Painting Back of Tank

GGG · 08-14-2009, 11:46 AM

I know there are discussions going on right now about the affects of painting the back of your tank but I'm interested in a poll strictly about aesthetics.
What looks the best as a background for a reef tank?

Black
Blue
White
No Paint

What do you think?

BigAl07 · 08-14-2009, 11:50 AM

I voted BLACK because it makes some of your corals really STAND OUT but I also like the Deep Sea Blue as a background. This one seems to make it more "realistic" in my eyes but my personal preference for "Showcasing" coral is Black.

Basile · 08-14-2009, 05:49 PM

I had a biocube with a black bacground. In my new tank i'm going clear.*For now the tank is cycling and not much in it. Its againts a white wall and the shimmering effect on the wall makes my rockwork stand out. I built mine, and knda branchs like features, through it the shimmering effect look like a cave is behind the rockwork with a light comming from above. The effect i find is more alive and the fish will swim in it as if going into back caves. The pipe work is at a minimum and it doen't really matter for me. My opinion may chage as its progress but for now i like it this way.

seafansar · 08-14-2009, 08:02 PM

I like black for the same reason as Allen. It really makes your corals and fish stand out and hides any cords behind the tank. But unless you are really good with upkeep, any background will be covered with coralline algae and then it doesn't matter!

zy112 · 08-14-2009, 08:09 PM

I think painting it black looks the best, just a lot more contrast.

Blurp · 08-18-2009, 06:52 PM

I prefer letting pink algae grow, more realistic, less work

Clownfish518 · 08-18-2009, 07:18 PM

Painting the back of the tank causes a significant decrease in the amount of light in the tank. It is bad for corals - if you ever look at rock, the side near the paint is often white and that is a direct result of the paint. It adds more contrast, it looks better, but is not good for keeping photosynthetic critters

There have been studies on this, and after painting tanks for 15 years I no longer do. Its clearly not good

Basile · 08-18-2009, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clownfish518

Painting the back of the tank causes a significant decrease in the amount of light in the tank. It is bad for corals - if you ever look at rock, the side near the paint is often white and that is a direct result of the paint. It adds more contrast, it looks better, but is not good for keeping photosynthetic critters

There have been studies on this, and after painting tanks for 15 years I no longer do. Its clearly not good

Hey thats good info thanks. I never had the intention , i was letting it fill with coraline , but now i got a good reason too, other that esthetics.

BigAl07 · 08-18-2009, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clownfish518

Painting the back of the tank causes a significant decrease in the amount of light in the tank. It is bad for corals - if you ever look at rock, the side near the paint is often white and that is a direct result of the paint. It adds more contrast, it looks better, but is not good for keeping photosynthetic critters

There have been studies on this, and after painting tanks for 15 years I no longer do. Its clearly not good

I'm with you 100%

No more painting for this ole boy

WVUReefer · 12-09-2009, 02:39 AM

Never paint back..Even coralline on back glass can cause same negative efects as paint.

jcgardner · 12-22-2009, 03:47 PM

I didn't paint mine. I had a black background on it, but took it off sunday when I did the wc. This way I can see it from the kitchen as well. However if I leave it without a background I may have to replumb it because I don't like seeing the pvc.

Steven Pro · 12-22-2009, 04:48 PM

I have seen some blue painted backgrounds I really liked and some that were truly awful. The wrong hue of blue can make a big difference.

Frankie · 12-22-2009, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clownfish518

Painting the back of the tank causes a significant decrease in the amount of light in the tank. It is bad for corals - if you ever look at rock, the side near the paint is often white and that is a direct result of the paint. It adds more contrast, it looks better, but is not good for keeping photosynthetic critters

There have been studies on this, and after painting tanks for 15 years I no longer do. Its clearly not good

I completely agree. After reading about painted glass I to removed it from my tank and saw a huge improvement.

View Poll Results: Paint Or No Paint
Black	25	51.02%
Blue	7	14.29%
White	0	0%
No Paint	17	34.69%
Voters: 49. You may not vote on this poll

08-14-2009, 11:46 AM	#1 (permalink)
GGG Tunicate Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 8 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Painting Back of Tank I know there are discussions going on right now about the affects of painting the back of your tank but I'm interested in a poll strictly about aesthetics. What looks the best as a background for a reef tank? Black Blue White No Paint What do you think?

