Ever paint back of tank white?

[Grandczar]

Has anyone tried this...
I think white would be more reflective and would help keep in escaping light. I may get a sheet of white construction paper to test the look of this. Anyone try this? Did it look like crap or what?

 

[Mouse]

i recon it might look crap, just my opinion. Great idea though, im sure on a 100w you might get an extra 15-20 w. And if you like the white then your onto a winner. Im going paisly with mine, just got to have the style you know

[ August 28, 2001: Message edited by: Mouse ]

 

[rotorh60]

Painted the back of my tank Sea Blue. I also heard of different shades of green, as well as black. This is the first time I've heard of someone trying white. I think it would reflect more light, but after the corraline has taken hold of the back wall, it won't matter any more. My back wall is solid corraline now, and I like the way it looks, and have no plans on scraping it off. So go for it, if you don't like it, the corraline will eventually cover up you choice of color. Just my .02

 

[arnjer]

I just painted the back of mine, and while trying to decide colors i would hold a color sample up to the back and it always looked like crap no matter what color I held up. I think it looks different when you actually paint it on. I just painted a small area and stepped back and looked at it. If I didn't like the color I washed it off and painted another color on.

Jerry

 

[reeferJ]

I have a long sheet of white paper behind my tank, I don't scrape the back, so there's a greenish tint (algae) that softens the white. I like it, I guess that's what matters

 

[JohnD]

I spray painted the back of my 55 FO black. It makes for a great contrast, especially if you have a yellow tang swimming around. IMHO, I think white wouldn't do it for me.

 

[DJ88]

If you want a reflective surface why not go mirrored?

 

[Anonymous]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by DJ88:
<STRONG>If you want a reflective surface why not go mirrored?
</STRONG><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Fishes might get freaked out...

 

[DJ88]

Cheese,

Mine do great.. Are you making that suggestion from experience? or guesswork?

Even my female maroon doesn't give it a second thought.

Never has.

A very stress free tank all in all. Plus has added depth that a standard width tank doesn't have. A little bit of an illusion. Same effect as you get in a home with mirrors. Plus light escaping out or hitting the back is reflected into the tank.

IME

[ August 28, 2001: Message edited by: DJ88 ]

 

[DJ88]

Just to add to the white suggestion. My sister uses white paper on the back of her tank. It looks fine. It is only a 20 gallon FO but it does look good. So it has been done. She loves it. I guess what it comes down to is if you like it. DO IT!

Try it with colored paper or posterboard first. leave it for a few days. Try other colors. Decide after that what you prefer. Heck you may even decide you like red.

 

[Anonymous]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by DJ88:
<STRONG>Mine do great.. Are you making that suggestion from experience? or guesswork?
</STRONG><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Neither - I'm basing it on Guy's post about using a mirror to divert fishes attention while introducing a new fish - such a freak-out occured & cost him a fish.

 

[Modo]

You know it's tacky to wear white after Labor Day.

 

[DJ88]

Well I would not have mentioned or suggested it if it had caused stress. I am using a mirrored background and have not had any fish freak out. It is a genuine suggestion and I get compliments on it's appearance.

I can see putting a hand mirror in the fish's face and keeping it focused on it. But after a few seconds once the back was put on everything was and is fine. no stress. no fatalities.

 

[esmithiii]

What kind of paint to use?

E

 

[DJ88]

For my g/f's 33 I used Varathane(Indoor/Outdoor). Black. Went on really well. Looked sharp. It did take a couple of coats as it was thin in some areas which showed a bit of light through.

There are many colors of varathane and if you wanted something inbetween the ROYGBIV range of colors you could get creative and make the shade you wanted.

 

[G7subs]

I painted all three sides of my refugium white...but not for aesthetics.I needed to keep the light from shining onto my clear hose.(it was growing algae). I used white because it was all I had. Yeah...it looks pretty funky.

 

[Anonymous]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Cheese Sandwich:
<STRONG>

Fishes might get freaked out...</STRONG><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Anytime the room lights are low or off with the tank lights on, they are stareing at mirrors all the way around anyway.

I saw Guys post also, might have been more to it than just a reflection. The fish that I own that will not tolerate another of thier kind in the tank, pace their own reflection but not in an aggresive way. Maybe they actually can tell the difference up close?

 

[Grandczar]

DJ88,
I have thought about that before... Was unsure bout using it for 2 reasons.

First, was that I hadn't heard of anyone else doing it cept to make fish aggressive during photo's. Thought fish may get stressed.

Second reason is that im not sure how to seal it on the back. So that there will not be salt creep. Guess I could just run a bead of silicon up both sides to glue it to the back glass(side glass would hide silicone). Then for the top and bottom. Silicone the back side of mirror & trim to seal.

Sure would help keep in light! Also make the tank look alot bigger. Just hope my fish dont mind to much.

Thnx!
I'll give it a shot. I can always remove it!

 

[DJ88]

It really does look sharp. I figured my Maroon would lose it at first. Not even a twitch. She is always too busy watching me waiting to grab ahold of my hand if it enters the water.

The salt creep is a problem at times.. but I have mine atached with Velcro. Makes for easy removal and cleaning.

FYI, I didn't use glass but mirrored acrylic. It's thin and light. It may cost a bit more but I lvoe it.