Background color for views cichlids

[FishKing5]

Hey all. I’m starting up a vieja synspilum tank and was wondering if anyone had any experience using a white or frosted white color background with these fish. I love the frosted backgrounds and use them on a lot of my Aquascape style tanks. I was just wondering if a lighter background would make the synspilums colors not pop as much. I know with my discus thrower color pops really well with it so would imagine the same would hold true with the synspilum.

 

[..puSkar..]

I don't think they'll go complete bland, but lighter colour may get the colours not POP as much. I'd say maybe a grey or a bluish background would be good with natural coloured sand. ?

 

[tlindsey]

I personally would do a dark background like black with Synsplilum. Also substrate shouldn't be too light.

 

[duanes]

Because I normally get tanks used, I have had many colored backs.
I prefer black for all cichlids, even the dark ones, it seems to bring out the color in colorful species.
In the states I spray painted a piece of styrofoam, and taped it to the back for the color, and to add insulation.
White usually washes them out.


I find lighter colors tend ro suppress or compete with color, even in very colorful species

and to me blue always appears artificial



But you be the judge

 

[Rocksor]

My green terror turned very pale with a light green tint with a white background when in quarantine. I would imaging the vieja would do the same.

 

[FishKing5]

Hmmmm maybe I’ll just need to order another aqua decor background and make it look super natural

 

[FishKing5]

Or I may do a black background with large boulders that will take up a lot of that background. The tank is a 120 gallon fatboy. Then will add driftwood and branches for a natural look

 

[RAB60]

maybe a grey or a bluish background would be good

Nearly every fish store I have visited over the years have blue painted tanks, maybe they do this to make the fish look more attractive ?

 

[..puSkar..]

Nearly every fish store I have visited over the years have blue painted tanks, maybe they do this to make the fish look more attractive ?

Yes it is. Imo blue is a neutral colour for fish cause with a blue background no fish gets too dark or too light .
Some fishes like discus may get pepper black with black background + a black background makes the tank a bit dark so blue is mostly preferred by stores.
But I consider the blue as a very fake colour for fish. I either go black or brownish.

 

[FishKing5]

Definitely not doing a bluish. I’m putting together a very natural Biotope type aquarium with logs, boulders and branches along with an extra aquadecor tree trunk root I have so I’ll probably go with black to make it look as natural as possible.