Tank background- clear, white, blue or frosted?

Aquavaj · Mar 20, 2019

Back of tank came unpainted but with a black center overflow. Perfect time to try something else besides black but worried about glass maintenance. Tank will be against wall so I won't be able to use a glass scraper. What are your thoughts?

samnaz · Mar 20, 2019

Well, if it’s going to end up covered in coraline it won’t make much a difference what color you choose. Wouldn’t you be able to use a scraper with a long handle though?

ScottieB · Mar 20, 2019

I always thought those bright baby-blue backgrounds that are in some retail stores make the fish/coral colors pop.
I have black but if (when) I do it again.. I'd go blue.

I'm also up against the wall so I get it, hard to get a scraper back there so I suppose the black is good for that reason.

3mm3 · Mar 20, 2019

Looking at your options listed my vote is blue.

Aquavaj · Mar 20, 2019

ScottieB said:
I always thought those bright baby-blue backgrounds that are in some retail stores make the fish/coral colors pop.
I have black but if (when) I do it again.. I'd go blue.

I'm also up against the wall so I get it, hard to get a scraper back there so I suppose the black is good for that reason.

I've always thought that too but they don't seem that common in home aquariums. I've seen white in nano tanks and it looks pretty good too.

Eder · Mar 20, 2019

Black for the win!

Mrs. Herbert · Mar 20, 2019

I've bought the tape on background in black and blue to change it up once in a while.

PookieGV · Mar 20, 2019

Anything but clear. I have never seen frosted, could be cool.

805nano · Mar 20, 2019

Anyone ever thought of beating coraline to the punch and painting the back purple? I'm partial to blue, for some reason I think blue makes tanks look deeper than a black background

justmee · Mar 20, 2019

If you ever go diving, and you try to look as far as you can, it always have a sort of baby blue color which is why some tanks that was sold in the past have always had baby blue color -- so I pick blue.

Geebs19 · Mar 20, 2019

I dont have anything on mine. I think it makes it look cleaner, but I have to constantly clean the back glass.

monkeyCmonkeyDo · Mar 20, 2019

ive got a tank with a clear back....the wall is a dark blue though so eh... lol
-d

OutsideBrian · Mar 20, 2019

I used 5% window tinting film on mine. From across the room you can’t see through it but up close you can see enough if you had to. Or you could just use 20% for a little more see through.

MattJS · Mar 20, 2019

I like black the best, but my next choice might be frosted. Sounds neat.

Gregg @ ADP · Mar 21, 2019

IMO, royal blue or a shade or so darker is the best color

(as seen in my profile pic)

Ironwill723 · Mar 21, 2019

Medium to Dark blue

Aquavaj · Mar 21, 2019

I'm going to try frosted. There's the Sea Glass one that has a very slight bluish tint. I think it'll brighten up the tank and increase the contrast.

harthag12 · Mar 21, 2019

Post pictures once it's up, I'd be curious what the frosted looks like once filled.

Lukas75 · Mar 21, 2019

I've been looking at pictures taken on reefs to see, okay, what does the background actually look like. All my years of diving I can't recall ever stopping and saying, "well what is the background color?" The pictures I'm seeing in the shallow areas the backdrop is blue. Black has always been my go to, but in the future I think I'll go for a more natural blue.