Blue vs Black Background

chkra_hp · 08/30/2007, 11:57 AM

Im not sure if i should paint the back of my tank blue or black.
What in up and down side of each color?
I dont have the search function but anyone know the link to the thead on this?

der_wille_zur_macht · 08/30/2007, 12:13 PM

Personally, I like black. When I look at a tank with a black background, it doesn't even register in my brain that the tank HAS a background. However, every time I look at a tank with a blue background, a little thought runs around my head: "oh, that tank has a blue background." Not a big deal, but IMHO black is less obvious and hence more natural.

jonbro6956 · 08/30/2007, 12:14 PM

It all depends on what you want.

If you want a bright tank, do a blue background.

If you want a dark tank that shows off your color, go black.

ggk1988 · 08/30/2007, 12:33 PM

Do black it makes the coral look much better

chkra_hp · 08/30/2007, 01:08 PM

thanx i will go black. do i just buy black paint and do a few layers in the back? or should i use the spray paint?

Waxxiemann · 08/30/2007, 01:30 PM

I used Tremclad rust paint in flat black, it worked great. I rolled it on in about 3 coats. Some poeple suggest Krylon Fusion which I've heard is good as well.

ricsreef · 08/30/2007, 01:56 PM

I would suggest using the plastic background to see which one you like the best,once you paint it,it's a little difficult to change.

K' Family Reef · 08/30/2007, 02:53 PM

i kind of like the idea of being able to see whats going on behind the tank... as in the back of the tank behind the rock... dead fish detritus accumulation... iow i dont want to intentionally get rid of my access/view

i placed my 125 about 12" away from wall so i could get back there if i wanted or needed to...

i dont like NOT having a background/color (currently)
but again i dont like not being able to see back there either... so researching on RC i realized that some folks use a FALSE BACK... that is acrylic or plexi... painted w/the background color they choose... then mount it to the back of the tank...

thus allowing one to remove the cover to inspect the back etc etc etc... painting it to me is a big decision bec it would take a lot of work/TIME to get the paint off should you decide later

chkra_hp · 08/30/2007, 02:55 PM

any picture on blue and black background?

clown2be · 08/30/2007, 02:57 PM

Black . go to the SPS forum and look at everyones tanks. The SPS guys post lots of photos.

chkra_hp · 08/30/2007, 02:57 PM

great idea on this using acrylic painted. i will try this

chkra_hp · 08/30/2007, 03:00 PM

where can i buy a cheap arylic 48"x24"?

K' Family Reef · 08/30/2007, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chkra_hp
great idea on this using acrylic painted. i will try this

ya!... perhaps if you go thru w/ it you might post some pics and show how it turned out.

regards

K' Family Reef · 08/30/2007, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chkra_hp
great idea on this using acrylic painted. i will try this

also you might put a 'lip' over the top back edge of the tank once you get it installed... to prevent hoh from getting down betw back glass and your plexi... have seen some install a hard rubber weatherstripping from h/d... siliconed in place (actually looks better then it sounds or atleast the one i saw installed)

for the plexi you might try h/d or local hardware store... walmart might have it dont know

chkra_hp · 08/30/2007, 03:31 PM

i just search around the web and find the price for a arylic sheet to be around 70$ that might be a bit too expensive. how thick do i want the sheet to be? if i do this imight go with one side black one size blue

trinitower · 08/30/2007, 03:37 PM

I have a blue background in mine. It looks beautiful and it looks bright. The fish look very nice in it and so far my mushroom looks good. I will be adding more soon.

The colors of the creatures I will be adding will probably be on the warm side for maximum effect.

I do admit though, that black would have made my tank look more "advanced" for some reason as most tanks in magazines, and "contest winners", have a black bkgrnd. I will paint any future projects in black for what its worth.

Ultimately, it is your tank. I have seen green bkgrounds... So take your pick.

*I did use Krylon paint.*

Eric.

