Black background or Busy background?..... - Page 3 - Aquarium Advice

09-01-2006, 09:16 AM

busy and black, same tank.

Alshain · 09-01-2006, 09:48 AM

Because of your fish, the busy loosk better for yours. Blackskirts blend into the black background. Also, you managed to find a busy background that fits the tank (very hard to do sometimes). Black background is definately better for Blue, Red, Orange or Yellow and maybe Purpel fish.

JRagg · 09-01-2006, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alshain

Because of your fish, the busy loosk better for yours. Blackskirts blend into the black background. Also, you managed to find a busy background that fits the tank (very hard to do sometimes). Black background is definately better for Blue, Red, Orange or Yellow and maybe Purpel fish.

Agreed, that busy background looks good behind a planted tank. Probably the first busy one I've ever liked

.

7Enigma · 09-01-2006, 10:02 AM

I picked up a busy background from PetSmart that I feel works better than a black or no background, but it definately depends on the specific tank. I feel moderate/heavily planted tanks look much more "real" with a busy background than a less planted or bare setup. First pic is very lightly planted, second pic is after a good growout. The other thing that makes busy backgrounds look good and not take away from the real fish and plants IMO is to have a small amount of algae on the back glass. It increases the depth of the tank because its not quite in focus and doesn't draw as much attention away from the inhabitants.

09-01-2006, 12:12 PM

i agree, the busy background looks much better on my 55. and that second tank shot of 7's looks excellant, nice full planted tank imo.

btw, if you go into an lfs and ask for a 'busy background', will they look at you funny? hi, im shopping for busy backgrounds today, lol.

Lonewolfblue · 09-01-2006, 12:23 PM

Another thing for sanding the glass, you are painting the outside of the tank, so the scratched glass is going to show on the inside of the tank. That is why I did not sand mine either. And with higher lighting, it makes the scratches stand out more from reflections off the scratches.

maxwell1295 · 09-01-2006, 02:34 PM

Yeah, I didn't quite understand the the sanding idea either. I've always used black spray paint......that is, until more recently when I started using latex paint and a roller. It takes a few coats, but there are no fumes, no smell, and it looks great. Plus, you can do it with the fish in the tank without fear of killing them.

Alshain · 09-01-2006, 03:40 PM

Keep in mind, the camera itself will blend the background into the foreground. When your in front of the tank you can see the difference much clearer.

<---- My avatar is a busy background, it looks great in the pic but I don't really like the way it looks in real life.

Codefox · 09-01-2006, 04:27 PM

Yeah, busy backgrounds tend to look far better in pictures than in real life. They look incredibly fake to me when you see them on the tank. I had a busy background but it looked really tacky with the live plants. I'll try putting some black behind the tank to see how it looks but the plant cover at the back is really getting so thick that I'm not sure it matters

**Purrbox** · 09-01-2006, 04:52 PM

I personally think that the plain black background looks better. It gives great depth to the tank and you don't have to worry about what's actually in the tank suffering by comparison. JMO.

09-01-2006, 10:02 AM	#24
7Enigma Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Havertown, PA Posts: 2,624 Images: 5	I picked up a busy background from PetSmart that I feel works better than a black or no background, but it definately depends on the specific tank. I feel moderate/heavily planted tanks look much more "real" with a busy background than a less planted or bare setup. First pic is very lightly planted, second pic is after a good growout. The other thing that makes busy backgrounds look good and not take away from the real fish and plants IMO is to have a small amount of algae on the back glass. It increases the depth of the tank because its not quite in focus and doesn't draw as much attention away from the inhabitants. __________________ 20G High -Currently in tank: 1 checkered barb, 1 cory, 1 BN pleco, MTS, variety of platy (fry, juvi, adult), lots of plants. http://www.photolocker.net/images/7Enigma/milfoil2.jpg

09-01-2006, 12:23 PM	#26
Lonewolfblue Planted Geek Community Mentor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 7,871 Images: 7	Another thing for sanding the glass, you are painting the outside of the tank, so the scratched glass is going to show on the inside of the tank. That is why I did not sand mine either. And with higher lighting, it makes the scratches stand out more from reflections off the scratches. __________________ 26G Medium Planted Community - 65W CF Lighting - Emperor 280 Bio-Wheel - Established Feb 2004 55G Aggressive Community - Filstar XP3 - Established Dec 2005 75G Heavily Planted - Pressurized CO2, 520W Lighting, Filstar XP3 with spraybar - Established Feb 2006 29G Planted - 130W Lighting, Filstar XP2 with spraybar - Established May 2006 5 10G Tanks - Various setups - Tanks Established May-Sep 2006. 3 currently empty. 5.5G Crypt/Java Fern Tank - Established Oct 2006 My 29G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=78469 My 75G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=70764 My 75G Makeover Thread: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=87691

09-01-2006, 02:34 PM	#27
maxwell1295 Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 887 Images: 7	Yeah, I didn't quite understand the the sanding idea either. I've always used black spray paint......that is, until more recently when I started using latex paint and a roller. It takes a few coats, but there are no fumes, no smell, and it looks great. Plus, you can do it with the fish in the tank without fear of killing them. __________________ 125G Mostly Malawi Tank 75G Malawi Mbuna 7G Office MiniBow 125 Gallon Mixed African Thread, 75 Gallon Mixed Malawi Thread

09-01-2006, 04:52 PM	#30
Purrbox Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Iowa USA Posts: 5,441	I personally think that the plain black background looks better. It gives great depth to the tank and you don't have to worry about what's actually in the tank suffering by comparison. JMO. __________________ ~Joy 10 Gallon Planted Photo Log - 5.5 Gallon Planted Photo Log - 2.5 Gallon Planted Photo Log - Pico Planted Photo Log

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09-01-2006, 09:16 AM	#21
Guest Posts: n/a	busy and black, same tank.

09-01-2006, 09:48 AM	#22
Alshain Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Tyler, TX Posts: 807 Images: 4	Because of your fish, the busy loosk better for yours. Blackskirts blend into the black background. Also, you managed to find a busy background that fits the tank (very hard to do sometimes). Black background is definately better for Blue, Red, Orange or Yellow and maybe Purpel fish.

09-01-2006, 12:12 PM	#25
Guest Posts: n/a	i agree, the busy background looks much better on my 55. and that second tank shot of 7's looks excellant, nice full planted tank imo. btw, if you go into an lfs and ask for a 'busy background', will they look at you funny? hi, im shopping for busy backgrounds today, lol.

09-01-2006, 03:40 PM	#28
Alshain Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Tyler, TX Posts: 807 Images: 4	Keep in mind, the camera itself will blend the background into the foreground. When your in front of the tank you can see the difference much clearer. <---- My avatar is a busy background, it looks great in the pic but I don't really like the way it looks in real life.

09-01-2006, 04:27 PM	#29
Codefox Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 485 Images: 1	Yeah, busy backgrounds tend to look far better in pictures than in real life. They look incredibly fake to me when you see them on the tank. I had a busy background but it looked really tacky with the live plants. I'll try putting some black behind the tank to see how it looks but the plant cover at the back is really getting so thick that I'm not sure it matters

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