Mirror for a background?

[Blue Lobster]

I was thinking of putting a mirror inside my tank as the background to make it appear deeper and just to have something different. I can get some mirrored plexi-glass pretty cheap. Any pros/cons to this idea?

 

[Raechal]

I once had a large mirror hanging behind my tank so the fish could see their reflections in the tank. Most of the fish didn't even notice it. The ones that did would just kind of follow themselves around then get bored and do something else. It didn't really effect my fish in a negative way so I don't see any problems with it, but I am not 100% sure.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

well, don't do it if you have a betta! they'd wear themselves out, i imagine.

i think the mirror idea is mostly dependent on how aggressive your fish are. probably its a bad idea with anything aggressive and definitely anything aggressive to conspecifics (bettas, most cichlids, many puffers, etc.)

whatcha got in there?

EDIT:

oo! just saw that little word "inside"... unless you know for a fact that the metallic backing is non-corrosive in water, i'd not put it in the tank. especially if you're using any salt in the water (saltwater has different corrosive effects from water, and generally accelerates the process). maybe putting it up against the back glass; that would also make it easier to remove if it stresses anything.

 

[rdd1952]

I have a betta with fin rot that I am beginning to believe is from stress from constantly seeing his reflection in the side of the tank since the tank sits on a counter with a dark green back splash background. I guess it could bother any fish that is highly territorial as they would see their reflection as a rival.

 

[nc_nutcase]

I think it's a creative idea and would encourage you to try it out for a short time. I also agree with pica_nuttalli that putting it inside may cause a corrosion issue. I would say try putting it on the outside of the back glass. That way if there is some issue you (and we) overlooked, it will be much easier to remove.

Also post your results. Because some of us are pricing mirrors while you try it out! lol.

 

[rdd1952]

If you ever take photos of your fish you would probably need to remove it or you will be taking a photo of yourself. But the good side is that the tank would be twice as deep and you would have twice as many fish swimming around.

 

[nc_nutcase]

LMAO!!! Rdd doesn't want to see pictures of you Blue!!

 

[DannyBoy17]

This would drive my fish up the wall! I keep cichlids, and Im willing to bet they'd swim up and down infront of it, trying to bit their relections.

nc!

--Dan

 

[SuckerLove86]

I've noticed that the walls of all of my aquairums are already reflective, looking from the outside to the inside (ex., looking from the front of the aqaurium to one of the sides, you can see a reflection of tank decor and fish). I don't know if this property changes or not if you're inside the aqaurium, but based off the behaviour of some fish, I think the walls are still at least semi-reflective from inside the aqaurium.

I think a mirror is something that the fish would get used to having around... but like others said, use caution with territorial/aggresive fish...

 

[CathyG]

Personally, I think that putting a mirror there will make your tank look like fish soup. It won't really add to the depth in a positive way because of the distortion caused by the water, but it will give you the sense that you are more stocked, and the tank is busier, than it actually is. I think, like anything, a sense of space is achieved when it is not reflecting clutter. Just my opinion, though

 

[One_Trick_Pony]

you coul always try fesenign it onto the back outside wall as with otehr abckgorunds with some silicon or soemthing

 

[Yenko]

It might stress some fish. If you have non-agressive schooling fish, it should be fine. It would look interesting, and may make the tank look deeper and schools of fish look larger.

 

[Dwarfs]

If you plan on keeping schooling fish then they would probably love a mirror in the back. They wuld be tricked into thinking there were twice as many of them, making them feel more secure

 

[BettaMomma]

rdd1952 Posted: Mar 9 2005, 09:21 PM

If you ever take photos of your fish you would probably need to remove it or you will be taking a photo of yourself. But the good side is that the tank would be twice as deep and you would have twice as many fish swimming around.

That's quite possibly the funniest thing I've read in a while.
Just that it was so matter-of-factly stated.
mucho hilariouso! heh heh

 

[Candyco]

so.... not with agressive fish? I suppose it would be a bad idea in with my Red Bellies Piranhas then wouldn't you say!
Apart from that... i had a mirrored tank once.... it looked lovely, especially with a bubble wall at the back of the tank. Never seemed to bother my community tank... in fact... they were the healthiest batch of fish i ever kept until the bottom of the tank cracked in the middle of the night and they all died

Kaz x-x-x-x-x