candle wax

[Brachydanio]

I have just got a secondhand tank I wish to attach the background to the inside of the tank with candle wax.
Will this be safe for the fish?
will it even work?

Thank you in advance

 

[boozybears]

Hi Brachdanio... I'm really not sure how safe candle wax is for your fish. Instead, I'd suggest you do what me and most others in here have done - use clear tape and attach it to the outside of the tank. I've heard stories of the fish getting caught between the film and the wall of the tank if inside.

Good luck!
Val

 

[Fawke]

our lfs sells little double sided stickers, made for the purpose of sticking backgrounds inside the tank, its just like small lengths of double sided tape. you possition them evenly over the back of the background, making sure it is completly flat and the water pressure does the rest to make sure its held firmly in place

hth

 

[Liliano]

I would use double sided or clear tape and stick to the back - advantage here is that if you fancy a change you can just whip it off and put a different one on.

IMO - I would not put candle wax in as this is almost always oil based, also remeber that tropical tanks are "heated" and there is a good risk of the wax not quite solidifying, which will of course release the oils.

 

[Norf]

I agree.

I cant imagine that the oils will be held in the candle over time.

 

[Liliano]

However,

If you really really want the backing on the inside that a more suitable method of doing this would be to adhere the backing to the glass with a water proof sealant (the stuff that is in your tank anyway - might be silicon - not sure)

Then to seal around all the edges to ensure that fish cannot be trapped.

 

[love fishies]

I put my background on the outside of the tank with tape and the water got behind the background and looked horrible. I used adhesive spray, which is very easy to do and looks great, just make sure it is on outside of tank and you get all air bubbles out.

 

[Elisabeth83]

Hi,
I don't recommend putting your background inside your tank. I tried it and alage started growing on it. I took it out only after a short while...I can't imagine how much algae would of grown on it after a month or so. I bet it would be such a pain to take it out and clean it as well...I prefer to just tape mine on the back of my tank.

Good Luck

 

[Aquascaper]

I put my background on the outside of the tank with tape and the water got behind the background and looked horrible.

I find that taping all the way along the top and letting it hang down will prevent this happening. Then just a couple of bits of tape on the bottom corners to stop it curling up.