What Colour Background?

[k4ndyk1ng]

hi all,
i really need to know which one to get, its going to be an sps tank, hoping it will turn out like reef in the sky, which it wont.
my choices are :
black
white
light blue
dark blue
so which one would you pick?
thanks

 

[dzhuo]

Generally speaking, a background which gives a sense of depth is the best. For example, a white background (a few inches away from the tank) with a soft blue light scattered above and behind the tank will give the illusion of infinite depth. You will, obviously, need to keep the glass clean.

If you aren't able to do that, any solid background will be roughly the same since in about 6 months or so, the entire background will be covered in coralline and other algae. If you are dedicated enough to keep the background clean, I would go with a light blue or black (just personal preference).

 

[cFloor]

I cut a piece of foam board and put two velcro tabs in each top corner so I can easily remove my background so I can clean the glass. Right now, my background fades from very dark blue at the bottom to an icy sky blue at the top. I get tired of looking at the same color for years on end, so this way I can easily change it whenever I want.

 

[Alex T.]

I had blue on my last tank. To me it looked too much like a fish store holding tank, so for my new build I went black. It's personal preference really.

 

[k4ndyk1ng]

ok thanks to all of you

 

[OneReef]

I made a shadowbox background for my reef for depth illusion. You can find examples on here by searching for shadow boxes probably

 

[JohnV8r]

Black...makes colors pop the best.

 

[albano]

I had blue on my last tank. To me it looked too much like a fish store holding tank, so for my new build I went black. It's personal preference really.

same here...had blue since 1991...switched to black 2 years ago when I upgraded... definitely prefer the black

 

[Felixc395]

Black, gives good contrast.

 

[blakers82]

This is the fun personal preference. I have bounced back and forth between tanks. Either a mostly dark blue to a little light blue fade or solid black. My current sps tank is black and I feel I like it better.

 

[Bello]

Generally speaking, a background which gives a sense of depth is the best. For example, a white background (a few inches away from the tank) with a soft blue light scattered above and behind the tank will give the illusion of infinite depth. You will, obviously, need to keep the glass clean.

This is really neat simple idea. Wish I'd done this. Went with a light blue instead.

 

[drparker]

I've got black on all my tanks, but like it when the back gets covered in coraline.

 

[Jeremy Blaze]

Once you go black, you'll never go back.

 

[sonoranaut]

I prefer black as well..

 

[asim58]

I prefer black backgrounds, but some of the shadow boxes I've seen on this forum have been amazing, one tank in particular is a primarily Caribbean theme and the background really is incredible.

 

[bjolly]

I think black really makes the colors pop, while blue looks too fake and plastic. The shadow box backgrounds are awesome too, if you want to make a big project out of it.

 

[MALIBu599]

I have had black and blue. I prefer black because it really makes the colors pop more.

 

[rivahodges]

Go with Black. I currently have a light blue background and hate it. Anything you have in the tank with blue coloring does not look as good. Although a yellow tang looks great with it.

 

[k4ndyk1ng]

ok thanks everyone for your quick replys,
i think i will just go with black i got it on my freshwater tank too

 

[barjam]

I have an in wall tank. I bought a chunk of 1 inch foam board from lowes, painted it dark blue and made a mount for it about 6 inches from the back of the tank. This really opens up the tank.