Background colors

[james.96]

Does back ground color of an aquarium effect light reflection?

As I am preparing to setup my new tank this question came to mind. I am familiar with the difference in white sand and black sand when it comes to reflecting light to the under side of your corals. Is this true as well with the back ground color (black vs. blue vs. etc) or does the glass cause the reflection before the light reaches the background on the outside of the tank?

 

[TX_REEF]

It makes a difference, this is evident by light spillage though the glass.

 

[Red_Beard]

I suspect the high incidet angle of the light hitting the glass will cause it to reflect from the interior plane of glass as well as refract and bounce off the interior face of the exterior plane sufficiently that radiation lost due to variations in paint color would be inconsequential between the common blue vs black. You may see higher par with white, but not enough in my opinion to warrent that choice when tinting your glass.