Super CHEAP black background!

[shelbyzman]

I was at the dollar store and was looking for a cheap black background for my tank.......and I found some landscaping fabric (stuff that keeps weeds out).

It was 4.99 for 50', so after my 6' background I still have 44' to use in the yard!

If you have much light behind your tank it may need to be doubled up since it is pretty thin.

It's not perfect, but gets the job done cheap and won't get messed up if it gets wet.

Here is a pic of my tank with the background installed

 

[tthanatoss]

Looks good, At the Dollar Store the other day I saw these interlocking plastic tiles meant to look like a stone walkway I thought would also make a great background with a little paint and imagination. Gotta love the dollar store for DIY.

 

[shelbyzman]

I think I know what your talking about. I had the same idea, but didn't want to spend quite that much.
The ones I saw were about $4 bucks for a square ( 16" squares I think).
So figure 6 foot tank 22" high it would take around 10 pieces / 4x10= $40.
It would probably look pretty cool

 

[Hap3niz]

awesome!!
i will be going to a dollar store today! lol

and i was extra cheap on mine.. spend .59 cents.. hahaha
i just bought a black posterboard... so far it's doing fine.. it has gotten wet.. but noo problem!

 

[shelbyzman]

awesome!!
i will be going to a dollar store today! lol

and i was extra cheap on mine.. spend .59 cents.. hahaha
i just bought a black posterboard... so far it's doing fine.. it has gotten wet.. but noo problem!

I was going to do the posterboard, but then I saw the landscape fabric so I went with it.

 

[ShipOfFools37]

i just use a single black sheet from walmart. I got a king size unfitted sheet for a dollar and some change and i've used it for 4 tanks, given they're all 50g or under, but it's cheap and water doesn't hurt it.

I got a little fancy and used velcro squares to attach at the sides so that there isn't any tape showing on the sides, and they're easily removed and i can use other backgrounds in the future or re-use those and whatnot. These might have cost me 3 dollars, but that was enough for 4 tanks.

 

[shelbyzman]

i just use a single black sheet from walmart. I got a king size unfitted sheet for a dollar and some change and i've used it for 4 tanks, given they're all 50g or under, but it's cheap and water doesn't hurt it.

I got a little fancy and used velcro squares to attach at the sides so that there isn't any tape showing on the sides, and they're easily removed and i can use other backgrounds in the future or re-use those and whatnot. These might have cost me 3 dollars, but that was enough for 4 tanks.

good idea.....I will have to try velcro as I don't like the tape I'm using!

 

[Finalfire9]

Black spray paint is 1$ a can at homedepot checkmate

 

[cudatim68]

Your tank looks great Shelby and that background came out great.
It's nice considering that it doesn't leave any crap on the frame. I painted a 90 once and decided to make a room divider and played hell getting the paint off the frame.

 

[chesterthehero]

lawn and leaf bags also work pretty good..