To Background or Not to Background :)

[nzafi]

So as part of my 535g (8x4x30in) build and I heavily torn between whether I got heavy minimalistic or if I just go all out on decorations. My ultimate goal is to have almost no maintenance on this tank but it will still be a show tank. I have several options I am considering:

Option 1
- Black background
- Paint the bottom a graphite/gray color
- No other decorations
- This will resort in no obstructions of flow and everything getting to the filters

Option 2
- Black background
- Sand substrate
- Debris will stay at the top and filters should still pick it up

Option 3
- Rock background from universal rocks (https://www.universalrocks.com/fish/backgrounds/rocky-style/various-sizes)
- Sand substrate
- Tree stump from universal rocks (https://www.universalrocks.com/fish/tree/stumps/tree-stump-008-ts-008)
- Big cost ($500+) but it will look nice

My concerns are the following:
- How many of you have kept backgrounds in the tank long term
- This is a big tank and the inhabitant is going to be a large aimara wolf fish. It is going to be a pain to tweak or do anything inside the tank
- The background will be siliconed in but with this being an acrylic tank I am worried the background will deteriorate overtime and trying to remove it will damage the acrylic.

Tank Setup:
- 8x4x30in (tall)
- Filters will be HMF corner filters with ultima 1000. THe ultima will have bottom drains which will need to be raised 6in off the substrate if I do sand
- Inhabitant will be 16-17in aimara but he will get big. I am planning on adding a schooling fish that stays small at some point

JasonsPlecosCichlids curious on your thoughts as you are the only person that has done both ultima and hmf filters. One downside of a background that comes to mind is that the HMF filters will probably be more pronounced than if done on a black background

 

[Steve_C]

I have 3d backgrounds in most of my tanks (I do them DIY myself). So I am very much of a fan of them so its obvious which option I would personally choose

Far as the durability of a background. They are extremely long lasting so I don't think you will find that to be a concern at all long as it's a quality background. I seal all mine with pond armor when they are done and I've got some that are well over 7 years old and still look good as the day I installed them. Not sure what universal rocks uses on theirs but I would have to imagine they would be just as long lasting.

The concern of being able to remove a siliconed BG from an acrylic tank is not an issue. It's actually just the opposite because silicone does not adhere all that well to acrylic. The BG in my 240g Acrylic I siliconed into place but I also had to use a few rocks pushed up against it to hold it in place firmly because of that reason.

 

[JasonsPlecosCichlids]

I say pass on the sand with the bottom drains, even at 6", once the wolf uses all the power, sand will be everywhere, including inside the ultima. I think you will need to give up some looks here and there to have both with less maintenance as possible. I'd go with option 3 if money isn't an issue since you want it to be a show tank, you can make a show tank with HMF, or you can pass on that and only use the Ultima but not on the floor, I would saw hide it within the background so all filtration is hidden, heaters behind the background as well.

 

[duanes]

First off filtration does not take the place of water changes, especially with large fish. So I believe the no maintenance part is not realistic.
I also consider only bottom drains, a less than desirable idea. The place where most proteins and the nearly invisible, most toxic waste products collect, is at the air water interface, so surface skimming is to me, much more important than the debris on the bottom. That's why, if there is no surface agitation, you can see the film and build up which blocks air exchange.
And just because you break that film up, and can't see it, doesn't;t mean those substances are gone, it just means they are pushed back into the water column.
Sure its great to get rid of feces and mum, but its the invisible stuff that most effects the health of an aquarium no matter how large.

 

[nzafi]

duanes waterchanges will be done via a 24/7 drip where I expect about 15-20% is changed daily. I can only bottom drill as the tank will be against the wall. The drains for the auto drip will have standpipe that set the water level. This will do some water skimming. With proper/significant circulation wouldn’t you still get the toxins from the surface into the filter?

 

[nzafi]

I say pass on the sand with the bottom drains, even at 6", once the wolf uses all the power, sand will be everywhere, including inside the ultima. I think you will need to give up some looks here and there to have both with less maintenance as possible. I'd go with option 3 if money isn't an issue since you want it to be a show tank, you can make a show tank with HMF, or you can pass on that and only use the Ultima but not on the floor, I would saw hide it within the background so all filtration is hidden, heaters behind the background as well.

I’d have to look into how to use the background to hide everything. I’m guessing this is doable if you do a thicker background using some sort of foam. The only I’m not comfortable with doing ultima only is because if anything goes wrong with the filter/pump you’re screwed. It’s nice having that redundancy. Originally I wanted to run 2 ultimas but my wallet isn’t big enough.

 

[slipshodman]

I vote option 1

nice and clean and the tank will be all about the fish

 

[jaws7777]

I have a 3d backeound from them. I like it but tbh prefer the look of a black pained backround

 

[OnceLoyal]

Universal did my waterfall for my pool with same basic material. I had it almost 8 years I guess give or take. Heavy chlorine, sun, hurricanes, etc. Sold the house, but still looks as good or better than day I put it in.
I just installed one on my 8ft. My 1st. I like how it looks and used silicone. I can't tell you how it will hold up. I assume for over a decade at least. Make sure you wash it very, very well as it clouded my tank. (At least I am pretty sure that's the culprit).
Now, when Ii had my tank built I wish I would've gotten the black background. I am not sure if I would still go with a rock background or not. Tough call. I don't think I would be concerned with longevity though. Just my .02

 

[nzafi]

Universal did my waterfall for my pool with same basic material. I had it almost 8 years I guess give or take. Heavy chlorine, sun, hurricanes, etc. Sold the house, but still looks as good or better than day I put it in.
I just installed one on my 8ft. My 1st. I like how it looks and used silicone. I can't tell you how it will hold up. I assume for over a decade at least. Make sure you wash it very, very well as it clouded my tank. (At least I am pretty sure that's the culprit).
Now, when Ii had my tank built I wish I would've gotten the black background. I am not sure if I would still go with a rock background or not. Tough call. I don't think I would be concerned with longevity though. Just my .02

So youre saying that you would rather have a black background that what you have done in your current tank?

The other idea I am tossing around is that I can do that tree stump against a black background and just forget the rocky background. That would probably look really good too.

I think the harder decision is with the sand. If I don't do substrate, I feel awkward putting any kind of tree/branches decoration. Feels like it would be out of place.