Tank Background

[tbui1178]

What's everyone's opinion on background colors for tanks? I was always under the assumption that if you wanted the color of your fish to "pop", a lighter background would help with this vs using a black background.

Anyone have experience?

[Totenkampf]

i feel that the black contrasts with the color better and adds more pop, i usually use black backgrounds and substrate for that reason

[eklikewhoa]

Depends on what you plan on keeping in there and what you like them seeing as far as color display.

Moba cyphos for example...

Light background/Blue = Strong defined white bars and lots of blue flashing.
Dark/Black = Deep blackness, less defined lines and crazy blue/purple color.

My Chibongbongs....

Light background/surroundings = lots of yellow, almost full yellow body and washed out brown color
Dark surroundings/background = Brown with hints of yellow and bits of highlights in the face and side flappy fins.

I prefer the dark color on my trophs but Thai has expressed his liking of the brighter yellow. My tank has light substrate and rocks with black background and when they are closer to the front of the tank they go full yellow and towards the back they get the dark brown with yellow markings on the face.

[sunkenmetal]

I agree with whats his face. It all depends on what you are going to keep in the glass box.

[aquabee]

Totally agree. My Moba fronts used to be a ridiculous blue with very black stripes on a black background and black substrate. The second they'd pass over a light colored stone, they'd lighten up their blues and blacks. Butterfly plecos stay black on a black background/substrate as well, and lighten up with lighter colors. And Sunny's trophs/petros look really nice against that crazy blue he's got in there.

I like my geophagus red heads against black so far but I can't help but wonder how they'd look with blue. Blue would make my silver dollars and roselines pop more too, I think.

[cu0ngsayz]

Depends on what you plan on keeping in there and what you like them seeing as far as color display.

Moba cyphos for example...

Light background/Blue = Strong defined white bars and lots of blue flashing.
Dark/Black = Deep blackness, less defined lines and crazy blue/purple color.

My Chibongbongs....

Light background/surroundings = lots of yellow, almost full yellow body and washed out brown color
Dark surroundings/background = Brown with hints of yellow and bits of highlights in the face and side flappy fins.

I prefer the dark color on my trophs but Thai has expressed his liking of the brighter yellow. My tank has light substrate and rocks with black background and when they are closer to the front of the tank they go full yellow and towards the back they get the dark brown with yellow markings on the face.

Agree with this one. My tropheus are the same. In front the get yellow and cherry color. In the back they get darker. They blend in with the surrounding I guess.

[eklikewhoa]

Oh and the L046 look muddy on dark sub, I had mine over black and white and they were kinda washed. Thai's is over light sub and his seem to be a lot cleaner white.

[tbui1178]

hmm.. decisions.. I have a black background, thinking about changing to something light and clean.

[aquabee]

hmm.. decisions.. I have a black background, thinking about changing to something light and clean.

If not blue, what were you thinking of having?

[eklikewhoa]

I always use thick cloth or felt from walmart, you could backdrop a tank for a few bucks and when water gets on it it doesn't adhere to the tank glass and change colors like the store bought backgrounds.

White is my all time fav but you gotta keep the glass clean for that

[tbui1178]

If not blue, what were you thinking of having?

[eklikewhoa]

If it's the fish in your sig I would do white

[tbui1178]

yea.. it's gonna be close to white.. Hope what I'm thinking about works right

I'll try to put it on the tank this weekend.

[aquabee]

Pics! I wanna see how this looks. :)

[ssrprelude]

Bee you've seen pics of it on the truck but Im sure you want an updated setup pic.