Tank Backgrounds, anybody use a mirror??

[guserto4]

I am still in the planning stages of my Big Boy tank (see sig) and while accumulating items I came across an 8' long mirror and came up with the 'great' idea of cutting the thing down so it matched the 9.5' x 15" back side of the tank. Anybody have any experience with using a mirror rather than painting, tinting, rock walling etc. the back of their tank?? Any pictures out there to demonstrate the look?

I'm thinking with 4' of depth and LR, corals, fish, (lagoonish biotope planned) etc. to break up seeing yourself the illusion of a much larger tank could be pulled off fairly well and I'd love to hear of previous experiments!

 

[woodnaquanut]

I have put a hand mirror up against tanks. Certain territorial fish will go nuts. Short term this is OK. It can even be used to distract a bully when adding a new fish.

I don't think it would be good as a permanent feature because of the 'self-aggression'!

 

[squishifishi]

I like the look of it. it is actually very useful because it makes the tank brighter and it gives you a way to look behind the rocks on the back wall. I got rid of mine though because it makes tank photography really hard, especially fts. that's just a personal issue though.
like woodnaquanut said, it also depends on what fish you will have.
good luck!

 

[guserto4]

Good point, I'll try to steer clear of the more territorial/aggressive fish- But hey with such a big footprint on this tank (38 sq ft before the mirror), maybe there is enough territory for both an aggressive fish and his mirror buddy to live in peace! Maybe, in time, they can even become best friends... :beer:

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Good point, I'll try to steer clear of the more territorial/aggressive fish- But hey with such a big footprint on this tank (38 sq ft before the mirror), maybe there is enough territory for both an aggressive fish and his mirror buddy to live in peace! Maybe, in time, they can even become best friends... :beer:

nope. Sorry. Reconsider using the mirror

 

[velvetelvis]

If you're looking to create a unique background with the illusion of depth, you might want to try something like this: My Shadowbox Background Project. It would be a lot of work, but the results are amazing.

 

[ReefKeeper64]

I have been considering this mirror idea myself. Seems easy enough to remove if needed.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I have been considering this mirror idea myself. Seems easy enough to remove if needed.

but when do you remove it.. after the fish are stressed and break out with disease?

No doubt the mirror idea (not novel by any means) is an interesting one.