View Full Version : do you paint the back(sides) of your tank?
just out of curiosity, it seems so many people paint their tanks backgrounds and sometimes sides, but i always thought it looks nicer unpainted, when you see through the tank it gives the impression of a real presence, that fish is swimming in your room like a real drop of an ocean.... whereas painted tanks seem to me more like a picture on the wall...:)
so was wondering am i the only one who doesn't like painted (glued etc) backgrounds? or maybe other reasons for/against?
the poll;)
bristol_rich
31-10-08, 20:28
i prefer a painted back as it makes the fish and corals stand out also you dont see the wall behind it, if your tank is separating a room or sticking out from awall then i would leave the glass unpainted to be viewed from all sides HTH
seeing through a tank is lovely, when there's something to see the other side.
But I suspect most tanks are like mine where if the back was clear, all you'd see is a load of pipework, a myriad of wires and a dado rail.
Not very 'natural'.
I see what you mean, our tank is currently also next to the wall, but in order to avoid painting we glued a stripe of blue-ish underwater theme wallpaper on the wall behind the tank and placed the tank a little bit away from the wall (just a few inches). as a result got a 'feature' wall and i think the tank is now looking a little bit more 3D rather than 2D if it makes sense:laugh:
bristol_rich
31-10-08, 20:42
Have you not seen the dado rail reef off the coast of bali scoob, awsome the wood chip plato is stunning
seeing through a tank is lovely, when there's something to see the other side.
But I suspect most tanks are like mine where if the back was clear, all you'd see is a load of pipework, a myriad of wires and a dado rail.
Not very 'natural'.
that's different of course, i guess in this case if pipework is attached to the back there is no other choice!:)
Voted NO, but i dont think this acurately describes it. I have a blue plastic stick on plastic - put on when the tank was ordered/made so its not painted but it is blue :D
Voted NO, but i dont think this acurately describes it. I have a blue plastic stick on plastic - put on when the tank was ordered/made so its not painted but it is blue :D
same as painted - just glued!:D the idea is to have it completely clear;)
Have painted in the past when I have been "settled" and had larger tanks...while I am going through 2 years of moving and "only" have a chromis no...but only because I know I will sell and painting would reduce my options.
i've just let the corraline algae grow on the back i've got a nice pink sheet of it and personally i think it looks a lot better than paint and cant see a thing behind the tank
i have always had a backing on my tanks, and have taken to painting them. stops you seeing all the mess of wires and pipes. i'd love a room divider, but the planning for something like that, nevermind the house for somethign like that is out of my league at the moment
Due to not having a sump on my tank if it wasn't painted you would see all the pipe work for my external and uv, all the leads from the lights, auto top up, heater and pumps and a bloody great big hang on skimmer.
I'm new to marine, but have kept tropical fish in the past, always with a plastic taped background. I'm looking to paint my new 4ft tank, what paint do people suggest and where to get it from?
Ian
I'm based in south-west London
I used Ronseal black tile paint from B&Q
wayne in norway
06-01-09, 15:05
I have a big piece of translucent blue/grey perspex that I can hang on the back (I have my tank in my office with a hole in the wall in the lower lounge). Thus when I need to work on the tank from my 'office' I can jsut lift it off. It also looks better than a painted background when you get the lighting on behind it, you get a real feeling of depth.
scarlet-daytona
06-01-09, 20:24
I'd like to put a mirror on the back, but would not be good for photography.
I'd like to put a mirror on the back, but would not be good for photography.
...would also drive any territorial fish completely mad! :D
John
I have always painted the back of my tanks. Another aspect is also keeping the back clear of coralline - I do that too! :D
To my eye it's the same as when composing a photograph - if the background is clean then it sets off the foreground subjects that much better than if it is "busy" as it is with lots of dots and shades of purple if coralline is left to its own devices.
John
John
Another aspect is also keeping the back clear of coralline - I do that too! :D
Me too, I hate any coraline any where on my glass.
I think I'm going to try the tile paint approach. I had heard the mirror would cause fish to attack their own reflections, which would be funny to watch for about 5 seconds!!!
Ian
i think tanks with no backs, unless open to both sides look strange:o
ditto,
mine is pinted in blace as i think
it sets of the colours well, it was either that or a very dark blue, but i couldn't find one dark enough :)
for my naxt tank i'm going to trey something new and get a background printed on sticky plastic, an image of the botom of the sea and then mirror the image into the tank, if that makes sense :)
either like this
http://www.sflorg.com/ear/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/coral_reef.jpg
or lioke this pick in the background :)
http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/NGSPOD-WM/NGSWM-112174_48_72%7ECoral-Reef-Scene-off-the-Coast-of-Grand-Turk-Island-Posters.jpg
or this
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1408/1052633338_3779a235cd.jpg?v=0
would probably edit out the fish though
Just to throw a spanner in the works:D
If you do paint it, do you do it black, blue or a n other colour?
My RR was already done, a 'nice' shade of blue!:)
maverickmal
07-01-09, 15:33
I read a few threads on here for and against the argument of Blue over black and/or vice versa
Alot of guys here tend to go bright/sea/ocean Blue or Black so I went middle of the road and found a colour called "Dramatic" in B&Q......I'm happier with a darker Blue that looks almost Black at night, I have some Ocean Rock in the tank and the contrast is good
My Orca came with a Black bg anyway so wanted something different for the next tank
Hi all, just thought id add my 2p worth...
As my tank is a corner tank, i had no choice but to paint the sides (as they are the back aswel lol). I went for black, mainly because the room that the tank is in has a red and black theme to it so should make the tank fit in nicely. Also have a poor quality stand (loads of chips in it etc) so im going to have to paint it black to hide all the marks.
the fat controler
13-02-09, 05:56
I,ve got a green marbley wallpapper in the room which looks ok behind the tank so I don,t paint the back,also like the efect of the algae.:rolleyes:
flameangel30
21-02-09, 14:52
hey peeps i reckon its best 2 paint the back of the tank blue it makes the fish stick out better and there colours are sooooo nice too
No paint, I use dark blue internal acrylic panels instead...
i think unpainted it looks beautiful:)
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2009Q1/IMG_4009.jpg
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=14179924#post14179924
another idea is a 3d background,something along the lines of this..
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2009Q1/uwe1.jpg
http://glassbox-design.com/2008/the-illusion-of-depth-uwe-breuers-reef/
still imo if there is no equipment/etc that needs hiding the clean tank would always win;)
B&Q Emulsion ..JAPLAC is best though if you can find it.
My tank came ready done with a blue background
not painted just used vinyl
not painted used black vinyl
i have painted the back of my tank only to hide some equipment but since seen some unpainted which look good too
I've got ''Fablon'' on the back of my tank, its just like sticky back plastic. Its actually used for covering kitchen cupboards, ect. I got mine from Wilkinsons but can get it from most good hardware shops.
have painted back and left side in black, cant really tell now cos of coraline.
dave
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