Stagnant water behind the 3D background?

[sashimimaster]

I've been reading a few of the background threads where people make or install pre-made backgrounds. It seems that it's supposed to be sealed to the tank with a void behind it. With water on both sides of the background and no circulation won't that create stagnant water?

 

[Natalie]

If you weren't able to seal it correctly, and water was just leaking behind and sitting there, yes it would get pretty stagnant.

What I plan to do with my 3d background is drill 2" hole in it and let water flow freely behind the background. I'm going to hide my canister filter intake behind the background, and I might add a powerhead too if water continues to be too still behind the background.

 

[elting44]

People will drill holes and cover with a strainer/screen and then have the filter intakes behind the background that way water circulates throughout the tank.

I read some a thread somewhere that someone packed the back with bioballs/sponge and set it up so that water would be drawn from one end of the tank to the other, thus creating more surface are for BB to grow

 

[sashimimaster]

I read some a thread somewhere that someone packed the back with bioballs/sponge and set it up so that water would be drawn from one end of the tank to the other, thus creating more surface are for BB to grow

That's a great idea but I would bet that there would still be some settling of detrius in slow moving areas.

Is there any way to install it so the bottom has a gap to allow more flow?

 

[JK47]

That's a great idea but I would bet that there would still be some settling of detrius in slow moving areas.

Is there any way to install it so the bottom has a gap to allow more flow?

I would advice against that. If the background is dependant on being above substrate some fish will redecorate the sand/gravel etc.. and could pile up and restrict flow. Besides I think it would bother you to look at. Kind of defeats the purpose of a background. I bought a background that had open areas through it and my plumbing behind. If you take your time planning it, the backgrounds will help your filtration and not hurt it. If your worried about bild up, put a powerhead behind it.