Is a tank backing necessary?

[Joby]

Is putting a backing or painting the back/sides of a tank necessary and if so why? I was speaking to somebody yesterday about this and was wondering what your thoughts are :dk:

I've only got a backing on my zebs tank which has rock formation and plants and its really only for me to make it look nicer as half the time all you see are caves with the odd tail poking out so its something to look at I will eventualy get round to doing the other tanks as when I take photos you can see wires and filter tubes etc behind the tank :wb:

I was wondering if having a backing on would make the fish feel more secure? although nothing moves at the back of the tank.

 

[Breamlegend]

I think it does make them feel more secure. They can get reflections off the glass even if there is nothing behind it. I also cover the sides on some of my tanks.

 

[Irene0100]

I think the fish feel better but does not have to be anything fancy, some of my tanks I just put a dark board behind it, others I have painted.

 

[Doodles]

I think it does make them feel more secure. They can get reflections off the glass even if there is nothing behind it. I also cover the sides on some of my tanks.

:yes: I have one side of both my large tanks covered due to being where we all walk past. The fish were quite jumpy and would swim off before whereas now they don't move as they don't see us.

 

[Joby]

Thanks for the opinions guys

 

[titan]

i use a jewel rock background on my 300l tank, its not cheap to buy but i think it really does set the tank off and make the fish feel more secure. on my other 2 tanks i use black backing paper and again this looks really nice.

 

[GrubbyGirl]

I just painted the backs of my tank black and I am very pleased with the effect

 

[rpp1973]

I paint polystyrene sheets and use tape to stick this to the back and side's .Emulsion paint and can change colour very easy.
As a bonus it insulates the tank

 

[Joby]

Some great ideas there :clap:

 

[GrubbyGirl]

I paint polystyrene sheets and use tape to stick this to the back and side's .Emulsion paint and can change colour very easy.
As a bonus it insulates the tank

The firfst time I painted I used emulsion and noticed it faded over time so I use artist acrylic paint which is water based still but dries waterproof but can be scraped off just like emulsion and best of all it doesn't fade at all.

 

[thegeeman]

IMO a dark background makes the fish feel more secure. I have never used anything else other than vaseline and black bin liners:yes:

Cue all the perverted vaseline comments:hs:

Cheers

thegeeman

 

[Joby]

IMO a dark background makes the fish feel more secure. I have never used anything else other than vaseline and black bin liners:yes:

Cue all the perverted vaseline comments:hs:

Cheers

thegeeman

Yes I think I've heard about you and your bin liners and vaseline before :thumbup:

 

[Tony_s]

If the backs of your tanks are right next to walls and you can't walk behind the tanks,does it matter????

:dk:

Seeing the wires and tubes never bothered me.

 

[Joby]

Nobody walks behind the tanks they are against a wall but the pipes and wires usually annoy me when I take photos as they show up and your eye ends up going to them instead of the fish :wb:

I might experiement with a couple of tanks and try some of the backings suggested and see if there is a difference in the fish behaviour

 

[Breamlegend]

For my BB tanks I cover the foam in black plastic. Helps stop the foam sticking if you ever move the tank and looks better than the white foam. My fish told me they like it as well. :lol:

 

[titan]

talking of bin liners, i used to put scrunched up bin liners on the back of my tank, sounds daft but the effect is really nice

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

I paint polystyrene sheets and use tape to stick this to the back and side's. Emulsion paint and can change colour very easy.
As a bonus it insulates the tank

I do that as well. Back of the tank and one end in blue or green. I also use some planted sponges now on the back wall, following Pete's "Java Fern on sponges" thread. <http://plecoplanet.com/?page_id=446>

cheers Darrel

 

[Breamlegend]

On one tank I lined the back (inside) with small offcuts of slate. Its currently being used for crayfish and the babies love it.

 

[titan]

you cant beat a nice black background on your tank, no need to go spending lots of money on those fancy jewel rock backgrounds. all they do is take up valuble space in your tank

 

[littlebristlenose]

On one tank I lined the back (inside) with small offcuts of slate. Its currently being used for crayfish and the babies love it.

Can you show the slate background that must of taken some time to make i use sheets, one tank that has a background.