Blue or Black Background?

[wfgworks]

Trying to decide on a background for my new tank. Its going to be Fish Only for now but over the year or so it will slowly become a Mixed Reef.

My choices are:
BLUE
BLACK
NONE

Not sure if Black makes the tank look smaller or Blue gives a more natural look.

Let me know what you think.

Thanks!

 

[barbra]

Black only makes women's butts look smaller, not an aquarium

It is purely a personal choice, and I prefer black.

 

[Capt_Cully]

BLACK!

I think blue takes away from the color of the coral and fish. Also looks too synthetic. JMO.

 

[rbursek]

Legs too!

 

[new_world_disor]

blue all the way.

 

[macronut]

i had black for number of years and switched to blue. I have to admit I think the black darkened the tank some even with 250 watt halides. I'm for blue. It's a personal choice

 

[TKByrnes]

I like the deep almost navy blue.

 

[MThompson]

I'd say it depends on the blue color.....I have one of those two-sided tank background sheets (aqua blue/black)....the blue was funny looking, so I went with black.

But anything is better than none.

 

[Roy G. Biv]

Whatever you choose, if you keep your tank right, it will become purple anyway.

 

[bdif]

i think the blue has a fake, fish store look. I had blue once and will forever stay with black.

 

[packer]

Purple.......oh wait thats coraline algae.

 

[PogoMonogo]

black tends to great a greater contrast for the colors of corals and fish.

 

[techigirl78]

What fish do you want? I usually prefer black, but some fish really look much better with blue. For instance, if I was going to go with a marine betta or black leopard wrasse, I would opt for blue. In the same token, I think blue tangs look better with a black background.

 

[serum153]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11949915#post11949915 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pmolan
Whatever you choose, if you keep your tank right, it will become purple anyway.

If you keep your tank right you will always scrape the back glass , so pick a backround that you will like. I myself have the 2 sided one with deep blue showing

 

[DJChesnutRabbit]

I have black and think it's a better contrast with my corals and fish.

 

[yoboyjdizz]

I have nice deep blue but if i had to do it over again i probably go black. Makes the colors stand out more and pictures look so much better. Either way though you can't go wrong.

 

[sjfishguy]

There was a thread about this a while back. A guy changed his background from black to navy blue and showed pictures of each. It was amazing how his tank looked so much brighter with the blue background. Most everyone agreed that the blue was MUCH better. I have done both and the dark blue looks so much better hands down. I like black for freshwater planted tanks, but navy blue for reefs everytime.

 

[Mark426]

doesnt matter...in a year it will be all coraline

 

[tufacody]

Do what I just did. Go to your local sign maker. Have him apply the vinly covering of your color choice to some starboard or posterboard to fit the back of your tank. Then you can switch between the two if you want. Just use some silicone on the top to seal the background to the tank so you don't get any water drips behind the background.

I went with blue, as I think it better reflects the light and ultimately looks better for that reason. But I can easily switch to black if I want to.

 

[Roy G. Biv]

If you have a black background and an achilles tang, all you will see is an orange dot floating around the tank. On the other hand, if you have a blue background and a hippo tang, all you will see are black racing stripes floating around the tank. It seems to me that with either color you are limiting your choice in fish