Background color options

[rickztahone]

Re: Background color options

Or you can cut it in sections. Check out Joey's socal meet video and he shows how he had to cut his background in 3 places

[scuba nat]

Re: Background color options

WOW, I would love one but they're so expensive for a 125 gallon!
I found a cheaper one on amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...A1NM4RDQ2CL96Q

[tvo]

Re: Background color options

hi Everyone,
I'm setting up a new 75g tank with universal rocks 3D background. It is still in the refining stage so no fish are in it.
Now, I thought I had silicon seal the 3D background edges and crevices pretty good, but after a water test last night, water was still able to get in behind the background.
Since then I've read several comments on stagnant water and how it can alter the water chemistry. Does anyone have a similar issue and can share their experience over time?

[Woodduck]

Re: Background color options


Living proof that you most certainly CAN spray paint inside your tank. I completely repainted this background with olive drab, flat black and tan Krylon Fusion Paint. That's Star Board on the bottom. 96' x 27' x 27" 1147 liter.

[Woodduck]

Re: Background color options

Red Eagle from Kenny's Discus

[Woodduck]

Re: Background color options

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Living proof that you most certainly CAN spray paint inside your tank. I completely repainted this background with olive drab, flat black and tan Krylon Fusion Paint. That's Star Board on the bottom. 96' x 27' x 27" 1147 liter.

I drilled exactly 100 7/16" holes in this background. High and low. The trick is to place them where they won't show. NO stagnant water here. Behind the background next to the overflows (far left, far right), I have two pythons with short hoses sucking from the bottom and going over the overflow's edge. When changing water you don't even have to turn off the return pumps (3).

[tvo]

Re: Background color options

I drained the tank earlier and noticed water in back wall also drained out along with the rest of the tank water. This was a good sign. I figured at first, water must've gotten in from the top through the overflow and get trapped. That would be bad.
Given the amount of water I plan on changing daily, hopefully everything will work out. In the long run though, buildup and stuffs, I'm not so sure.

[rickztahone]

Re: Background color options

I drained the tank earlier and noticed water in back wall also drained out along with the rest of the tank water. This was a good sign. I figured at first, water must've gotten in from the top through the overflow and get trapped. That would be bad.
Given the amount of water I plan on changing daily, hopefully everything will work out. In the long run though, buildup and stuffs, I'm not so sure.

with frequent WC's, you should be fine. If you've ever looked at an HOB, you will see that when you turn it off, the water drains. There will be water remaining however. Over time, this area becomes very dirty and requires cleaning, even though you regularly turn it off and on and new water flows through it. An enclosed area behind your background will not be any different. Eventually a whole bunch of gunk will start gathering back there and will contribute to nitrate build up.

I would imagine that after a while of having this background, you will notice slightly higher nitrates even after a fresh WC's. I'm not sure how to fix this to be honest, but I believe this is what will eventually happen. I don't believe it will be overly detrimental, but I do believe this accumulation of gunk is not necessarily ideal.

When I installed my background, I made sure i siliconed all around the background. I over did it, but I did that on purpose. I never got water back there and never had problems in the 2 yrs it was running.

You can see my background in either of the threads in my signature.

[tvo]

Re: Background color options

Thanks Rick, for the comments.
My 75g is very much similar to your setup. Well, i didn't use the whole silicon tube, only half, so water was able to get back there. lol
I get what you saying about the HOB filters though. My current discus setup (for 2yrs) is a reef ready tank with a column built-in overflow, so obviously there are build ups, etc in there as well.

[HappyFace]

Re: Background color options

So cool. Makes me want another tank just so I can put one of these backgrounds in.

We have a bristle nose pleco that cleans our textured overflow box and slate bottom in our koi tank so they are beautiful, look brand new. We also have a bristle nose plec in our discus tank. It cleans the smooth black overflow box and the tile bottom. I still need to scrub the discus tile bottom and bleach the white plastic rock weekly only because they're white and it's impossible for a pleco to keep it pristine like I want it.

[Discluv]

Re: Background color options

Frosted window film. It is called "Ricepaper"

[HappyFace]

Re: Background color options

Frosted window film. It is called "Ricepaper"

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Very pretty! It almost looks like fog.

[Angie1403]

Re: Background color options


Ordered a new tank for discus which will be my first for the species so very excited. My local aquatic supplier offers pre-fitted external backgrounds in blue & black. An old thread on SD mentions the risk of peppering when using black backgrounds, something Ive also heard elsewhere and have seen on fish myself. Some members on an old thread had posted pics of all kinds of backgrounds including yellow and lavender! I’m interested in either a (grass) green background or frosted background as is commonly used in paludariums. My main concern with background is finding the best option for displaying a variety of different colour ways of discus and I’m not sure a blue background will do turquoise variants any favours. The tank will have bogwood with rhizome type plants that will grow without soil so that I can maintain a bare bottom but won’t be so heavily planted the background disappears (the bottom will need its own colour planning no doubt!). Thoughts, suggestions n pics would be welcome

[JeffK44]

Re: Background color options

How did you attach this to your tank? Did you have to tape it?

[Angie1403]

Re: Background color options

Rick, if you’re asking me my backgrounds have all been pre attached at build stage. The opaque and colour backgrounds mentioned by other posters can be replicated using window privacy film or fablon/dc-x type products. If you have a credit card and some washing up liquid, they go on very easily