K' Family Reef · 08/30/2007, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chkra_hp
i just search around the web and find the price for a arylic sheet to be around 70$ that might be a bit too expensive. how thick do i want the sheet to be? if i do this imight go with one side black one size blue

although i have not done it
i dont know why regular plexi glass from local h/w store should work! = cheap!

jonbro6956 · 08/30/2007, 03:48 PM

Instead of using an arylic sheet and paintnig it, has anyone though about using vinyl? If you want to change it, you just pull it off and apply a new color. You can pick up rolls of it at any arts & crafts store.

I have only seen painted tanks, but I am sure someone has done this.

tunaluver · 08/30/2007, 04:02 PM

use plexi and paint one side black and one side blue.. choose what you like and then can even change once in a while if you want

fishb8 · 08/30/2007, 04:32 PM

My vote is for black. It brings all of the wonderful colors out.

chkra_hp · 08/30/2007, 05:00 PM

thanx for all the tip, i might try the vinyl first

kirkland · 08/30/2007, 05:23 PM

Our tank has a black background but it's sort see through too. We used a roll of car window tint that was black. It's a corner tank, so when the lights are on, I can see through the back sides of the tank through the tint but not so much when looking at the tank from the front side. It's removable if needed and looks great.

Abaco24 · 08/30/2007, 05:30 PM

I read in "the reef aquarium" Science, Art & Tech" that a blue acrylic panel secured on the back (various methods) with a soft light behind it, will create the illusion of drifting off into a deep sea edge from the shallow reef.

As some have also mentioned having one black piece and one blue to change as needed is a good idea. You can also diffuse some of the hood light to the back of the blue panel.

I think blue is more natural looking for a reef, not too many black water reefs except at night, but it does look good either way.

sharkbate87 · 08/30/2007, 05:38 PM

Painting plexi or the back of the tank seems like a lot of work. I bought a roll of plastic material with blue on one side and black on the other, that will let you experiment with both colors and figure on which one you like.

You can get it anywhere. petsmart, all of the LFS i have been to have it, i think they just charge by the length maybe $25 max, not sure how much i paid for mine.

pikachusalad · 08/30/2007, 05:38 PM

I have to vote for blue. Black is too dark for me. I'll try to post a picture of my tank with a blue background later tonight...though there's not much in it.

08/30/2007, 11:57 AM	#1
chkra_hp Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Rockville MD Posts: 227	Blue vs Black Background Im not sure if i should paint the back of my tank blue or black. What in up and down side of each color? I dont have the search function but anyone know the link to the thead on this?

08/30/2007, 12:13 PM	#2
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	Personally, I like black. When I look at a tank with a black background, it doesn't even register in my brain that the tank HAS a background. However, every time I look at a tank with a blue background, a little thought runs around my head: "oh, that tank has a blue background." Not a big deal, but IMHO black is less obvious and hence more natural. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

08/30/2007, 01:30 PM	#6
Waxxiemann Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 2,364	I used Tremclad rust paint in flat black, it worked great. I rolled it on in about 3 coats. Some poeple suggest Krylon Fusion which I've heard is good as well. __________________ "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." Albert Einstein

08/30/2007, 03:37 PM	#16
trinitower Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Winter Springs Posts: 91	I have a blue background in mine. It looks beautiful and it looks bright. The fish look very nice in it and so far my mushroom looks good. I will be adding more soon. The colors of the creatures I will be adding will probably be on the warm side for maximum effect. I do admit though, that black would have made my tank look more "advanced" for some reason as most tanks in magazines, and "contest winners", have a black bkgrnd. I will paint any future projects in black for what its worth. Ultimately, it is your tank. I have seen green bkgrounds... So take your pick. I did use Krylon paint. Eric. __________________ "Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck. "- His Holiness the Dalai Lama Current Tank Info: currently building a 29 gal. 2X65W PC's. 30# Live Rock. CPR BAK PAK Skimmer, 9 blue leg hermits, 10 turbo snails, 1 small colony of Mushrooms Actinodiscus.

08/30/2007, 05:38 PM	#25
pikachusalad Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Saint Paul, MN Posts: 402	I have to vote for blue. Black is too dark for me. I'll try to post a picture of my tank with a blue background later tonight...though there's not much in it. __________________ -- Mike Current Tank Info: 60G reef

08/30/2007, 12:14 PM	#3
jonbro6956 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Culpeper, VA Posts: 48	It all depends on what you want. If you want a bright tank, do a blue background. If you want a dark tank that shows off your color, go black.

