Aquarium Backrounds

[coyemuse]

Do you add the stick-on aquarium backgrounds to your tank? Or do you use something else? Nothing? Is there any benefit to the fish, or is it purely decoration for the keepers?

 

[fluttermoth]

There is definitely a benefit to fish.

In the wild, most of our fish hug the edges of the rivers, lakes and streams rather than swimming out in the open, so having some kind of background on the tank helps them feel more secure and less nervous.

I have a 3d backgorund in one of my tanks, which does look lovely, but can be expensive. All the others just have plain black (bin liners ); cheap, cheerful and more effective than it sounds

 

[TomShootsPhoto]

I had stick on... The only problem with those is that they don't stick to the glass, so the background is dark. You can spray water on them, but it only stick temporarily and it's not so good. There is some substance you can buy which sticks it to the glass tough. Check youtube and google for that.

Backgrounds are mainly used to add some depth to the tank, and to cover up the cables and equipment behind the tank. It also calms fish down. But It's mostly decoration.

Some people like the back uncovered, which gives the tank a clean look, and makes the fish look like they are floating. Most tanks are sprayed (painted) with black or blue, and is permanent.

The background really depends on what your fish are like and how you aquascape! Hope it helped!

 

[Torred1771]

Does the sticky substance really work though?

 

[Lufbramatt]

painted the back of my tank black with gloss paint. no messing around with glue/oil to get a background to stick. just scrape it off with a razor blade if you fancy a change, the paint doesn't affect the glass in any way.

 

[LucyB]

I use a black bin liner...

 

[CezzaXV]

I've got some blue fabric. I started off with the stuff you get cut off a roll, but I often found water would get between it and the back of the tank and it looked awful. With the fabric, the air can get to it so the water can dry off if any does get down there. Genius!

 

[gearhead65]

I'm currently making my own 3-d background for my new 60g. Have a blue plastic background on my 30g that I just taped around the edges. Worked great. My 60g will have a black background to darken the areas that the 3-d background doesn't cover (around the intake tube, etc).

 

[Twinklecaz]

The sticky stuff does work. I've got this stuff ---> http/www.charterhouse-aquatics.co.uk/catalog/backgrounds-adhesive-c-450_974.html

Worked for me but you have to use quite a lot and spend time making sure you apply it smoothly with no bubbles or it will bug the c**p out of you forever!

 

[ATK!!!]

The sticky stuff does work. I've got this stuff ---> http/www.charterhouse-aquatics.co.uk/catalog/backgrounds-adhesive-c-450_974.html

Worked for me but you have to use quite a lot and spend time making sure you apply it smoothly with no bubbles or it will bug the c**p out of you forever!

Agreed, that stuff works, I used it too, however my background has now expanded because of the warmth of the water and its got loads of creases so beware!!