What kind of tank background do you use?

I took a poster memorializing the Korean War (it was free), cut it down to size, and taped it to the back of my tank. You can (somewhat) see it at http://Lesbionchap.yafro.com

It was free. It was easy. And it hides all the wires and tubes I have running behind my tank.
 
A roll of the stuff that walmart sells in the fish section for the 55. I let my 11 year old pick it out and am happy with it. It's just a regular fake plant pattern with blue above it. I have a simliar background on the 10. My 2.5's are in front of Austrailia and Oceania on my giant wallmap (4x6 foot) above my desk, so they have an Ocean background I guess ;) of a sort anyway.
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I really like the printed vinyl backgrounds however, I just set up a new tank and can't for the life of me remember the best way to get it to look right! First I just taped it to the back and it was so dark you could barely see it. Then I tried wetting it and that worked great for a short time but once the water starts drying out it gets nasty bubbles in it and looks just awful. What is the trick to it looking nice? I had one on a beautiful tank I use to have years ago, however, an old friend set that one up for me and I'm not sure what he did to make it look so pretty...nor am I in contact with him any longer to find out what he did. Can someone please help??

Thanks!
 
I'm surprised everyone posting has a background. I don't, I like to see through the tank...

Also, a fish tank is a display... the only reason to have a backdrop is if it is against the wall (and even then I prefer to see through). I think a tank should be visible from more than one approach, otherwise you remove the dimensionality of the viewing experience. That's one reason I also like hex tanks (but I hate it when they're stuck in the corner, you should be able to walk around a nice hex).

I find most plant backgrounds to be even tackier than plastic plants. If anything I would go with a solid color or something different (I liked the mention/idea of a map, a politician I know has a tank in his house with a little presidential podium in it and it looks like the presidential seal backdrop for press conferences :D very amusing).
 
Black. I always use black posterboard. It's cheap and waoks well.


Abraham
 
Those that have used paint on the back of their tanks. What kind of paint? Brand? Color?
 
Right now I use the rolled background you buy at the LFS. Both my 50 and my 20 share the same design of amazonian plants.

My 250 has plant design I didn't care to much to look at, untilk it was set: it's composed of garden plants! :eek: :eek: I've recogniuzed 3 different plants my mom used to have at her house. When I realized that, the tank was filled and I had no will to take it off.

I was wondering how good would a tank look like if I use a map as background.
 
blue insulation board

I use a blue insulation board, since most of the tanks are discus tanks and they are at higher temps than non-discus tanks. This way, I spend a bit less on heating and if the power goes out it cools a bit slower.
 
Thanks for suggestion of the sign shop. I've looked at every pet and fish store in the area for the Oceanvisions, and I'm not about to pay shipping to mail order 2 feet of it!

For those of you who paint the tanks, can you get the paint off later if you need to?
 
Black. As I'm re-setting up my tanks, I'm switching to this new black stuff. I don't know what it's really used for (also comes in blue, white, red and yellow). It's plastic but looks like corrugated cardboard. I like its thickness and that it stands up itself, unlike paper. I was concerned about its lines (just like cardboard looks) but through the tank they are virtually unnoticeable.
 
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