Alternative to painting?

[der_wille_zur_macht]

It's all freshwater, but this page has a lot of interesting, "different" background techniques, including several light-colored backgrounds and backlit backgrounds:

http://www.guitarfish.org/2008/11

 

[superkat]

with my first tank, i actually "reverse painted" the back of the tank. Basically, i used flourescent paint and painted in coral, with acrylics i painted the sand, then rock, then the background....it was a lot of work, but the depth was amazing.

 

[shawna1972]

Im curious to see which way you go J as I am in the process of removing the black paint off the back of the tank as we speak(uuggghhh) what a pain! and am looking for another method "'other than paint" As I like to change things up to much lol
I may paint a piece of foam black and add some blue hues and use suction cups with fishing line to hold it on to the back and if I want to change it up again in 6 months I will not have to go through what Im going through now
Keep up posted and pics

 

[superkat]

Shawna - is the black paint acrylic? If so...if you get it wet...i used a wet hot towel, and/or a blow dryer...it will pucker and come off alot easier.

 

[shawna1972]

Thanks Kat will try that

 

[pimpinitup6969]

I would go with the tint method. The lfs here sells a backing that is applied just like window tint but alot pricier... just buy some tint from walmart spray some warm soapy water on the back of the tank and the sheet of tint. apply the tint to the back of the aquarium and squegee(sp?) off.

 

[Flanders]

this is also a cool page. this guy just uses a piece of colored paper with a flourescent tube behind it. I'd go darker than any of these colors, but I think I might head to the art supply shop after work and see what I can find.

http://williamaquascaping.blogspot.com/2008/12/using-colored-posters-as-lighted.html

 

[shawna1972]

I think were all getting spring fever! lol

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

this is also a cool page. this guy just uses a piece of colored paper with a flourescent tube behind it. I'd go darker than any of these colors, but I think I might head to the art supply shop after work and see what I can find.

http://williamaquascaping.blogspot.com/2008/12/using-colored-posters-as-lighted.html

Depending on how much light spills out of your tank, you can also ditch the separate lighting and just curve the paper away from the tank near the top to create the same effect with less effort. Here's another example:

It creates a really cool "sun in the sky" appearance.

 

[Flanders]

that looks awesome. my tank is going to be open-top, so that is what I'm doing!

 

[superkat]

I think were all getting spring fever! lol

:beer:

 

[ggdowski]

Hi there
I'm with Steve on this one.
I bought a piece of u-shaped rod... mounted that on the back of my stand.
We painted a piece of Luan which slides into the u-shaped rod (sortof like a sliding door).
I did that so that I could periodically change the background (ie. you can paint both sides of the luan).