per) n: Individual obsessed with placing disturbing amounts of electricity and seawater in close proximity for the purpose of maintaining live coral reef organisms. Current Tank Info: 29 gallon Bio Cube, HQI 150 watt Nanotuner~Vortech MP10W ES~Arctica Chiller~AC II~Tunze Osmolator ATO~ Tunze 9002 skimmer W/In Tank Cup~ Korallin Reactor W/PH Monitor~ Korallin Denitrator~APC Back-up~Phosban/Carbon Reactor.

01/14/2007, 12:04 AM	#4
xenon Owner of Canada Corals Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mississauga, Canada Posts: 3,148	Ok so the happy medium between blue and black is navy blue. Sold!

01/14/2007, 12:37 AM	#7
ACBlinky Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Peterborough, ON, Canada Posts: 4,954 Blog Entries: 20	There are other possibilities, they're just not seen often. I've seen pictures of tanks with lighter backgrounds -- aqua or seafoam, not sure of the exact colour name -- that looked fantastic. With bright lighting, shimmer lines and a tank that's deep front to back it gives a wonderful effect. If the aquascape allows for lots of open sand, this type of BG can make a tank look like shallow water that goes on and on (though to achieve the look you need to eliminate all visible equipment -- a single PH would draw the eye and ruin the effect). Most of us seem to go back to black time and time again because it adds depth, hides equipment and makes fish and coral colours really pop. IMO purple/pink would make the tank look smaller and take away from the other colours. White (tried it, yuck) makes everything look washed out, and the wrong blue can look too much like a store display. drummerreef's right though, there's just about nothing worse than mirrors or tinfoil -- my very first tank was a FW 'community' tank with a hodgepodge of fish, red gravel and gasp a crinkled, cherry-red tinfoil background. Shudder I have no idea what I was thinking, but then again I was just a kid __________________ "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef, 30g sump/refugium, LED lighting, 100lbs LR, coral beauty, flame angel, blue & yellow tangs, gobies, damsels, 6-line wrasse, lawnmower blenny, dottyback, clown pair, rabbitfish, shrimp, crabs, CUC.