Black Backgrounds

[Lady G]

Old School: crinkled up aluminum foil painted black taped to the tanks frame. This allows for some depth as you can make caves and depressions in the aluminum foil.

LOL, that is what I have on my SW tank, except it not black, I used pink, blue, silver, black and purple...I know sounds terrible, but it turns out cool and the crinkles do make it nice and interesting!!!

Yes, Ricky...you do not notice the layers at all.

 

[Bloop]

I've used the structured black background available from Juwel in the past. Looks good but is nigh-on impossible to remove if stuck on properly. Plain black cartridge paper from an art shop (available up to A0 sizes pretty cheap) stuck on the outside rear glass works best for me.

 

[pcfriedrich]

I have been painting for years and IMO spraying is the only way to go. As long as you can do it outside. It's the only way to absolutely insure an even cover with no brush or roller marks.

wouldn't the brush or roller marks just turn up on the outside of the back of the glass you are painting? it seems that as long as the glass is flat, it shouldn't matter. I wouldn't really mind brush marks on the outside of the glass, you can't see it anyway; unless you are viewing the backside of the aquarium (and you can't see your fish from that angle, anyway).

 

[kendog1]

Wipe it down with turps or Methylated spirits if you want to clean it... and they both evaporate.

will either of those brake down silicon, just picked up a new tank and its painted like a sea foam green or something, and i cant stand it. Razor blade is working but not as easy as youd think

 

[Alan Russell]

You could also go to a auto parts store and buy window tint. and tint the back. Just an idea.

I tried that already. I can tint a car failrly well, but working with a 6ft piece of tint is impossible. A total disaster.

 

[killrmack]

i just spray painted the cardboard, of the box my tank came in, black and taped on the tank after it dried

i did the same thing to see if i like the tank with a black back ground and i liked it so much i left it

 

[ironmunki]

couple of my tanks came with black backgrounds from the factory. they looked so good i converted all my other ones to black too.

 

[Arachnar]

Some good ideas guys. I used paper before and liked that effect. I can't try anything else because I may have already put in rocks and sand in my tank and I don't feel like getting it out-whoops.

 

[hotsauce]

i love the black back jack without a smack they all should be black. but just remember...consider the fish to be placed in your confines. black fish+ black back= not too good unless...great lighting!!!!! black backs jack!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ok im sorry, that was so damn rediculous!

 

[mackattack702]

I helped paint a 6x6~ piece of glass when I was working at ace hardware. I bought one of the little test paint pods. 4 bucks, dark gray, covers 16 sq feet, latex perfect going to roll it on