Mylar

[Jag1980]

Any benifit to the aquarium plants when Mylar is used on the back and one side of the aquarium ?

http://www.planetnatural.com/site/image.html?sku=reflective-mylar

 

[WyldFya]

There would be a slight bonus, but you need good lighting, good ferts, and co2 ready before even needing the bother thinking about reflective sides. The bonus would be too slight to bother with though.

 

[Jag1980]

There would be a slight bonus, but you need good lighting, good ferts, and co2 ready before even needing the bother thinking about reflective sides. The bonus would be too slight to bother with though.

ok

The main part was I just wanted to add a background, I like the mirror look because it makes the tank look more open without seeing the other side of the tank. I was hoping to get something from it but it wasn't the main reason for wanting to use the Mylar.

 

[mgamer20o0]

i personally just like the black. i use to have reflective paper years ago behind a 20 gal. once i took it down i removed it. i got tired of it fast.

 

[Jag1980]

i personally just like the black. i use to have reflective paper years ago behind a 20 gal. once i took it down i removed it. i got tired of it fast.

I use to have black also, but I had air pockets behind it and looked like crap, that was long time ago though. Is there a trick to getting it to where there is no air pockets against the glass?
I plant to fill my tank in the back with pretty tall plants so it should cover up most of the mylar so I don't have to look at myself when viewing my fish

 

[movitt]

I use to have black also, but I had air pockets behind it and looked like crap, that was long time ago though. Is there a trick to getting it to where there is no air pockets against the glass?
I plant to fill my tank in the back with pretty tall plants so it should cover up most of the mylar so I don't have to look at myself when viewing my fish

i have heard of people using cooking oil so it wont get bubbles....but i wouldnt do that.....they have this product http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+6635+18280&pcatid=18280 and its on sale, it would work

 

[Jag1980]

Ahh cool thank you

 

[WyldFya]

A rolling pin works wonders. A white background will reflect quite a bit of light, and doesn't look nearly as bad. I have a mirror back tank (manufactured) and it drives me nuts. Black back is nice, but black does absorb light.

 

[Jag1980]

Well I looked at the mirror Mylar crap they had at the pet store today and your right, just from looking at it in the store it looked pretty cheap and lame so I didn't buy it. I'm sure a garden center Mylar would be a better quality but I don't like it anyway. The idea sounded cool and that's about it..
I was thinking about buying a piece of black poster board at Staples or something and use that as a background, but I had a better idea that just popped into my head about 30 Min's ago. I got some Black Garden Carpet in my garage, I cut out a quick piece as a tester to see how it would look and this is what it looks like.

It's only held up by 4 pieces of tape and it stays pretty much flat against the glass just hanging. You can see my filter smashing it against the glass... I used the more dull side instead of the shiny side and I think I get a better look by doing that, and it's only about $12 bucks for 50 feet of it

You see allot of too much detail when the flash hits it, without flash I see no flaws even with my face up to the glass, and it's a true black instead of a very dark gray like some backgrounds Looks gray from the flash.

What do you think?

And I bought 2 pieces of Malaysian driftwood today
I am buying lots more plants later

 

[WyldFya]

Black does absorb light, so you are going the opposite direction from mylar. White would reflect more light, but looks terrible IMO. Personally I'd go for a blue background.