blue or black background...which color makes SPS stand out more?

[giants4pc]

Title states it all. What brings out the colors more vibrantly? I currently have a bright blue...would black be better?

 

[teen]

i dont have a background on my tank, but the pictures that ive seen on here, im going to have to say black makes the colors stand out more. that could be just in pictures though, blue could look better in person. HTH

 

[Phyxius]

I agree that the black makes colors look better or maybe even a dark, dark blue. Lighter backgrounds make some of the colors looked flushed/washed out while a dark background kind of accents them. I have all black tanks and a dark blue on a unused frag tank. The ones in the black look better.

 

[REEF-DADDY]

I like black

 

[Znut Reefer]

Another vote for Black

 

[143gadgets]

Black by far!

 

[mike660r]

Black is my choice as well. Just about every tank that has a blue background looks filthy over time.

Black is the way to go... IMO

 

[kroe]

I've had tanks with both dark blue and black (painted nicely both times) and no question... black rules.

The blue looks nice... people will come over and say "I like the blue background"... if you have black nobody will every say anything about your background.

While complements are nice... there is a point - nobody notices the black, they are looking at your corals and fish.

 

[DesertBandits]

I think I'll be the lone dissenting vote. A black background appears to compress space and give the illusion that the tank has less space front to back. You know how people paint rooms in a house light colors to make the rooms appear larger? This is why I like the light blue color better. Also, ever hear of atmospheric perspective in paintings, where things in the distance start to appear blue? I feel that a blue background lends something of an illusion of distance/vastness.
I think you should compare both backgrounds on a tank and you will see what I mean. The black just looks oppressive.

 

[bigt0706]

I like black it seems to give a mirror reflection but once the coralline takes over it doesn't really matter after that

 

[jthnhale]

I like black, but once the tank gets going it won't really matter.
I used to try to keep the back glass coraline free, but I made so many frags doing so it was not worth it.

 

[Avast Marine]

If I could commit to keeping the back glass coraline free, I would put in a reflective mirror back, until then black for me.

 

[jay24k]

Black but I scrape my corraline so it stays black.

 

[Valab]

Dark blue looks good.
Black hides black appliances (powerheads, tubing, overflows) better.

 

[giants4pc]

what about clear? Anyone just leave the glass as is and leave the coraline? I just scraped the blue off and actually like the look of seeing through it. Mine is in the wall so it's cool to see through it.

 

[goulashriot]

i wouldnt do a clear background...

no, wouldnt do it...

it will totally make your cords and everything stand out like nothing else. my background was double sided black/blue, and i tried it both ways. blue is what i stuck with, in the end it wont matter if your algea covers the back glass and you dont scrape it.

 

[PL-Reef]

i like a blue background. i think it makes my tank look deeper than it really is. more of an open look. i also keep the back glass coraline free.
Jas

 

[Ti]

Everything matches with black

 

[Cubman777]

Scientifically, black provides the most contrast (makes corals stand out more). Not as natural looking, but who cares when the jaws hit the floor.

 

[Sparkss]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8858797#post8858797 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ti
Everything matches with black

You do know that we are talking about aquarium backgrounds and not clothing, right ? Some times with your posts it is hard to tell