Using a mirror for back pannel

[NanoReefNoob]

Hey yal,

I have not posted in quite some time. Getting ready to build another tank and my wife actual gave me an Idea that I really did not know if it would work or not. She pointed out the fact that my daughters room was quite small but the closest doors were big mirror and mad the whole room look much bigger. She suggested that instead of using black on the back pain of glass to use a mirror.

Would this even work in the first place, ie. do mirror have the same properties as glass when it comes to strength. Do yal think that it would make the tank seem bigger? would the reflective properties of the mirror effect the chemistry of the tank at all? and lastly would the fish get territorial over them self's in the mirror?

Please let me know what yal think. I think its a good idea on paper but I really don't know how it would work out in real life.

Noble

 

[uncleof6]

Glass is glass. The same thickness of glass will have the same 'strength' as the same thickness of glass. A mirror simply has a coating on the back side of the mirror. However, mirrors are usually thinner (by far) than glass used for tank building, so it is not the same.

Since the reflective coating is not in contact with the water, it would have no affect on water chemisty. However, it will have an affect on light dispersion. Where clear glass reflects a very diffuse light, a mirror will reflect a very directed light, which will not be as effective as a very diffuse reflection.

Clear glass is better for an aquarium than a mirror or "painted" back. Clear glass reflects more of a higher 'quality' of light, e.g. reflects 'more' light. It sounds bizarre, but the reasons are rather complicated.

 

[tallball158]

What kind of fish are you thinking? I would think that with certain species of fish, that could be an issue if they are territorial.

 

[NanoReefNoob]

Well thanks a lot uncle. I did not even think about the light reflection problem. That is definitely a problem seeing that I do plan on this being a reef.

 

[Eud]

Put one way mirrored glass on the front glass too and you have an aquarium with infinite depth.

 

[ca1ore]

I used a mirror as tank background one time and HATED IT! Tangs spent most of their time attacking their reflections (should have foreseen this as a mirror is one of the tricks to curb aggression when introducing a new fish), but the most annoying unintended consequence was that I'd see my ugly mug every time I looked straight into the tank. No thanks!

Regarding light diffusion versus reflection, probably you would find that it makes very little practical difference, though I suppose you might have to adjust your 'planting' plan. I found that corals seemed to do a bit better close to the back wall, presumably because they were getting a bit more light on their backsides, but it was minimal.

 

[karimwassef]

I use a Mylar film. It's reflective, but not mirror perfect so you don't have to see "your ugly mug".

And the light in the tank went up significantly compared to a bare back. It's not that complicated... Light that would have exited the system is partially reflected back.

 

[FullBoreReefer]

I have an in-wall tank and also use the diamond mylar but only on the sides, which did help with light dispersement and also for not being able to see through. Although I still use black as the background.