Tank background colour for monster fish?

[14crazychris]

Hi everyone,

still in the planning phase of my monster fish aquarium. I have a black grow out tank currently which is around 170 us gallons and then plan to upgrade to a larger tank of around 300 gallons. Can anyone help give some positives and negatives for background colour? The two tank finishes I’m looking at are below. The Tank will likely be fully bare, and I’ve seen lots of white tanks which really make the fish pop, am I just asking for a disaster trying to clean it though? Any advice for black or white finish would be much appreciated. Planned stocking will be something like arowana, BD stingray, datnoid and Tigrinus catfish etc.

Thank you

 

[duanes]

same fish immediately above and below



again next 2 pics, same species fish in both pics, 1st pic dark background, 2nd light background.
Its also about how easily algae dirties the back (as you can see in the 1st Herichthys shot in a light background.
If you don't mind scrubbing algae, that may be moot
And.... some fishes natural colors wash out placed in a light background.

 

[14crazychris]

View attachment 1473957
View attachment 1473958
View attachment 1473959
same fish immediately above and below
View attachment 1473960
View attachment 1473961
View attachment 1473962
again next 2 pics, same species fish in both pics, 1st pic dark background, 2nd light background.
Its also about how easily algae dirties the back (as you can see in the 1st Herichthys shot in a light background.
If you don't mind scrubbing algae, that may be moot
And.... some fishes natural colors wash out placed in a light background.

interesting that’s good to know thank you, I guess the downside of the light background definitely would be the constant cleaning. I would also guess the fish may seem more secure in the darker background and have more vivid colouration like in your pictures.
thanks

 

[esoxlucius]

Go black, definitely. My 360g fibreglass tank, very similar to your top picture, has a black interior. It has been running for just over two years and there is a noticeable green "stain" throughout. It's not unsightly and doesn't bother me one bit but that stain would be much much worse I reckon if it wasn't for a single bristlenose pleco I have in there.

If I had gone white that stain would look horrendous by now, even with the pleco keeping it down to a minimum. And I think a black background with decent lighting will make your fishes colours show just fine.

 

[14crazychris]

Go black, definitely. My 360g fibreglass tank, very similar to your top picture, has a black interior. It has been running for just over two years and there is a noticeable green "stain" throughout. It's not unsightly and doesn't bother me one bit but that stain would be much much worse I reckon if it wasn't for a single bristlenose pleco I have in there.

If I had gone white that stain would look horrendous by now, even with the pleco keeping it down to a minimum. And I think a black background with decent lighting will make your fishes colours show just fine.

yeah I think you’re right, I think black is best. I can always add a white substrate if needed which might look nice and be appreciated by the ray etc. May I ask what fish you have in your 360gallon?
thanks

 

[esoxlucius]

yeah I think you’re right, I think black is best. I can always add a white substrate if needed which might look nice and be appreciated by the ray etc. May I ask what fish you have in your 360gallon?
thanks

1 Giant gourami, 1 lemonfin barb, 1 tinfoil barb, 5 bala sharks, 3 cigar barbs, 6 filament barbs and a single bristlenose.

 

[14crazychris]

1 Giant gourami, 1 lemonfin barb, 1 tinfoil barb, 5 bala sharks, 3 cigar barbs, 6 filament barbs and a single bristlenose.

View attachment 1473994

awesome thanks for sharing ?

 

[FrostyAlexis5656]

Selling ?

 

[jjohnwm]

I've tried the odd tank with blue or green backgrounds; never liked them. My most recent 360-gallon build was painted a medium-dark blue, which I regretted almost instantly and eventually changed to black. I know I keep reading how some fish "pop" against a light or white background, and how many fish are too dark when kept in front of black...but personally, I don't think I have ever seen a fish that didn't look better and more dramatic in front of a black background, given adequate illumination.

Dark blue or dark green might be okay; but white? Utterly hideous, IMHO. Even worse when covered with algae...and worse still in a barren tank with no decor; many fish species will never be completely stress-free in such conditions and will never look their best or behave naturally.

Will a fish in a white tank "pop"? Well, of course it will; it will likely be washed-out and pale, but will still contrast starkly with a pure white background; so what? A cockroach crawling across a wedding cake would also stand out in stark contrast...but that doesn't make it attractive. YMMV.

 

[tlindsey]

Planned stocking will be something like arowana, BD stingray, datnoid and Tigrinus catfish etc.

Personally don't think it will matter with those fish. If it was cichlids I would say black.