Aquarium background

[FoolishWizard]

Use a mirror... Doubles your par and the size of your tank

 

[Reefer Matt]

Back is painted black.

 

[Jared Bryant]

Hard to take with a grain of salt when they are using equipment to measure the reflective properties of light

Well I'm sure they will have reflective background for sale soon just wait and get one of those.

 

[MoshJosh]

Watched a video about par loss due to specific color backgrounds. Currently looking for a background for my 150. Not having much luck finding one that size. What do you all do for the back of your tank? Paint? Printed backgrounds? Post pics and good places to get some.

Here you go:

Gila 36 in. x 78 in. Black Privacy Window Film PB78 - The Home Depot

Gila Privacy Black Window Film provides daytime privacy and increases the comfort of your home using advanced technology. By rejecting heat, reducing glare, blocking UV rays, it also helps keep rooms with direct sunlight cool and can help protect carpets and furniture. And with static cling...

www.homedepot.com

slightly transparent. . . but you can't tell with the aquarium lights on:

 

[NateRen]

Here you go:

Gila 36 in. x 78 in. Black Privacy Window Film PB78 - The Home Depot

Gila Privacy Black Window Film provides daytime privacy and increases the comfort of your home using advanced technology. By rejecting heat, reducing glare, blocking UV rays, it also helps keep rooms with direct sunlight cool and can help protect carpets and furniture. And with static cling...

www.homedepot.com

slightly transparent. . . but you can't tell with the aquarium lights on:

That looks pretty cool!

 

[NateRen]

Back is painted black. View attachment 3105393

Lol what back?! Tank looks incredible

 

[spawn79]

There is always par loss next to the walls of an aquarium as well as reflections that affect the par/spectrum. BRS has videos and there are a few others showing how par changes as you get next to the glass. Black is the most light absorbent so it makes sense that it would soak up the par. There is very little that gets reflected back into the aquarium from that wall.
It's just something that most people don't think about when setting things up. And anything can be remedied by correct placement and intensity of the light desired.

 

[bratfink]

I can’t believe I am the first person to put this in this thread, but I use these:

Aquarium Backgrounds, Rocks and Fish Decorations | Universal Rocks

www.universalrocks.com

this how I had setup my 90SCA before I found the leak in the silicon.

 

[AtlantiCat]

I just use static cling window black-out film. You'll have to do it in sections, but it would probably cost you only $10-20 for your 200. Comes in other colors too; I have a frosty blue on one of my freshwater tanks.

 

[Jared Bryant]

I think I am probably like most. I have $3k worth of lights on my tank running at 60%. Black paint isn't a problem.

 

[JC1977]

Did you click on the link and watch the video?

No I’ll check it out

 

[NateRen]

I just use static cling window black-out film. You'll have to do it in sections, but it would probably cost you only $10-20 for your 200. Comes in other colors too; I have a frosty blue on one of my freshwater tanks.

Thanks for the advice! I’ll have to see what they have

 

[NateRen]

I just use static cling window black-out film. You'll have to do it in sections, but it would probably cost you only $10-20 for your 200. Comes in other colors too; I have a frosty blue on one of my freshwater tanks.

Do you have pics

 

[NateRen]

I think I am probably like most. I have $3k worth of lights on my tank running at 60%. Black paint isn't a problem.

What are you running for lights? I’m trying to decide if I want 3 or 4 hydra 32’s. I have two already

 

[NateRen]

I can’t believe I am the first person to put this in this thread, but I use these:

Aquarium Backgrounds, Rocks and Fish Decorations | Universal Rocks

www.universalrocks.com

this how I had setup my 90SCA before I found the leak in the silicon.

View attachment 3105470

That’s pretty cool! Is that vinyl

 

[NateRen]

There is always par loss next to the walls of an aquarium as well as reflections that affect the par/spectrum. BRS has videos and there are a few others showing how par changes as you get next to the glass. Black is the most light absorbent so it makes sense that it would soak up the par. There is very little that gets reflected back into the aquarium from that wall.
It's just something that most people don't think about when setting things up. And anything can be remedied by correct placement and intensity of the light desired.

Very true!

 

[gbroadbridge]

Lol!

I'm serious, There are 3 Hydra 64HD and 2 Prime 16HD on my 75g Tank - and they're not aimed at the back.

PAR is not an issue even if the back were a black hole.

 

[Jared Bryant]

What are you running for lights? I’m trying to decide if I want 3 or 4 hydra 32’s. I have two already

Kessil a360x's and just recently added an ai blade to get better spread. Love the shimmer but not sold on spotlight coverage. Lots of shadows and dark areas.

 

[NateRen]

I'm serious, There are 3 Hydra 64HD and 2 Prime 16HD on my 75g Tank - and they're not aimed at the back.

PAR is not an issue even if the back were a black hole.

Lol

 

[bratfink]

That’s pretty cool! Is that vinyl

Honestly I’m not sure, it has a kinda rubbery feel to it. In my old tank it got covered in colarline algae and GSP so looked pretty cool. Gives the impression of a rock wall