Backround pictures in tank

[Shawna]

Are they really useful? Especially in a smaller tank? Do fish actually like them better then all around glass?

I have one. Very plain, and it actually matches the atmosphere in my tank, gravels the same colour as the picture. But I probably wouldn't have one if had been limited to the tacky ones they had at my local Walmart, my only LFS. :dance2: I was just wondering, because so many photos of everyones tanks are just all around glass.

 

[wataugachicken]

I don't know how it makes the fish feel, but i like it better. i got a national geographic with an article on the pacific reefs and cut out the pictures, then taped them together in the dimensions of my aquarium. it's pretty random, but it looks nice. gives a general "fishy" aura.

 

[pajankiegal]

They're useful in the sense that they add some beauty and a natural feeling to the tank..you could also use 'em to show off colors, like a school of neons against a black background and black gravel with natural green plants looks much better compared to too detailed a background. I'm not sure if that made too much sense though...lol xD Sorry. But another thing to keep in mind is that if you have a betta in a hex tank, a background emphasizes the betta's reflection, making him think there are prolly several other bettas out to get him.

 

[Bobafish]

I just used some black construction paper in my 10gallon as a background. I think it helps the look of the tank as well as making the fish feel more secure.

 

[WinterWind]

Since light can't enter from the back if you put a background, the fish will probably feel more secure. Other than that it's mainly aesthetic. I have a black background which I think adds depth to my tank, and looks pretty good with all the plants I have.

 

[Lobo.]

reflections won't happen if the background is a stick-on. in my 30 gal ive got a black background, i bought it at Aquatic Critter and makes the tank look cleaner, and the fish stand out (except my black angelfish lol) the fish feel safer in the back and because the background is attached to the tank there is no reflection that i know of.

 

[Emg]

I like some type of background on my tanks..because I don't want to have to look at all the wires and 'stuff' that hang down in the back. Really ruins the view of the tank IMO.

I usually pick plain black for a background, but I do have some that have natural type scenery. I would like to find some of the midnight blue backgrounds. I think that color really highlights a tank nicely...much better than that bright blue you usually find in the back of fish store tanks.

 

[fishyman45]

my lfs sells tons of natural backgrounds. i have a bushy one with a big driftwoof and bushy plants at the bottom and moss and tall plants in the back. looks real nice.

 

[id10t]

We just got a banner printer at work - it can do just about anything up to 5 feet wide (yes, 60") and 200 feet long (length of the paper roll). I made a quick royal blue to black gradient and printed it out to be just a tad bigger than the back of my 10gal - didn't look good so I got one of the dark blue solids from a LFS. I'm considering doing one with a funky background of some sort - but not too wild I don't think... and when I finally get my Big Tank setup I'll use a natural background to blend with the contents of the tank