Background? Black or blue.

[mg426]

Who likes what and why??

[Phyxius]

Black makes the colors stand out more in my opinion.
Dark Blue sometimes looks pretty good and I use it in my QT tanks
Light blue makes things look kind of washed out looking.

This is just in my opinion though.......

[Bernie21]

I like black, I agree that I think it helps make colors stand out!!

[dgoth]

I have the light blue on the back of my tank and I don't think it looks that bad, but I'd probably go for black if I was doing it again.

Then again, once it's covered with coraline it doesn't really matter.

[macronut]

I prefer blue as it is more natural looking.

[rgrobe]

I had black on my 125 and was happy with it. When I had my 180 built I looked at black, light blue and dark blue. IMO the light blue was too light and overpowered the foreground. The black does make the colors stand out but black also absorbs more light. I ended in a compromise, the dark blue. Still highlights the colors and reflects more light making the tank appear brighter yet natural.

[iamwrasseman]

black for me on all my tanks but its a matter of what each person likes thats the fun of it every tank is different in so many ways !

[reefworm]

black - colors stand out and black colored equipment [powerheads, etc.] blend in

dark blue - more natural looking and seems to give the tank a look of greater depth

your call

[Bambalam]

I used to have medium-dark blue, then went to a black background a year or two ago. I'm staying with the black. My wife said either one was better looking than all the coralline algae I used to let grow on the back wall.

[Aquabucket]

Imagine that you are diving in the ocean and you come across an outcropping of corals. The backround you see will often be shades of blue. To me that's a more natural effect. Even a black background will take away from that effect but it is useful for blending in equipment.

[bbehring]

If you paint the back you can do a mix of black and medium blue. I did this on my last tank in a nice swoosh/camo pattern and it looked super. I painted the blue first and then the back. My latest build I just went with a painted flat black krylon spray. Black does punch the colors more IMO. If i had to choose one, I'd definately go with black

[jpitch]

I can't even see my black background due to the coralline algae on it

[mg426]

Thanks for the responses. I have a piece of lexan that I cut to fit the back of my tank. One side is painted blue the other Black. At the moment its black, Tommorow who Knows LOL

[xJake]

I don't even bother anymore. Coralline algae just covers it up anyway.

[Playa-1]

I prefer the black background. I think it help bring out the color of the fish and corals better. It also helps the black components blend in with the background better. I personally keep the Coralline scraped off. I don't care for the coralline covered glass look. That brings me to my point that It's all about personal preferences.

[plyr58]

I saw a mirrored finish background that looked excellent one time.

[reefworm]

I can see how a mirrored background would have the advantage of depth and seeing elusive critters that always stay behind the rockwork

[46FiatYamaha]

I enjoy a dark blue background with coraline free back glass, like aquabucket said, more natural looking for me

[stanlalee]

once you go black you never go blue. blue backgound + blue lightiing=too blue.

[aaron1987]

+1 for the black crew. While the blue might look more natural by itself -- I'm looking to hide my equipment, and if you ask me, black equipment sticking out against a blue background ruins any "natural" effect it might have.

[Macimage]

I have a medium blue and black now on my two tanks and I prefer the blue. I'd get a dark blue next time.

Joyce

[Bernie21]

I also am personally not a fan of coraline on the glass so I scrape it off...

[Cove Beach]

Ok so out of everyone i added another twist. The back of my tank is clear and the wall 10-12" behind it is painted a medium blue. I keep the glass clear of algae and all cords or plumbing between my corner overflows. The tank is a 220 Perfecto. I like the way its setup because i have the color i want and the ability to see the back side of the rock work, plus its different.

[fishrock]

i go black, but i used to do black at the bottom going into dark blue at the top.
i saw another tank on here that was like that and it made me regret doing mine all black again.
i think black at the bottom and dark blue at the top is best.
i even thought of using 2-3 shades of blues with the lightest blue at the top giving the feeling of depth.
everything does stand out better in just straight black though i think.
adam

[AtomHeart]

I just looked at every picture of a reef I could find and the background colors ranged from medium blues to THIS color: