I need help with the Background of my tank

[Tlalok]

So my tank has a clear background. What do i with it? painted black, draw something on it, is it pretty much up to me or is there a do's and don'ts for the background? Suggestions please!!!!

Im thinking about just one solid color but them i want a drawing on it but i dont know what is good or bad ... please advise wise people of LVVR!!!!!!! thanks!!!!

[kentlighting]

I used the darkest window tint material i could find and used that. Paint chips.

[Luke]

Got pics of the tint will? Ive painted my tanks but it does chip if anything rubs on it


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[kentlighting]

yeah, i can take some. Ill post them in a little bit.

[RickMartin]

I'd use white to help reflect light

[seanathen]

I would either paint it black or velcro a black pc of acrylic to it or something. I'm a black tank back fan though.... Can't stand clear seeing all the wires and stuff....

[hebsway]

I'm a fan of the black back too. I use 3m Rubberized undercoating, cost about $12 at any auto parts store and once its dry you'll never get it off.

[kentlighting]

From the back its a bit translucent but from the front it's not. Which is nice to find fish hiding been hind the rock work. Ive let the coralline take over cause I like the look of it.


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[RickMartin]

soon it will be covered in coraline and you wont notice anyway

[Narazbad]

I prefer clear back. Somewhere I remember hearing or reading that they did research on different types of backings and they decided that a clear back gives the mirror effect that reflects more light back into the tank. Having something touching the outer glass removes that mirror effect and you end up losing light.

[TheGreatAukSociety]

That was a James Fatherbee presentation at one of the shows. They were doing tests on Metal Halide reflectors and kept getting lower par in the back half of the tank. The reason turned out to be the paint removed the mirror effect.


I prefer clear back. Somewhere I remember hearing or reading that they did research on different types of backings and they decided that a clear back gives the mirror effect that reflects more light back into the tank. Having something touching the outer glass removes that mirror effect and you end up losing light.

[Luke]

my corals will have to deal with it, cause i cant do a clear background. to me thats like putting a picture frame on a wall without a picture...

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_L9StBKOh18c/TCCtc82nnpI/AAAAAAAACCQ/Ogy8XouRGzo/DSC_0199-298x450%5B4%5D.jpg

edit: that staircase does look kinda cool though..
edit edit: i guess you would have to have atleast a half dozen tanks before a clear background would work...

[TheGreatAukSociety]

You can also overcome the effect by putting up a non-painted background, like plastic sheeting, the air lawer only has to be very microscopic to still work.

[Tlalok]

WOW !!!! i went to eat a burrito and came back to find lots of replies thanks guys!!!!! i was going to do black also or some light color ... then i thought of drawing something with a black background ... the black acrylic piece sounds like an awesome idea ... kenlighting ur tank looks awesome!!!! i will definitely consider tint ...

luke nice example!!!! i was also thinking on just leaving it alone since i painted my wall dark-red, .... would it matter if i like throw a design along with the black background???? ...

decisions decisions!!!! im getting my dry rock deliver friday and thats gonna be another task, monday the RO/DI unit arrives and thats another task ... one more week and i will update my tank build hopefully already running and all ...

thank you all for all ur replies i will consider all of them!!!!! you guys are awesome!!!!

[tbone74]

I was reading on RC today that krylon fuson adhears well to glass (on the outside, not under water). Just apply in very light coats. About 6 coats to cover it. I painted mine with rustolem. Brushed it on and has never chipped.

[Luke]

this works:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c395/brushmymullet/ATi.jpg

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=71242

this doesnt work:
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r7/afi982/IMG_6066.jpg

Black works:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_jXcKvFXhXng/TL08ID32LpI/AAAAAAAABR0/bvkfqRceAd4/s800/269007525_X6P4h-XL.jpg

painting works:
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_G7KWRMa2z2A/THw_xrUaSCI/AAAAAAAAAx4/ZcnT9JrRON0/s800/new%20tank%20009.JPG

feeling REALLY creative? try a shadow box:
http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q172/pro-pulse/img_8463.jpg

heres the link to the shadow box: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1868825

[tbone74]

luke bustin out all the photos... Nice!

[santileo1991]

patriot blue looks nice!...it makes the aquarium seem a lot brighter in my opinion

[santileo1991]

are those aquariums yours? (luke)

[Luke]

they are indeed, all mine.

[wazupjames]

they are indeed, all mine.

Hahahahaha.

Anyway, I really like the unique depth added to the aquarium with the shadow boxes. When I upgrade I will definitely be adding one.

[kentlighting]

no wonder you cana give away free frags, you have so many tanks.

[Luke]

no wonder you cana give away free frags, you have so many tanks.

weeds man... weeds. my corals grow like crazy. its getting annoying... my poor fish have nowhere to swim anymore. my sps just grows too much.

[santileo1991]

DANG!!!!!!!......MAN YOU ARE OFFICIALLY MY IDOL!.........THEY ARE SO BEAUTIFUL................are they all at your home?

[kentlighting]

weren't you saying you get a few inches of growth a day?!?! how do you do it?

[Luke]

DANG!!!!!!!......MAN YOU ARE OFFICIALLY MY IDOL!.........THEY ARE SO BEAUTIFUL................are they all at your home?

they are. ive got a few more than just those.. i give a tour for 10 dollars. you get to see over 10,000 gallons of fish tanks, over 150 species of fish and hundreds of species of coral. i think will (kentlighting) is coming over tomorrow with some friends to take a tour, if you want you can come too? we try to keep group sizes under 25 people, so let me know if you're bringing anyone else.


and yes most of my sps grows 1.5 to 2 inches per day. i have a secret to calcium dosing that works amazing!

[kentlighting]

How much calcium are you dosing?

[Luke]

a gallon of whole milk every 3 days is good for about 500 gallons







but i wouldnt suggest anyone else try this.. ive done a lot of studying on this.

[santileo1991]

no way what time! I could just stare at tanks for hours!.....what area also

[kentlighting]

how do you dose it?

[Luke]

you can't dose it unless you have atleast 5000 gallons of water. don't even try it. it wont get dilluted enough, and you will mess everything up. its really risky if you dont know what you're doing. i can't stress it enough, DO NOT TRY IT.

tour starts at 7

[santileo1991]

am pm?....where?.....are all your aquariums interconnected?

[Luke]

am pm?....where?.....are all your aquariums interconnected?

this house came with an indoor pool, but since i dont swim, i retrofitted it into a giant sump, and everything is plumbed into it. i have a few nanos, like the cube of justice, that are separate though.

tour starts at 7 pm. noone knows the location until i text it to them at 6:30

[santileo1991]

awesome!....my number is XXX-XXX-XXXX!.....you will be added in my phone as my idol....lol........cant wait to see these tanks!....I might bring one person.....if theres room

[Luke]

pm tomgl your number, he does all the scheduling for me.

[kentlighting]

pm sent,i have 23 including me coming.

[Luke]

pm sent,i have 23 including me coming.

awesome! i might be able to actually afford that bottlenose i've been saving up for!

[Tlalok]

those tanks are super cool!!!!!

[Luke]

those tanks are super cool!!!!!

thanks!

[santileo1991]

pm sent....to tomgl....cant wait to see these tanks!

[Luke]

im doing water changes tonight... everything should be in great shape tomorrow.

the only thing i hate about having this many tanks is the water changes :(

[Tlalok]

you must have gianormous house!!!!

[santileo1991]

thats what im saying!...lol....since it has a indoor swimming pool....or was a pool!