why black for backround
- Thread starter gordon903
- Start date
Black tends to make fish stand out more in FOWLR and the corals in Reef. However blue looks great too as you can see from the pics above. Definitely use a solid color background it looks so much better than fake scenes or scenes or plants and corals and rocks. To me a more natural look is best. Personally I love the look of a saltwater tank with coraline growing on the back. It adds to the overall look of the reef. If you ever go diving you see coraline all over the place, so why restrict it in your tank? Clkwrk-I think the way you have the tank in that picture is great. The tank looks very healthy.
Nano Chris
Active member
Any pics of a black background on a tank anyone?
I like the blue, but when it gets the coraline on the back, you wont see it anyway.
I like the blue, but when it gets the coraline on the back, you wont see it anyway.
chaseracing
Premium Member
Dave - Is that the 120 in the pic?
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bureau13
New member
I THINK I would prefer a very dark blue, although I'm not sure I have ever seen one like that. However, my center overhead is black, and my rocks do not block out the top, so I am afraid a dark blue background with a black "stripe" down the middle of it might look a bit odd.
jds
jds
clsanchez77
Member
I also do not like black backgrounds, albeit I will admit they really make the colors pop out.
My issue with black is 1) does not look natural except for low light biotope tanks - I prefer med. blue-dark blue myself, and 2) you loose the advantage of being able to bounce light off the back glass...that is more of your light gets absorbed into the tank's background instead of bouncing and becoming ambient light for the tank.
Chris
My issue with black is 1) does not look natural except for low light biotope tanks - I prefer med. blue-dark blue myself, and 2) you loose the advantage of being able to bounce light off the back glass...that is more of your light gets absorbed into the tank's background instead of bouncing and becoming ambient light for the tank.
Chris
geckofrog
In Memoriam
Black is picked a lot because everything in the reef generally has contrasting colors. Contrasting colors stand out the most. (example: this black text against the web page)
This is why when you look at jewlery they put it against a black cloth.
This is why you see a lot of pictures that have a black rectangle around them. It brings out the color of the picture.
Black does reduce algae although there is hardly anything to stop coraline, cept snails.
Of course a lot of people like blue since its like an ocean.
This is why when you look at jewlery they put it against a black cloth.
This is why you see a lot of pictures that have a black rectangle around them. It brings out the color of the picture.
Black does reduce algae although there is hardly anything to stop coraline, cept snails.
Of course a lot of people like blue since its like an ocean.
Shooter7
New member
Well, I have a few greens in there. On the sandbed is the green star polyp island. In the corner on the sand are some frilly/hairy mushrooms that have a touch of green. In the corner about halfway up the rock is an LPS that I'm not sure of the name, but I got it from Griss who I believe said he got it from Agu and they were calling it an "Agu thingy" or something like that. 
Then, slightly to the right of that are bright green candy canes. And slightly to the right of those, the green tree looking thing, I am not absolutely sure of an identification for. Person I got it from locally said he was just told it was a green finger leather. I have seen some pics of similar stuff on here that some folks are calling nepthea and others are calling sinularia, and I'm just not real sure exactly what it is....but it is some kind of leather type creature that I grew over the past few months from just a little 3/4" nub. Oh, and above that is a green slimer. Besides the frogspawn and some zoas, I think that covers the greens. 
Then, slightly to the right of that are bright green candy canes. And slightly to the right of those, the green tree looking thing, I am not absolutely sure of an identification for. Person I got it from locally said he was just told it was a green finger leather. I have seen some pics of similar stuff on here that some folks are calling nepthea and others are calling sinularia, and I'm just not real sure exactly what it is....but it is some kind of leather type creature that I grew over the past few months from just a little 3/4" nub. Oh, and above that is a green slimer. Besides the frogspawn and some zoas, I think that covers the greens. 
well since i asked i guess its what works for you and your tank so i switched my 20 gal reef tank to black i think i like it better than the blue i had my corals look a lot brighter and even the rock looks better i will switch my fish only tank to black when i set up my new 125 in progress any opions on that post in reef discusion thread jacks 125 begins
CoralFiend
New member
I use black to help equipment inside the tank (like overflows, powerheads, pipes, etc) fade more into the background (until it all gets covered uniformly with coraline anyway). Overflows are less noticeable (unless you have blue overflows). Powerheads, Streams, etc are made of dark plastic and stand out more against a blue backgground.
Here is a pic of my new 140 that I am setting up. The black helps the equipment look less noticeable. There are 2 black overflows, 2 1" black pvc pipe returns and a large screen for the intak of the closed loop. Nothing actually "disappears," but I think it is far less noticeable than if it were on a blue background.
Here is a pic of my new 140 that I am setting up. The black helps the equipment look less noticeable. There are 2 black overflows, 2 1" black pvc pipe returns and a large screen for the intak of the closed loop. Nothing actually "disappears," but I think it is far less noticeable than if it were on a blue background.
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