08-14-2009, 11:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
BigAl07 Reef Nerd :) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 24,170 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Painting Back of Tank I voted BLACK because it makes some of your corals really STAND OUT but I also like the Deep Sea Blue as a background. This one seems to make it more "realistic" in my eyes but my personal preference for "Showcasing" coral is Black. __________________ > > > >Read ME < < < < when you're in need of answers or help with your tank. *Live Rock Rubble will do the SAME thing as Bio-Balls and is NOT a suitable replacement for BIO-BALLS in a Reef System! It's ALL gotta go!!* Nitrate (NO3) reduction is directly proportional to percentage of Water Change. Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!! Big Al's 10g.... BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle.... Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef.... DIY LED Fixture - Allens OFFICE 12g by chipmunkofdoom2

08-14-2009, 05:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
Basile Golden Moray Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Gatineau/Ottawa canada Posts: 2,023 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Painting Back of Tank I had a biocube with a black bacground. In my new tank i'm going clear.For now the tank is cycling and not much in it. Its againts a white wall and the shimmering effect on the wall makes my rockwork stand out. I built mine, and knda branchs like features, through it the shimmering effect look like a cave is behind the rockwork with a light comming from above. The effect i find is more alive and the fish will swim in it as if going into back caves. The pipe work is at a minimum and it doen't really matter for me. My opinion may chage as its progress but for now i like it this way. __________________ My Rockwork* Macroalgae Club. My slow 65 g build up Combination fish and Anemone 65g- Aquamedic 2X250wMH-T5 -Recirculating Octopus 150DNW- 2X Vortech Mp40W gen2 powerheads-Eheim 1262 910GPH return - Little fishes Carbon&Phosban reactors,GHL controllers and Dosing pump and ME!

08-14-2009, 08:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
seafansar Reef Lobster Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Deltona, FL Posts: 1,612 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Painting Back of Tank I like black for the same reason as Allen. It really makes your corals and fish stand out and hides any cords behind the tank. But unless you are really good with upkeep, any background will be covered with coralline algae and then it doesn't matter! __________________ -Sara SW since Jan. '08 150 gallon SPS reef 45 gallon cube 150 tank thread 45 cube thread My Reefnook

08-14-2009, 08:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
zy112 Elegance coral Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 1,225 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Painting Back of Tank I think painting it black looks the best, just a lot more contrast. __________________ Zach

08-18-2009, 06:52 PM	#6 (permalink)
Blurp Tuxedo Urchin Join Date: May 2009 Location: Palau-solità i Plegamans, Catalunya Posts: 277 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Painting Back of Tank I prefer letting pink algae grow, more realistic, less work

08-18-2009, 07:18 PM	#7 (permalink)
Clownfish518 Razorback Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Bentonville, Arkansas Posts: 2,128 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Painting Back of Tank Painting the back of the tank causes a significant decrease in the amount of light in the tank. It is bad for corals - if you ever look at rock, the side near the paint is often white and that is a direct result of the paint. It adds more contrast, it looks better, but is not good for keeping photosynthetic critters There have been studies on this, and after painting tanks for 15 years I no longer do. Its clearly not good __________________ Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem - William of Ockham

12-09-2009, 02:39 AM	#10 (permalink)
WVUReefer Tuxedo Urchin Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Morgantown,WV USA Posts: 288 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Painting Back of Tank Never paint back..Even coralline on back glass can cause same negative efects as paint.

12-22-2009, 03:47 PM	#11 (permalink)
jcgardner Serpent Star Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: arizona Posts: 221 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Painting Back of Tank I didn't paint mine. I had a black background on it, but took it off sunday when I did the wc. This way I can see it from the kitchen as well. However if I leave it without a background I may have to replumb it because I don't like seeing the pvc.

12-22-2009, 04:48 PM	#12 (permalink)
Steven Pro Fire Coral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 80 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Painting Back of Tank I have seen some blue painted backgrounds I really liked and some that were truly awful. The wrong hue of blue can make a big difference.

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