tank placement

[here goes!]

I am starting to plan out my first salt water tank. The best place, I think, has a large mirror on the wall that will be behind the tank. I think that will be sharp and help make the tank seem bigger. Will this be a problem? Like I said, this is my first go. Thanks in advance.

 

[papagimp]

Only problem I see is going to depend on the livestock you add to the tank. Some that do not get along with conspecifics may fight the image they see in the reflection. But other than that chance, no problem at all. Dont' expect the mirror to "reflect" lot's of light into the tank though, it will some but not enought o work as a reflector and cause an increase in your lighting.

 

[here goes!]

Thanks papa!

Reflecting light had crossed my mind after posting but I was worried that it may reflect too much. Fish fighting themselves hadn't even crossed my mind.

 

[papagimp]

Yeah, the way mirrors work, the light would have to pass clean through the pane of glass and then reflect back through the pane of glass again, this will hinder the reflectivity a bit and make it not worth as a reflector, it's all going to be about the more aggressive fish, like a maroon clown spotting another mean aggressive maroon clown reflection and going nuts on it. And tons of the "reef safe" fish we purchase in this hobby are fine in a tank and with tankmates, but with same or even similar species, will fight over territory, even if just a reflection, If your fish don't mind the reflections, it would definatly look cool and I wouldn't worry about reflecting too much light in the tank at all.

 

[yoboyjdizz]

The mirror is behid the tank? You have the back of the tank painted or background on it? If so i don't see how the fish will be able to even see the mirror?

 

[here goes!]

The tank is still only in my mind and on paper. The mirror is mounted on the wall and I wasn't planning on putting up a background or anything. Just setting the tank in front of the mirror.

 

[cwilson]

the only problem i see is looking at someone leaning over looking at you with a big, goofy, grin everytime you look at your tank!

seriously, though, you'll want to keep backsplash in mind. its almost certain that at some point water will drip/splash/spill over the back of the tank. if this hits your mirror, it can leave big streaks of salt running down the back, not to mention the same streaks on the outside of your tank. but if you know a way to clean it off, i think it'd look great!