Question on backgrounds

naso140

naso140

Member
Hi all, new to this forum. Ive been a fishkeeper my entire life and recently (6 months ago) made the plunge into saltwater. With my background in freshwater, the transition has been very easy. Anyway my question is a silly one that i think there might be an answer to. Whats the trick to getting a background on say a 55 gal to really stick to where the color "pops" when you're viewing the tank. I always said i would ask the fella at my LFS , but simply never have. I know theres a way to manipulate the background to get desired results. Anyone have the answer?
 
spiderwoman

spiderwoman

Active Member
I've tried the *sheet* kind in our 55 and next time we do anything major to the tank and move it away from the wall, the black film is coming off and hubby gets to do some painting. Ours looks really nasty right now... we started with the blue film and a drop of water got between the film and glass.... NASTY! We flipped the film around and had a black background... all good and dandy until I got a drop of salt water again between the film and glass. UGH to say the least. Save yourself the aggrivation of this and paint it solid dark color :) I've learned my lesson and from now on, only paint will do.
 
sly

sly

Active Member
The best background I have seen is a simple gradient blue background. It's almost black at the bottom and fades to a dark blue up top. It really seems to bring out the color in my tank. I attached it with simple duct tape. I used narrow strips around the edges to hold it in place and at that angle, you can't really see the tape. Most fish stores I've been in have the blue background.
 
naso140

naso140

Member
Originally Posted by Sly
http:///forum/post/2510221
The best background I have seen is a simple gradient blue background. It's almost black at the bottom and fades to a dark blue up top. It really seems to bring out the color in my tank. I attached it with simple duct tape. I used narrow strips around the edges to hold it in place and at that angle, you can't really see the tape. Most fish stores I've been in have the blue background.
thanks everyone. first, ive never considered painting one on. have seen it done but thought it didnt look good. Second, my salt background is blue, the kind that my LFS uses and didnt have any problems taping it on the back. My prob is this; i like the way the blue bckgrnd looks in some spots where it fixed itself. Also ive had 55's in the past that "fixed themselves" and it looks great. i just know that there is a logical way to fix it. its gotta have somethin to do with moisture or air pressure between the glass and bckgrnd or somethin. ill keep searchin for the answer and if i find it i'll post it.
ps- i wanna say ive heard somewhere about a spray that they sell to coat the bckgrnd
 
gmann1139

gmann1139

Active Member
If there is 'moisture' between the tank and the background, there is less of an 'optical transition' (not sure how else to say it), so the background looks much clearer and brighter.
That being said, I have seen something for sale at LFS that claim to perform this function. I have not used, and in no way endorse this something (maybe someone can chime in on that), but if you basically keep air from between the BG and the tank itself, it should look a lot nicer.
The other factor may be lighting. Check if your tank is really lighting your back wall. It may be shaded to light the front more (I know mine are) so the back of the tank, especially the top, may be in 'the dark' all the time.
From personal experience, I've found that if you keep the background below the ledge that is the top rim of the tank, you get less salt creep and water down the front, which is the nastiness. Now it just all runs down the back, and ruins the background over time just the same.
 
naso140

naso140

Member
Originally Posted by gmann1139
http:///forum/post/2511521
If there is 'moisture' between the tank and the background, there is less of an 'optical transition' (not sure how else to say it), so the background looks much clearer and brighter.
That being said, I have seen something for sale at LFS that claim to perform this function. I have not used, and in no way endorse this something (maybe someone can chime in on that), but if you basically keep air from between the BG and the tank itself, it should look a lot nicer.
The other factor may be lighting. Check if your tank is really lighting your back wall. It may be shaded to light the front more (I know mine are) so the back of the tank, especially the top, may be in 'the dark' all the time.
From personal experience, I've found that if you keep the background below the ledge that is the top rim of the tank, you get less salt creep and water down the front, which is the nastiness. Now it just all runs down the back, and ruins the background over time just the same.
Thanks gman, i new it was along those lines. I'll try and find that product, if you have a link that would be sweet. As for my lighting, i have too much. Got 2 big ol' metal H's and a 36'' actinic on a 55g. And when the H's go off and its just the actinic the BG looks as though it should. Bright, vivid , it "pops". Im gonna try and get some pics up of my tank. Its a 55g flourishing on nothing more than a Magnum 350 can. I have one huge piece of pure coraline rock (purple) and over 100 dusters. Its crazy, but it works. Pics to come......B
 
B

bonita69

Guest
Well I tried that background gel stuff it held it very well with no tape and I was able to trim it very neat. BUT still no matter how hard I tried it still had air bubbles. So it looked ok... better than just taping though but the air pokets looked like black spots.(I was using the blue side) So I took the plung and painted it. It took 4 coats of spray paint of Valspar Premium Enamel I bought at lowes at 3.50 Best spray paint I ever used!!! Very nice and 0 runs
I use almost a full can on a 45 gal tank 36 long 24 high
Came out VERY PROFESSIONAL even the back looks super!!. It looks as if it is part of the glass. I will never buy background again!!
SO PAINT IT MAN
you will love it and the color is so rich and POPS
 
joncat24

joncat24

Active Member
Yes, painting it is the only way to go IMO. No matter how hard you try, eventually salt and or water will get between the glass and the tape on stuff and it looks bad.
I am going to attempt to paint a black/blue fade on the back of my new 65G I am setting up. I am not quite sure how it will come out, but I can scrape it off and try again if I dont like it....LOL
 
danieljames

danieljames

Member
Gmann hit the nail on the head....when I attached my background I did it with the tank completely empty....so I was able to roll it around (I have a corner tank) I made sure to cut the background exactly to the size of the glass....prior to applying the background I filled a spray bottle with water and the slightest bit of baby shampoo...spritzed the background, squeegeed it on and then taped.....there are a few tiny spots that look dull but mine stands out nicely....the closer you can get the background to the glass...the better...good luck!
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
I would usually tape around three sides of the aquarium and paint some flat black spraypaint on it, being careful not to get any in the tank...
Black always makes the colors of the fish stand out better.
 
vbsaltydog

vbsaltydog

Member
I am thinking of painting the back of my 54g corner but I would like to see some pics of people's tanks with painted back glass so please post your photos if you have painted your glass.
Also, everyone that painted seems to have used spray paint but my tank is already filled so does anyone have any experience with painting the glass with a brush?
I guess I could tape off the top and front of the tank and use spray paint but it seems like alot of work if brushing the paint on works just as good plus brushing allows heavier coats to be applied faster without sags.
Photos and/or advise are appreciated.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Lol does not matter the water will always be level LOL but I know what you mean but if you eye up the edge of he tank with the door jam you will see its plumb anyway I would get black and blue craft paper and put in on the back of your tank to see which you like better before panting
 
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