Tank background color and showing off fish color

[bonginator]

I am looking at new tanks and have found a pretty good deal on a tank with a mid blue background. I was hoping for clear but am wondering what a sapphire blue background will do in terms of muting the discus color or adding to peppering.

Anyone have tanks with this sort of background and what is your experience?

Any pictures so I can see for myself?

Thanks!

[Trier20]

76415
Like that?

[bonginator]

Yes - thanks! Are you happy with the blue background or would you prefer clear?

[discuspaul]

I'm real happy with my medium-ish blue background - I think it sets off the fish and plant colors very well.
I've tried many colors of background, but came back to blue.
Never had any peppering due to the white sand substrate.
Have a look:
http://s1105.photobucket.com/albums/h357/discuspaul/lolliblues2

[bonginator]

Pretty tank! What kind of lights do you have on that tank, discuspal?

[discuspaul]

It's a 75 gal tank, and I have low-med light - 2 X 39w T5 HO's - 7 hr. daily lighting period.

[DiscusLoverJeff]

Nice tank setup Paul and very nice pigeons.

[Trier20]

I like my blue I also have a green one I like a lot too. I just paint them on with spray paint or roll on

[Gethenet]

I love the painted on backgrounds. I have done this to my big display tank, however Im going to be redoing it shortly....was thinking of a slim 3d rocky background, with a white pool filter sand for substrate. anyone have any pro's and con's on this type of setup?

[discuspaul]

I've seen several tanks with that kind of set-up, and they look real good.

[Bill63SG]

I love the painted on backgrounds. I have done this to my big display tank, however Im going to be redoing it shortly....was thinking of a slim 3d rocky background, with a white pool filter sand for substrate. anyone have any pro's and con's on this type of setup?76425Here's mine with a slim-line.I like it for an upstairs tank.764267642776428I like a blue painted background on my breeders,growouts,but I like a white,of-white bottom.Blue bottom was too much for my taste.

[Gethenet]

76425Here's mine with a slim-line.I like it for an upstairs tank.764267642776428I like a blue painted background on my breeders,growouts,but I like a white,of-white bottom.Blue bottom was too much for my taste. nice display tank....where did you buy that slim line from? Cheapest I have found for my tank is $149...my tank is 48x28

[Bill63SG]

nice display tank....where did you buy that slim line from? Cheapest I have found for my tank is $149...my tank is 48x28Slimline BG's | Designs By Nature – 3D Aquarium Backgrounds.I forget what I paid,that tank is a 180,it wasnt cheap.

[vicdiscus]

Hey Discuspaul, your tank display is very nice and the background is pretty too dark for me but you are happy with your tank therefore you can't go wrong ;)

Hey Bill63SG Your other 10 tanks or more have back ground are light blue same colors as mine tanks. I think the best color is light blue or light green on background tanks that I used painted on back ground and both sides of tanks. The back ground looking good colors and the colors make very comfortable for my discus.

[Bill63SG]

I buy whatever blue is in the close-out section ,as long as not too dark,of my Home Depot.Thats why they all dont look the same.And thanks.

[twocat]

FIY
Menards has a off brand of spray paint that comes in white or black for .99.

[bearrock]

The problem with painting the back of the tank is how easily it scratches off. After having to re-paint my 75gal 5 or 6 times I decided to paint the back then run duck tape over it.....I have not had to re-paint since.

Thought this might help.

[Herbicidal]

I fell in love with the 3-D backgrounds. This one is from AquaTerra and all the equipment hides behind it. Only piece visible is a spray bar in the upper right side spraying the length of the tank. You can just see it in the second picture under the glass brace. This picture is more or less the center section of the aquarium.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/picture.php?albumid=8851&pictureid=9940

This picture was taken just over two years ago when I was setting it all up. Gives a partial view of the "behind the scenes".
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/picture.php?albumid=7500&pictureid=4685

[vicdiscus]

I fell in love with the 3-D backgrounds. This one is from AquaTerra and all the equipment hides behind it. Only piece visible is a spray bar in the upper right side spraying the length of the tank. You can just see it in the second picture under the glass brace. This picture is more or less the center section of the aquarium.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/picture.php?albumid=8851&pictureid=9940

This picture was taken just over two years ago when I was setting it all up. Gives a partial view of the "behind the scenes".
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/picture.php?albumid=7500&pictureid=4685

I love your 3D background! Your background is so magnificent. I would have it for my discus show but I don't. I am a serious discus breeder as I am an aquaculture tech.

