Why does all marine tanks has no background wallpaper?

[neutronics]

I am really curious about this observation....why is that there is no background wallpaper (at the back of the tank) for all the marine tanks that I've seen?
Is this just a choice by marine hobbyists/aquarists to give a more realistic open view? Most of the freshwater tanks seem to have background wallpapers with nice pictures.....
Will a backgroud pic at the back of the tank stress the marine fishes out?? If not, what colour would be suitable? Blue..or perhaps something similarly dark in shade....?

 

[nevurrmore]

I've got dark blue construction paper taped on the back of mine. I got it at a teacher supply store and it looks great.

 

[wrigley11]

I have backgrounds on all of my marine tanks... I think it is just a personal preference.

 

[big dave]

I have a background that fades from dark blue to black. I think using a blue or black backgound makes the fish stand out better. Backgrounds with patterns kind of camoflage the fish.

 

[wally]

The best background you can have is just to spray paint the back of the tank black or blue. Its very cheap and the water won't hurt it.

 

[josh]

I don't have a background, however I just let my coraline algae take over the back of the tank. All a matter of preference.

 

[ebeckels]

I don't know if I've ever seen a tank without a background...I have a blue background but there is plenty of algae on the back so it's hard to see it anyway! The only reason that I could see people not having a background is because some people think that a dark background can add stress to a fish.
-Eric

 

[aquaman2]

i have most of my tanks backs painted black that way the salt creep wont get between the backround and the glass

 

[thor]

i have a solid blue background

 

[crispcritr]

to Wally, i tried to paint my tank blue one time and the paint just ran. it did not want to stick to glass very well. what kind of paint do you use??

 

[crispcritr]

thank you, merry christmas to all

 

[jmesmcm]

If you want to paint the back of the tank, rustoleum works really well and seems to have good adhesion. On my tank I cut a piece of thin plexiglass from home depot to size and have been attaching it to the back of the tank using double sided carpet tape. This way I have been able to experiment with many different colors and change the back from time to time depending on the mixture of fish in the tank. So far the best color seems to be dark green.

 

[goofieones]

I spray painted the back of my tank black, no runs and looks awesome. I just bought some black glossy rustoleum spray paint, it took about 4 coats, but it stuck well to the glass. The funny thing is, when I asked the guy at HomeDepot if he thought it would stick to glass, he says, "I don't think so, you should sand the glass." I said yeah right, just want I want millions of scratches in my new tank!! Can we say Idiot. Anyways it works and it works well, you just will never be able to change the color.

 

[cyn]

I too have a blue background. Mine is blue wrapping paper, just taped in place. Looks good for now but I am hoping the coraline will take over. It has a good start already!

 

[wally]

I just use 99cent Wal-Mart spray paint. I just turn the tank over on its side so the side I want to paint is on top and spray away. Several light coats is better than one heavy coat. I used to take a lot of time and took masking tape and newspaper and masked the sides but I don't anymore. I find its much easier to take a razor blade and scrape off any extra paint on the sides. It comes off real easy. And the tape left some sticky glue on the trim of one of my tanks that I never was able to get off.

 

[tomato clown]

I bought some of that tank background for mine, I just flipped it so all you see is the black side. Looks better than seeing wires and such hanging all over. One of my tanks back wall is covered in algea, so I didn't need it on that 1.
Dan

 

[salisbury a d]

My background is blue. It has like a self adhesive to it. You wash the back of the tank with soapy water let it dry some then you apply the back and squese out the air bubble with a card. Still holding. The salt creep can't get behind it eithere.
Adam

 

[cyn]

Has anyone used a mirror? Pro's and Con's? Just something I thought up while staring into the water the other day....

 

[fender]

Don't think a mirror would be a good idea since alot of marine fish don't get along with conspefics and will view thier reflection as an intruder. Personally I have nothing but corraline algae for a background

 

[trigahappynigerog]

i have an x rated background of females on mine. have newspaper on another. i have it running on three sides. it really doesnt matter what you use just as long as it isnt reflective material. they are used to relax the fish. its all preference some reefs have no background and can be viewed in all four sides.
[ December 28, 2001: Message edited by: TRIGAHAPPYNIGERog ]