08/30/2007, 12:33 PM	#4
ggk1988 Premium Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: NW suburbs Chicago, IL Posts: 668	Do black it makes the coral look much better

08/30/2007, 01:08 PM	#5
chkra_hp Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Rockville MD Posts: 227	thanx i will go black. do i just buy black paint and do a few layers in the back? or should i use the spray paint?

08/30/2007, 01:56 PM	#7
ricsreef Moved On Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Louisville Posts: 138	I would suggest using the plastic background to see which one you like the best,once you paint it,it's a little difficult to change.

08/30/2007, 02:53 PM	#8
K' Family Reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,966	i kind of like the idea of being able to see whats going on behind the tank... as in the back of the tank behind the rock... dead fish detritus accumulation... iow i dont want to intentionally get rid of my access/view i placed my 125 about 12" away from wall so i could get back there if i wanted or needed to... i dont like NOT having a background/color (currently) but again i dont like not being able to see back there either... so researching on RC i realized that some folks use a FALSE BACK... that is acrylic or plexi... painted w/the background color they choose... then mount it to the back of the tank... thus allowing one to remove the cover to inspect the back etc etc etc... painting it to me is a big decision bec it would take a lot of work/TIME to get the paint off should you decide later

08/30/2007, 02:55 PM	#9
chkra_hp Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Rockville MD Posts: 227	any picture on blue and black background?

08/30/2007, 02:57 PM	#10
clown2be Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Corona, Calif Posts: 2,856	Black . go to the SPS forum and look at everyones tanks. The SPS guys post lots of photos.

08/30/2007, 03:00 PM	#12
chkra_hp Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Rockville MD Posts: 227	where can i buy a cheap arylic 48"x24"?

08/30/2007, 03:31 PM	#15
chkra_hp Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Rockville MD Posts: 227	i just search around the web and find the price for a arylic sheet to be around 70$ that might be a bit too expensive. how thick do i want the sheet to be? if i do this imight go with one side black one size blue

08/30/2007, 03:48 PM	#18
jonbro6956 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Culpeper, VA Posts: 48	Instead of using an arylic sheet and paintnig it, has anyone though about using vinyl? If you want to change it, you just pull it off and apply a new color. You can pick up rolls of it at any arts & crafts store. I have only seen painted tanks, but I am sure someone has done this.

08/30/2007, 04:02 PM	#19
tunaluver Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: sioux falls, sd Posts: 204	use plexi and paint one side black and one side blue.. choose what you like and then can even change once in a while if you want

08/30/2007, 04:32 PM	#20
fishb8 Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 21	My vote is for black. It brings all of the wonderful colors out.

08/30/2007, 05:00 PM	#21
chkra_hp Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Rockville MD Posts: 227	thanx for all the tip, i might try the vinyl first

08/30/2007, 05:23 PM	#22
kirkland Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Seattle Area Posts: 79	Our tank has a black background but it's sort see through too. We used a roll of car window tint that was black. It's a corner tank, so when the lights are on, I can see through the back sides of the tank through the tint but not so much when looking at the tank from the front side. It's removable if needed and looks great.

08/30/2007, 05:30 PM	#23
Abaco24 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Southwest GA Posts: 53	I read in "the reef aquarium" Science, Art & Tech" that a blue acrylic panel secured on the back (various methods) with a soft light behind it, will create the illusion of drifting off into a deep sea edge from the shallow reef. As some have also mentioned having one black piece and one blue to change as needed is a good idea. You can also diffuse some of the hood light to the back of the blue panel. I think blue is more natural looking for a reef, not too many black water reefs except at night, but it does look good either way.

08/30/2007, 05:38 PM	#24
sharkbate87 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 14	Painting plexi or the back of the tank seems like a lot of work. I bought a roll of plastic material with blue on one side and black on the other, that will let you experiment with both colors and figure on which one you like. You can get it anywhere. petsmart, all of the LFS i have been to have it, i think they just charge by the length maybe $25 max, not sure how much i paid for mine.