[GrayLadyPat]

I love the 3D backgrounds...

When I set up my tank, I hadn't planned on Discus, so I went down to the LFS and bought a photoprinted background that was mostly plants and grasses to match my tank. The background in the photo is black.

Then, through circumstances beyond my control, I got discus. SURPRISE!

The new discus seem happy, and they look gorgeous (to me) so, I am in no hurry to change. I like the "plants" and they set off my real plants nicely.

[Gethenet]

I fell in love with the 3-D backgrounds. This one is from AquaTerra and all the equipment hides behind it. Only piece visible is a spray bar in the upper right side spraying the length of the tank. You can just see it in the second picture under the glass brace. This picture is more or less the center section of the aquarium.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/picture.php?albumid=8851&pictureid=9940

This picture was taken just over two years ago when I was setting it all up. Gives a partial view of the "behind the scenes".

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/picture.php?albumid=7500&pictureid=4685
I love this background! Question....is this background flexible? reason I ask is I have a thick center glass piece that I'm pretty sure will prevent me from installing anything that's not able to " flex" around

[Herbicidal]

I love this background! Question....is this background flexible? reason I ask is I have a thick center glass piece that I'm pretty sure will prevent me from installing anything that's not able to " flex" aroundThank you! No, it's not flexible. :( I have that center section too. I actually cut it into 3rds outside the tank and glued it back together in the tank. That first cut was a scary moment!

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/picture.php?albumid=7500&pictureid=4689

My first two sections reconnected. I used T-pins and rubber bands to hold them together after glueing them with black 100% silcone. This method worked perfectly! Very strong joint. Once all sections were back together (and cured), I moved it all on top of the pink foam for a nice snug fit against the top glass braces.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/picture.php?albumid=7500&pictureid=4691


I love your 3D background! Your background is so magnificent. I would have it for my discus show but I don't. I am a serious discus breeder as I am an aquaculture tech.Thanks for the compliment! I agree, not what you would want for serious breeding.

[jjgunshot]

how do you clean behind the 3d background?

[Herbicidal]

how do you clean behind the 3d background?Behind the background it is 'bare bottom', no sand or substrate. I placed two Korelia water circulation pumps behind the wall pointing in different directions. They move enough water around that for the most part, there is almost no "stuff" left sitting behind it. I don't care if any algae grows as I can't see it. Plus I have about a dozen Nerite snails that move between the front and the back, so they take care of most of what grows. It's been this way for over two years now. From time to time, I look behind it from the ends and it stays pretty clean. Both filter intakes are back there plus the heaters.

Here's a link to my on-going journal if you care to have a look: 155g Discus aquarium with AquaTerra 3D background (picture heavy). (http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?83201-155g-Discus-aquarium-with-AquaTerra-3D-background-(picture-heavy)/page22)

[crash7x7]

Beautiful tank background and plants. I've been using silk plants because of being nervous of real and vacuuming the bottom. If there were 2 or 3 plants which would you recommend. I'm also using a pool filtered sand. Thanks, Tom

[Herbicidal]

Beautiful tank background and plants. I've been using silk plants because of being nervous of real and vacuuming the bottom. If there were 2 or 3 plants which would you recommend. I'm also using a pool filtered sand. Thanks, Tom

I've switched to "silk" plants too, no more live plants. Too much work and the Discus are the real focus anyway. With that said, I've found some silk plants I like that are from National Geographic found at my local Petsmart.

[Hart24601]

Here was my rimless when I got some juvenile Han's discus to growout. Universal rocks background starboard bottom:

http://i1160.photobucket.com/albums/q492/Bret_Hartman/IMG_2594_zpsm2ngxkkx.jpg


http://i1160.photobucket.com/albums/q492/Bret_Hartman/1_zpscfmkhmse.jpg

Eating

http://i1160.photobucket.com/albums/q492/Bret_Hartman/IMG_2613_zpsmbkpeltx.jpg

[banks2]

Goooood morning,
I like the idea of the Starboard Bottom, where did you purchase it from and is it easy to cut and clean ??
Thanks

[Hart24601]

Just as easy to clean are bare glass. I got mine cut from TAP plastics. I forgot the thickness, but my rimless tanks have internal eurobracing so I got the thickness that matches it. Have to put a rock or rocks on as they float. I use starboard in every tank I want a white bottom, great stuff.