show me your backgrounds: pics of blue, black, or any others.

[nemo g]

when setting up my first tank i decided to go with black since i didnt like the bright light blue that is the usual.

however, the black is starting to seem drab to me, where the light blue seemed to add more life to the tank.

nonetheless, i really dont like the light blue, id consider a deeper blue or if someone has a method of transitioning a from a dark blue to lighter from bottom to top.


im about to get my first tank upgrade and think i want to go with a different color. any pictures will be helpful, so i can see what live rock, corals, and fish look like with the background.

thanks

[bad coffee]

Two cans of spraypaint.

Darkblue (0r even dark purple) and a different blue for the top.

Start at the bottom with the dark color. Fade it out as you go higer on the tank.

Then paint the whole back with the lighter color

I've also seen a purple glitter paint tank that was really cool.

[lessans]

I find that blues draw the eyes away from the main display in the tank. I would personally keep the black. That's what I use.

[ACBlinky]

I've seen a LFS background that's darker blue at the bottom, lighter on top and faded between the two just as you describe. It's a nice look, whether you buy a ready-made background or do it yourself I think the tank will look great.
Black is my personal favourite because it hides equipment well and gives the illusion of depth, but I've seen spectacular pictures of tanks with light, almost sky-blue backgrounds -- if it's done right, a very deep tank (front to back) with a lighter background can look like it goes on forever.

[DaveG99]

Black or dark blue is my favorite! Here is a pic of my 125

[nemo g]

i think im going to try with a dark/royal blue. trying to keep the effect of the black while giving it the "fade away" appearance of depth.

anyone with pics of darker blue backgrounds.

id rather not use 2 cans of paint, without a quality method of fading one into the other. once the paint is on the glass, spraying the other paint isnt going to make a nice transition, unless a brush is used to mixed the two together.

[Chihuahua6]

After receiving some great advice from Just dave on the large tank forum I am going to try and make a background with the faded paint method and curve the background to further the illusion of depth. I was originally planning a black background but whenever I see pictures of real reefs, the background is always blue. I think a dark blue looks more natural than black especially if you try to achieve more depth with paint techniques. Here is the thread about the background I was talking about: http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hreadid=864773

[SCR]

Mine started off black but after being set up for over a year it is now covered with coraline algae.

[CrystalAZ]

Mine is light blue - click on the red house to see.

I like it but will go with a darker blue for my next tank.

Not a fan of black personally.

Crystal

[MCary]

A lighter blue will always make a new tank look nice because the tank is pretty void and as stated before the blues take your eyes there and away from the contents.

As you add more fish and corals and as your rocks color up, then the black provides a contrast and is much more attractive.

My opinion anyway.

[mike89t]

Mine is black with Reef Ceramic Walls as a background:



Here is an older shot that shows Live Rock in the tank:



Here is my Quarantine Tank that I painted the background black and bottom White:


I think that a Black background gives a feeling of depth.

[glbtrottr]

Black is a nice stopgap until Coralline takes over...

[nemo g]

anyone with a purple/coraline colored background???

[mr pink floyd]

NEMO IS YOU DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN BLACK I WILL INJUR YOU
jk


but if you use blue, its shows algae off alot more

i haev min black, but im growing GSP on it

it gorws abotu 1-2 mm a day lol

[nemo g]

back up or itll be red

[MCary]

Scape off the coralline. Yuck!

[LBCBJ]

I prefer black, it looks really clean and classy. Never been a fan of the blue backgrounds.

[puffer21]

i would keep the black if you start doing colored corals like purple or blue it will look really nice with the black

[giants4pc]

I like my blue sea background. I brushed it on...three coats.

[nemo g]

i prefer the darker tone on the bottom of the tank. i may go that way if i can find a nice royal blue that will react well with birght light.

btw, are those ken's maxi mods??? how have they been for you?

[RFC]

I painted my black. I like the look and I also plan on removing any Coralline that may grow on the glass walls . I guess i prefer the clean sterile look.

[bllfish]

Mine used to be black

[davocean]

Have you thought about going clear, but making a background out of a sheet of acrylic or something?
Then you could change it if you didn't like it.

[LBCBJ]

Really nice tank, RFC. How do you keep it so clean?

[nemo g]

ive thought about the sheet thing, however, i dont think i would like the hassle of cleaning the salt that got bewteen the glass and acrylic. i get messy when i clean