Background Color on Tank

[rocklobster]

I currently have a 125 gallon with blue vinyl on the back of the tank, I'm not a big fan of it but I'd love to see some pictures of setups with it.

My question is, is there a specific background color that discus prefer? I read somewhere that a darker (especially black) background will bring out the peppering in pigeon bloods (and I have 6 pigeon bloods). Would something more natural be more beneficial than a solid color such as blue and black?

[aquadon2222]

I've got a black background and it seems to bring out the peppering on my pigeons. I'm actually trying to find a lighter background to see if it helps.

[timmy82]

Black will certainly bring out any peepering. Light to mid Blue normally is the peoples choice and White would be in 2nd maybe

[pastry]

I have brown-based reds and RTs with a black background. It seems to make them a little darker than I'd like and it's not my light set-up. I'm contemplating experimenting with spray painting different bed sheets with other, natural colors (a little lighter) to see if I can still retain a nice, subtle background without making their appearance dark. I have plenty of pics of my tank in a planted thread if you'd like to check it out.

I'm also not a fan of the blue but the blue and other plain lighter colors seem to really allow the colors to come out on a lot of different strains (at least that's my opinion)

[William Palumbo]

I have a terra cotta shade of orange painted on poster board on the back of the tank, and also on the bottom. Makes my blue fish "pop". Trying to see blue fish on a blue background never made much sense to me, so I stopped it awhile back...Bill

[rocklobster]

Thanks all!

What about the other two sides of the tank? Does everybody add the background to all three sides, or just on the background itself? Are there pros/cons to adding it to all three sides?

[BODYDUB]

Most people paint all three side of tanks with juvies in them to make them feel more secure. Honestly, I've seen black backgrounds with pigeon discus before with no peppering. But, alot of people say stay away from dark backgrounds with pigeon based discus. I use to have a black background when my fish were younger, but I switched over to ocean breeze...........

[rocklobster]

Most people paint all three side of tanks with juvies in them to make them feel more secure. Honestly, I've seen black backgrounds with pigeon discus before with no peppering. But, alot of people say stay away from dark backgrounds with pigeon based discus. I use to have a black background when my fish were younger, but I switched over to ocean breeze...........

Thanks for sharing! Are you currently using background for all three sides or just the back panel itself?

[BODYDUB]

Just the back itself..............

[LFCYNWA]

I have just recently changed to light blue and I am very happy with it but I have heard light grey or green is good too also heard don't use dark colour because of the peppering!

[DarinOverholser]

Here's my background. I'm sure the traditionalists hate it, but I think its fun. My kids love it or at least act like they do. I designed it myself and had it printed for about $50. It was printed on translucent paper, so the lights behind make it pop. I need some more Reds and yellows!
http://i.imgur.com/D332R7y.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/yimDyDU.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Ob59CsG.jpg

[Yong73186]

Recently just go "naked" n found out my tank looks pretty good with white wall!!!

[du3ce]

thats dope

[discuspaul]

Here's my background. I'm sure the traditionalists hate it, but I think its fun. My kids love it or at least act like they do. I designed it myself and had it printed for about $50. It was printed on translucent paper, so the lights behind make it pop. I need some more Reds and yellows!
http://i.imgur.com/D332R7y.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/yimDyDU.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Ob59CsG.jpg

Hey, that's different - but it looks good!
Bet it would look real nice with only solid red, or solid yellow discus.

[discuspaul]

I currently have a 125 gallon with blue vinyl on the back of the tank, I'm not a big fan of it but I'd love to see some pictures of setups with it.

My question is, is there a specific background color that discus prefer? I read somewhere that a darker (especially black) background will bring out the peppering in pigeon bloods (and I have 6 pigeon bloods). Would something more natural be more beneficial than a solid color such as blue and black?

My experience has been that a dark substrate has much more effect on peppering than a dark background. (Using both a dark substrate & dark background together is really bad news for peppering - LOL.)

I've not had any peppering on fish using a white sand substrate along with a med/dark blue background, although I feel it would be best to use a light colored substrate along with a light or pastel colored background, especially if you have Pigeons, or Pigeon-based fish.
I don't think that discus have a 'preference' as to background color, but there might be colors they feel more comfortable with - but we have no way to find that out, do we ?

If you care to see some pics using a dark blue background, here are some for you - 2 tanks, one a discus tank, and the other a small community tank, both with the dark blue background & white sand:

http://s1105.photobucket.com/albums/h357/discuspaul/3RedSnakeSkins
http://s1105.photobucket.com/albums/h357/discuspaul/Anubias